As the FOMC meets this week, is it now imperative that the US Fed starts hiking interest rates? December 13, 2015 Didier Saint-Georges, managing director at Carmignac, says Yes There are good reasons to be worried by the Fed’s rate rise, as growth remains very shaky everywhere, including in the US. Janet Yellen is obviously acutely aware of this economic fragility, and we would hope she isn’t fooled by headline employment numbers. But the case for [...]
US Federal Reserve to hike rates amid bond market jitters December 13, 2015 The US central bank is widely expected to lift interest rates from record lows this week, marking the Federal Reserve’s first move upward since rates were slashed in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Yet while the economy is strong overall, investors will be keeping a nervous eye on bond markets after junk bonds – [...]
US retail sales increase expectations for an interest rate rise from the US Federal Reserve December 11, 2015 US retail sales rose strongly in November as the Christmas shopping season got under way, heightening expectations that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates for the first time in nearly 10 years next year. The Commerce Department said on Friday retail sales excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services rose 0.6 per [...]
Property, Taylor Wimpey and the US dollar: Here are some of the best investments of 2015 December 11, 2015 Investing is always a bit of gamble, creating both winners and losers. So what did this year's winners invest in? There are no prizes for guessing property continued to provide investors with a sizeable return throughout 2015. Demand continued to pull away from supply at a dizzying rate. However, growth in London's Luxury market slowed slightly. Anyone who was lucky [...]
Erik Lamela hat-trick helps Tottenham to Monaco romp and easier path in Europa League December 10, 2015 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4, MONACO 1 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino hailed Erik Lamela after the Argentinian’s whirlwind hat-trick swept Spurs into the Europa League’s last 32 as group winners last night at White Hart Lane. Midfielder Tom Carroll scored the other – his first for the club – as the north Londoners continued their fine start to [...]
Oil rout and strong dollar pare gains – New York Report December 10, 2015 A slump in oil prices and fears over a strong dollar pared back gains in New York yesterday – although the indices did halt a three-day slide. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 82.45 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 17,574.75, the S&P 500 gained 4.61 points, or 0.23 per cent, to 2,052.23 and the [...]
Heathrow decision delayed: Government confirms deadline has been extended until next summer December 10, 2015 The government has confirmed that it will delay making a decision on whether to expand Heathrow Airport until at least next summer. In an announcement that sparked outrage among business groups, the government said that it "accepted the case for airport expansion in the south-east and the Airports Commission’s shortlist of options for expansion" but "more work [...]
After Brent crude dipped below $40 per barrel, do we have anything to fear from lower oil prices for longer? December 9, 2015 James Butterfill is head of research & investment strategy at ETF Securities, says Yes The risk with a lower oil price lies in its combination with Fed/Bank of England rate rises. Loan delinquencies in the energy sector are likely to rise as rates go up. The most recent oil and gas survey from IHS highlighted [...]
Oil and China hit Wall Street – New York Report December 8, 2015 CRASHING oil prices and fears over weak Chinese data yesterday pulled US stocks down in a choppy session. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 162.51 points, or 0.92 per cent, to 17,568, the S&P 500 lost 13.48 points, or 0.65 per cent, to 2,063.59 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 3.57 points, or 0.07 per cent, [...]
Oil price drags on the FTSE 100 as airlines takeoff – London Report December 8, 2015 OPEC’S failure on Friday to agree to curb oil production weighed yesterday on the FTSE 100 index. The cartel failed to reach agreement despite a global supply glut and the strength of the dollar, which is leading to the collapse of global oil prices, with the resulting uncertainty hitting stock markets. The FTSE 100 closed [...]