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 [...]
Holcim open to Eurocement offer April 1, 2015 SWISS cement maker Holcim is open to giving Russia’s Eurocement a seat on the board after its merger with French peer Lafarge goes through, chairman Wolfgang Reitzle said yesterday. Russian businessman Filaret Galchev, who owns a 10.8 per cent stake in Holcim via Eurocement Holding, on Sunday rejected the renegotiated merger terms that Holcim had [...]
Political risk is rising globally – with worrying consequences for markets April 1, 2015 Uncertainty about global and domestic politics is greater today than it has been for some years. It is therefore inevitable that political risk will play a more prominent role in capital market investment decisions than it has done for many years. Political risk is not a new phenomenon in markets. As early as 1294, the [...]
Iran nuclear talks: What’s Iran doing to make everyone think it’s trying to build a weapon? April 1, 2015 Today, world leaders are hoping to finally come to an agreement over Iran's nuclear programme. Representatives for the UK, US, China, Russia and Germany have met with Iran in Lausanne, Switzerland, to try and persuade it to curb its nuclear enrichment programme in return for an easing of economic sanctions. Iran has been accused [...]
General Election 2015: Row over tax on business erupts between Labour and the Tories March 30, 2015 Labour and the Conservatives will today lock horns over the levels of tax imposed on companies, as business takes centre stage in the fiercely contested General Election campaign. Labour will announce today that, if elected, the party’s first Budget will cut business rates, in a move they say will be worth an average of £400 [...]
Wealthy Russians push up rents by paying annual cost upfront March 30, 2015 WEALTHY tenants from Russia, Ukraine, Nigeria and China are pushing up high-end rents in the capital by paying for an entire year of tenancy upfront, a new study has suggested. Upmarket lettings agency EJ Harris said the number of wealthy foreign investors paying annual rents upfront had doubled in the past year, from one in [...]
Rolls-Royce in $1bn Air China engine deal to supply Trent 1000 engines for passenger jets March 30, 2015 Engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce has extended its deals with Air China, after being selected to supply its Trent 1000 engines for 15 new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner passenger jets. According to the British technology firm, the new contract is worth $1bn (£675m). Previously, Rolls-Royce supplied the airline with Trent 700 engines for 49 Airbus A330 aircraft, with [...]
New credit crisis brews in emerging markets March 30, 2015 Beware contagion from looming bank failure in Brazil INVESTORS in emerging markets have been left sorely disappointed in recent years, as on-going political and economic problems are plaguing the sector’s key nations, including Brazil, China, Turkey and Russia. Over five years, the MSCI Emerging Markets index has risen just 8.9 per cent, compared to the [...]
Wealthy Russians are pushing up London rental prices by paying an entire year’s rent upfront – as stamp duty and the mansion tax scare buyers into becoming tenants March 30, 2015 Wealthy tenants from Russia, Ukraine, Nigeria and China are pushing up high-end rents in the capital by paying for an entire year of tenancy upfront, a new study has suggested. Upmarket lettings agency EJ Harris said the number of wealthy foreign investors paying annual rents upfront has doubled in the past year, from one in [...]
Iran and world powers race to agree accord before deadline March 29, 2015 World powers stepped up nuclear talks with Iran today as they race to agree on the parameters of an accord ahead of a self-imposed deadline on 31 March. The foreign ministers of the United States, France and Germany are reported to have cancelled their travel plans over the next few days. It's hoped the negotiations, [...]