Chinese trade data and dovish Yellen boost Asian markets May 8, 2014 Asian markets have been boosted by a recovery in Chinese exports and imports as well as Federal Reserve chairman Janet Yellen's commitment that the Fed will continue to support the US economy. Chinese export growth rose from -6.6 per cent year-on-year in March to 0.9 per cent in April, outperforming Bloomberg's median estimate of minus [...]
Yellen signals an end to stimulus by this autumn May 7, 2014 FEDERAL Reserve chair Janet Yellen confirmed yesterday that a continuing US recovery would mean an end to the country’s quantitative easing (QE) programme this autumn. Though the Fed appears to be committed to trimming QE purchases by $10bn (£5.9bn) each month, the central bank has previously been reluctant to lay down an official timeline for [...]
At the frontline: Responding to customer needs May 7, 2014 Jane Sunley, chief executive of online training provider Purple Cubed, talks to Annabel Palmer about the need for smaller companies to engage with clients at all levels of the customer journey JANE Sunley founded Purple Cubed in 2001 to offer businesses – including Thomas Pink and Pizza Express – advice on developing and retaining talent. [...]
Yellen: Low rates to stay as labour market still unsatisfactory May 7, 2014 Janet Yellen has today defended the US’s central bank’s accommodative policy, saying it still remains warranted – it’s not rushing to raise interest rates. Giving her testimony to Congress, this is Yellen’s first opportunity to speak following April’s improved jobs figures. Dismissing concerns over growth stangation in the first quarter – which, she said, were [...]
What you need to know before the US open May 7, 2014 US stocks have inched down ahead of Janet Yellen’s testimony to Congress this afternoon. Investors will be listening in carefully, looking for indications on how the Fed’s interpreting April’s economic data. Yellen’s expected to stick to the dovish rhetoric we’ve been hearing when it comes to policy, but more information will be wanted when it [...]
What you need to know before the open May 7, 2014 With the situation in Ukraine deteriorating, global markets are finding it difficult to push higher. The improvement in economic data from Europe yesterday was paired with the OECD slashing its forecast for the Russian economy. And that’s been followed this morning with some less-than-impressive services data for China, which makes it look less likely the [...]
Labour’s rent control plans would be a nightmare for tenants May 6, 2014 AS PART of its campaign against the “cost of living crisis”, Labour has stepped up with an offer to help struggling renters. Sadly, at best its proposals are a non-solution, and at worst a nightmare for tenants. The rent regulation that Ed Miliband plans to introduce would see three-year rental contracts become the norm, during [...]
Labour’s rent control plans would be a nightmare for tenants May 6, 2014 AS PART of its campaign against the “cost of living crisis”, Labour has stepped up with an offer to help struggling renters. Sadly, at best its proposals are a non-solution, and at worst a nightmare for tenants. The rent regulation that Ed Miliband plans to introduce would see three-year rental contracts become the norm, during [...]
What you need to know before the US open May 6, 2014 Futures suggest a slightly higher open for US markets, following more optimistic export figures for March. Exports gained two per cent last month – from $190bn in February to $193.9bn – suggesting the slide seen in the first two months of the year tailed off. There’s little else in the way of data today, though, with analysts [...]
What you need to know before the open May 6, 2014 Markets are expected to open slightly higher this morning, following Asian counterparts, which have gained on encouraging US data out yesterday. Although Wall Street saw a more solid finish, European stocks fell yesterday as worries over Ukraine rumbled on and weak Chinese data led investors to shy away from risk. Corporate news Barclays has announced [...]