Federal Reserve officials divided over timing of interest rate hike April 8, 2015 US FEDERAL Reserve members clashed during their meeting last month over whether to begin hiking interest rates in June or to wait until the second half of this year, according to the minutes from the meeting released yesterday. Several thought it would be a prime time, but others argued the strong dollar and low global [...]
Fed minutes and mergers spark late rally – New York Report April 8, 2015 US STOCKS ended a volatile session yesterday with modest gains after minutes from a Federal Reserve meeting indicated that the central bank remained on track for a interest rate hike this year. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 27.09 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 17,902.51, the S&P 500 gained 5.57 points, or 0.27 per [...]
Federal Reserve minutes: Policymakers divided on timing of rate hike April 8, 2015 The Fed finally lost its "patience" last month, a move initially thought to imply short-term rates would rise in June, but then fed chair Janet Yellen tempered expectations by saying this "doesn't mean we are going to be impatient". And now we know why. Minutes released today show a marked divergence among officials on whether they [...]
TNT Express share price rises on FedEx’s €4.4bn bid April 7, 2015 Shares in Dutch firm TNT Express leapt by a third yesterday after FedEx announced a €4.4bn (£3.2bn) all-cash offer to acquire the beleaguered delivery giant. TNT has struggled since European regulators prevented it from merging with UPS in 2013, with its market share declining by five per cent leading to a €137m loss in the [...]
FTSE continues upward surge – London Report April 7, 2015 THE BENCHMARK FTSE 100 rose nearly two per cent yesterday as trading resumed after the Easter weekend. Shares around the world have been boosted by hopes that the US Federal Reserve will push back rate rises following weak American jobs data last week. The benchmark FTSE 100 index closed up 128.31 points, or 1.88 per [...]
Wall St slips on strong dollar – New York Report April 7, 2015 A STRONG dollar sent US stocks slightly lower yesterday, reversing course late in the session as optimism about deal news disappeared. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 5.43 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 17,875.42, the S&P 500 lost 4.29 points, or 0.21 per cent, to 2,076.33 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 7.08 points, or [...]
Fedex to buy TNT Europe in €4.4bn deal April 7, 2015 FedEx is making a major acquisition to expand its business in Europe with a billion-euro bid for TNT Europe. The US delivery firm has made an all-cash offer of €8.00 per share for the Dutch delivery group, valuing TNT at €4.4bn (£3.2bn). The offer represents a 33 per cent premium on its previous closing price. A major shareholder, PostNL [...]
The investment democrats April 6, 2015 Harriet Green talks investment gurus, Asian expansion and putting £1m of your own savings on the line with the founders of meetinvest, Michel and Maria Jacquemai LAST summer, Michel Jacquemai found himself under a pile of books by investment gurus. The portfolio manager, former Credit Suisse vice president, partner of investment manager Partners Group and [...]
European stocks’ impressive first quarter – CNBC Comment March 30, 2015 DESPITE suffering their biggest weekly fall of the year last week, European markets have enjoyed a good first quarter. While Bank of America Merrill Lynch notes that US equity funds have seen $44bn worth of outflows in 2015, chalking up their worst start to the year since 2009, Europe’s equity markets have been benefitting. The [...]
European markets rise on Fed rate hike caution March 30, 2015 European markets started the day higher, after comments made by US Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen hinted at "gradual" rate rises, reassuring investors. The FTSE 100 opened 0.6 per cent up, while Germany's Dax jumped 1.23 per cent and France's Cac 40 rose one per cent. Investors have showed caution in recent weeks after a [...]