Nicola Horlick: What effects will the fall of oil prices actually have? December 17, 2014 The precipitous fall in the oil price has resulted in sharp declines in share prices around the world, but the long-term effect of a lower oil price is to reduce the amount of cash in the pockets of oil producers and increase the amount available to consumers to spend. Overall, this is positive for markets [...]
Russia, Tesco and Alex Salmond feature in the seven biggest losers of 2014 December 17, 2014 It’s Christmas. The time of year when we’re all supposed to be a little more caring, charitable and considerate of those not feeling so swell. But for every champagne toast to success, there is regret at the bottom of a bottle. So summon some of that Christmas spirit for this sorry lot, the seven [...]
Rouble takes a beating as Apple halts sales in Russia December 16, 2014 Russia’s economic situation spiralled out of control yesterday as its central bank’s shock decision to raise interest rates to 17 per cent failed to prevent a further collapse in the rouble. The currency’s extreme volatility was reflected in a decision late last night by Apple – the world’s largest company – to suspend online sales [...]
Russian rouble crisis echoes UK Black Wednesday December 16, 2014 RUSSIA’S currency crisis, dubbed Black Tuesday, yesterday sparked memories of the UK’s own foray into drastic rate hikes – when sterling crashed out of the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). Britain’s Black Wednesday, as it became known, saw the Bank of England hike interest rates twice in one day in 1992 to ward off currency speculators [...]
FTSE 100 closes up despite volatile day as rouble plunges – London Report December 16, 2014 BRITAIN’S top equity index rose yesterday as a drop in UK inflation propped up the stock market in the face of market turmoil caused by Russia, while energy stocks rebounded. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index endured a volatile session, caused by a plunge in Russia’s rouble currency, before closing up by 2.4 per cent, or [...]
US can’t rebuff the Russian hit – New York Report December 16, 2014 US STOCKS fell for a third day in a volatile session yesterday, led by declines in consumer discretionary and technology shares, while another drop in the Russian rouble added to worries about the global economy. Energy shares rebounded, keeping the S&P 500 and Dow mostly in positive territory until a bout of late-day selling took [...]
More QE and a possible crisis: What markets will do in 2015 December 16, 2014 UK stocks look likely to be dominated by political risk PREDICTING the year ahead in markets can be a fool’s game. Last December, fund managers’ 2014 look-aheads heralded the start of a year in which Japan’s shock and awe Abenomics tactics would finally end its disinflationary misery, while the Eurozone would begin to turn a [...]
My year-ahead predictions: Divergence will be a crucial theme December 16, 2014 For the most part, 2014 has been volatile for global financial markets, with several key markets likely to record losses for the year. In the context of a recovering world economy, it has been disappointing. We predict more of the same next year, with the US and UK economies doing well, and emerging markets and [...]
Fifa throws out probe objection December 16, 2014 FOOTBALL world governing body Fifa has dismissed a complaint by its chief ethics investigator over the findings of his probe into World Cup bid corruption allegations. Michael Garcia complained that his evidence had been incorrectly summarised by Fifa’s chief ethic adjudicator Hans-Joachim Eckert, who ruled that neither Russia nor Qatar had unfairly influenced voting for [...]
Putin’s disaster economy now faces a perfect storm December 16, 2014 VLADIMIR Putin is surely receiving his long-awaited comeuppance, as his country struggles to deal with a full-blown currency rout, driven by plunging oil prices. For if the US and Saudi Arabia are indeed in cahoots to drive down the price of oil to smite their Russian enemy, as I have previously posited, one must admit [...]