London Report: Water firms to show how well profits flowing November 24, 2013 THE FTSE 100’s latest female executive, Liv Garfield, will get an idea of what she’ll face when she joins Severn Trent next year as her new employer announces interim results, along with Pennon and United Utilities. The three, who have been called on by regulators to stop planned price hikes, are expected to have increased [...]
What you need to know before the open – 31/10 October 31, 2013 The Fed's decision last night to stick with its current stimulus level wasn't a big surprise, given the probable damage caused by shutdown. US markets were dragged down, however, on the absence of discussion on shutdown, tight credit conditions and high interest rates. Asian markets were cooled by the news, too, with Seoul shares edging [...]
Consumer confidence slides October 30, 2013 Consumer confidence in the UK dipped for the first time this year in October, according to a widely-regarded index published this morning. The measure, conducted by research group GfK, slipped from minus 10 to minus 11 – having improved from minus 27 back in April. “We are still higher than at any time since December [...]
Before the Open: Politics continue to mute markets September 26, 2013 US and European markets are expected to open lower again today after political squabbling in the US over raising the debt ceiling. Global markets are suffering from risk-off. US equities saw their 5th straight loss overnight with risk currencies once again following. — RMB Global Markets (@RMB_GM) September 26, 2013 Asian markets closed lower, [...]
Italy consumers confident after two-year gap September 25, 2013 CONSUMER confidence in Italy has finally rebounded this month, responding to the Eurozone’s fragile recovery from an 18-month recession. According to official statistics released yesterday, Italian consumer confidence is in positive territory for the first time since August 2011, just after the European Central Bank’s last attempt to hike interest rates. The headline index for [...]
London Week Ahead: Mark versus market in first public speech August 26, 2013 BANK of England governor Mark Carney’s keynote lunch speech to business leaders in Nottingham tomorrow has already been dubbed “Mark versus Market” – with market watchers dubious about Carney’s claims for long-term low interest rates. Rob Wood, economist at Berenberg Bank, said: “Growing momentum in the economy, rapidly rising house prices, and wide disagreements on [...]
Britain getting more confident about growth July 30, 2013 THE BRITISH economy was the most upbeat of any major European country in July, shooting upward in the past month, official EU statistics show. And GfK’s consumer confidence barometer for the UK also recorded a strong upswing, rising to minus 16, its highest level since April 2010. Though the measure is still negative, it has [...]
UK consumer confidence hits 39 month high in July July 30, 2013 UK consumer confidence has hit its highest level since April 2010, according to the GfK NOP index which rose by five points in July. Nick Moon, managing director of Social Research at GfK, comments: There is now no doubt that consumer confidence has recovered strongly from the unparalleled trough of the last five years. At [...]
London Report: UK’s corporate calendar packed in results season July 28, 2013 THE CORPORATE calendar is packed this week, as businesses including ITV, BP, Lloyds, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland update the market amid a swathe of other results. The week begins with figures from Fidessa Group, Hammerson, InterContinental Hotels Group, Intertek Group, JKX Oil & Gas, Keller Group, Senior, Vernalis, Reckitt Benckiser Group, National Grid, [...]
Hope for the high street as UK consumer confidence improves January 30, 2013 BRITISH consumers have started the year feeling less pessimistic about the country’s economic prospects, a widely-regarded survey revealed this morning. Research company GfK’s first consumer confidence barometer of 2013 found that expectations for the general economic situation over the coming year jumped by six index points. While still slumped in negative territory, this sub-index climbed [...]