The likelihood of a bubble forming in financial markets February 1, 2021 Concerns are mounting as to whether financial markets may have entered bubble territory over the past few weeks. Some analysts are warning that instances of excessive behaviour have become apparent and more frequent. The usual key ingredients to form a bubble in financial markets include cheap credit or easy money and an enticing narrative, with [...]
Government should rethink rates holiday as economy kicks back into life February 1, 2021 John Webber is Head of Business Rates at Colliers International News that John Lewis is under pressure to hand back millions of pounds in business rates relief received in this year’s retail rates holiday shows that the Government must re-think the way it uses the rates system to hand out support to businesses.. Last year [...]
WandaVision Episode 4 review – Marvel fills in the gaps. January 29, 2021 Up to this point, WandaVision has revelled in the enigmatic nature of its plot. We’ve been given only threads of what is happening, and who’s behind it. Last week ‘Geraldine’ (Teyonah Parris) cracked Wanda’s reality by mentioning that Wanda’s (Elizabeth Olsen) brother was killed by Ultron. Infuriated, Wanda threw Geraldine out of their sitcom world [...]
Cryptoshonk! What a time to be alive! January 29, 2021 What a time to be alive used to be a euphoric and jubilant phrase that celebrated life and the world we lived in. Under lockdown, the phrase is now used ironically as that celebrated world feels more like an Old and Lost World. Another Eden destroyed and lost. Covid is the New Flood. As usual, [...]
Apple earns $100bn in single quarter January 27, 2021 Silicon valley giant Apple has earned more than $100bn in its first quarter of 2021, making it one of just a handful of firms to ever have done so. Apple’s revenue for the quarter ended December 26 rose 21 per cent to $111.44 billion. Earnings per share rose to $1.68 from $1.25. Analysts had expected [...]
FTSE 100 dips as sterling rallies and investors await big tech earnings January 27, 2021 The FTSE 100 fell on Wednesday as sterling rallied amid US stimulus speculation and investors eyed a busy day of tech earnings on Wall Street. London’s blue-chip index is down 2.2 per cent to 6,539 points while the more domestically-focused FTSE 250 was trading flat. Boris Johnson confirmed the third lockdown would continue until 8 [...]
Apple set to break $100bn quarterly sales record as tech boom continues January 27, 2021 Apple’s bullish run shows no signs of slowing down, with the tech giant expected to join an exclusive club of companies to have earned revenue of more than $100bn (£730m) in a single quarter. Analysts have predicted quarterly revenue of $102.6bn for the iPhone maker, which would mark year-on-year growth of 12 per cent — [...]
Homeserve appoints ex-DCC boss as chairman January 27, 2021 Homeserve has this morning appointed Tommy Breen as its new chairman, the home improvements firm announced. Breen will replace long-serving Barry Gibson, who has held the role of chairman since 2010. He will step down in May, when Homeserve presents its full year results. Breen, a chartered accountant by training, joins the FTSE 250 firm [...]
Before the Bell: Investors look to the Fed and zoom in on Apple and Facebook January 27, 2021 Markets in Europe look set to continue to be driven by the prospect of further restrictions being imposed by governments concerned about seeing further increases in coronavirus cases, from speculation about a third lockdown in France, which could come by the weekend, to the prospect of further restrictions here in the UK in the form [...]
Taper Tantrum 2: is there a sequel in the making? January 26, 2021 Sequels – occasionally they’re better (The Godfather Part II), but most of the time they’re worse. Often far worse (Jaws: The Revenge). As investors and economists look for the next market risks after the pandemic, some are now expecting a follow-up to 2013’s blockbusting Taper Tantrum. This sequel could even be coming to (trading) screens [...]