US consumer confidence hits nine-year high September 27, 2016 Consumer confidence has hit a nine-year high in the US just six weeks before the country will elect its next President. According to The Conference Board, optimism jumped to 104.1, its highest level since the recession, from 101.8 one month ago, on an index where 100 represents the long-term average. Analysts had expected the index would dip [...]
Getting an Opec output cut won’t be a piece of cake September 26, 2016 With the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan rate decisions out of the way, focus could now shift elsewhere. Like towards the expected weaker US durable goods orders (which are, according to Credit Suisse, set to drop to -2.3 per cent in August compared to 4.4 per cent in July), or the oil [...]
Rory McIlroy: FedEx Cup triumph marks accomplishment of long-standing career goal September 26, 2016 World No3 Rory McIlroy insists he ticked off another career goal by scooping the $10m FedEx Cup with his dramatic victory at the Tour Championship on Sunday night. McIlroy beat Americans Ryan Moore and Kevin Chappell in a play-off to win at East Lake – a result that saw him overtake Dustin Johnson at the [...]
Seeing Arnold Palmer for the first time gave me goosebumps the size of eggs. He was The King and it felt like meeting Elvis September 26, 2016 I still vividly remember the first time I saw Arnold Palmer in the flesh. It was at my first Open Championship, at Muirfield in 1972, and it gave me goosebumps the size of eggs. I was practising on the putting green and on he walked, a seven-time Major winner who was tanned a deep shade [...]
Rory McIlroy seals $10m FedEx Cup prize money after winning dramatic three-way play-off at Tour Championship September 26, 2016 Former world No1 Rory McIlroy produced a stunning comeback to win the Tour Championship and snatch the $10m prize money for topping the FedEx Cup standings from the grasp of US Open winner Dustin Johnson. Providing a boost for Europe ahead of this week’s Ryder Cup, McIlroy held his nerve in a dramatic three-way play-off [...]
FedEx Cup prize money: PGA Tour leader Dustin Johnson closes in on $10m treasure chest September 23, 2016 Dustin Johnson is on course to add golf's most generous greenback prize to a golden year, after taking a step closer to the FedEx Cup's massive $10m (£7.7m) prize . At the end of the first day of the Tour Championship, the final tournament of the four post-PGA Tour FedEx Cup playoffs, the world No2 shared the lead with fellow American Kevin Chappell [...]
Wells Fargo CEO quits role as adviser to Federal Reserve September 23, 2016 The head of Wells Fargo has stepped down from his role as an adviser to the US Federal Reserve amid the ongoing scandal over its creation of unauthorised bank accounts. Chief executive John Stumpf resigned his position on the advisory council of the San Francisco Fed, which consists of banking chiefs and is designed to guide policymakers, [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open September 22, 2016 A divided Federal Reserve has voted to leave interest rates on hold, queuing up a hike before the end of 2016 and markets couldn't be happier. Here's what you need to know before the US market open at 2:30pm London time. Markets climbed yesterday following the Fed announcement and Janet Yellen's frank press conference. The S&P is [...]
Fed interest rate decision adds sheen to London-listed miners September 22, 2016 The US Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates proved to be a boon for London-listed miners which raced to the top of the FTSE today. While Fed chair Janet Yellen suggested US borrowing costs could rise this year, policymakers cut the number of rate increases they expect this year to one from two and projected a [...]
A divided Fed holds: US leaves interest rates unchanged as case for second rate hike in almost a decade strengthens September 21, 2016 The US Federal Reserve's rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has voted to leave interest rates on hold but has set the scene for a hike before the end of 2016. The Fed raised its benchmark overnight interest rate to a range of 0.25 per cent to 0.50 per cent in December – the first rate hike [...]