London Report: FTSE snaps losing streak as Russia vows to pull troops August 11, 2014 BRITISH shares snapped a three-day losing streak yesterday after Russia said it would pull troops back from near the Ukrainian border, which investors interpreted as a sign of easing tensions between Moscow and Kiev. Late on Friday, Moscow’s defence ministry said it had ended military exercises in southern Russia, which the United States had criticised [...]
New York Report: US equities continue rally August 11, 2014 US stocks ended higher yesterday, extending the rally from Friday as investors hoped that Russia’s move to send humanitarian aid to Ukraine would ease tensions between the two countries. Earlier in the day, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned of a “high probability” that Russia, using the guise of a humanitarian mission, could intervene militarily [...]
Russia to send humanitarian convoy to Ukrainian rebels August 11, 2014 Russia is to send a Red-cross aid convoy to the Ukrainian rebel stronghold of Luhansk. Western governments including Ukraine have been opposed to Russia's sending of aid, but have softened their stance. Nevertheless there was a clear warning to the Kremlin, as the EU Comission chief cautioned Vladimir Putin's government not to engage in unilateral [...]
The Week Ahead: US investors look for safety August 10, 2014 INVESTORS once again are snapping up high-dividend-paying US stocks as Treasury yields fall, which should keep utilities and telecom stocks near the top of the buying list for the near future. The S&P 500 utility sector, whose dividend yield at 3.9 per cent is more than 100 basis points above the 10-year Treasury yield, led [...]
West warns Russia not to use humanitarian mission as a pretext to invade Ukraine August 9, 2014 The UK and US governments have advised Russia against using humanitarian assistance as a cover-up for sending troops to eastern Ukraine. "I am deeply concerned by reports of an increased flow of heavy weapons crossing into Ukrainian sovereign territory from Russia and by reports of Russian armed forces exercising for a 'humanitarian intervention' in [...]
Stock markets dip after US approves air strikes on Iraq August 8, 2014 Stock markets have taken a hit in the wake of Barack Obama's decision to authorise air strikes on Iraq, with investors seeking safe haven assets. The price of crude has also risen to $105.76 a barrel. According to a Pentagon spokesman, the US has conducted an airstrike on Islamic State artillery used against Kurdish forces [...]
UK trade deficit widens but construction is up August 8, 2014 The UK's trade deficit widened in June for the third consecutive month, going up to £2.5bn from May's figure of £2.4bn. Trade deficit is a measure of the difference between a country's imports and exports – and is a contributing factor to overall economic growth. Goods trade deficit In June, exports of [...]
North Pole winter floods into summer for this City veteran August 8, 2014 It’s silly season in the City as its workers jet off to hotter climes – Ibiza, Tuscany and the South of France are destinations The Capitalist has heard time and time again. But Winterflood Securities’ founder Brian Winterflood had different ideas this summer. He’s just back from the North Pole. “It was on my bucket [...]
Adidas vows to up its game as profits crash August 8, 2014 GERMAN sportswear giant Adidas yesterday announced a 25 per cent drop in half-year net profit, blaming this on consumer sentiment in Russia and the euro’s strength. Although World Cup-related sales increased two per cent to €3.465bn (£2.75bn) in the second quarter of 2014 , its first half, pre-tax profit dived 25 per cent to €495m [...]
Coca-Cola bottler HBC wobbles as Russian tensions hurt sales August 8, 2014 SHARES of Coca-Cola HBC, the largest bottler of the soft drinks company in Europe, tanked yesterday after it warned that volumes would fall for the rest of the year, citing a “sudden deterioration” in Russia, its biggest market. The world’s second largest bottler of Coca-Cola drinks saw its shares fall 5.3 per cent on the [...]