The UK is not as dependent on Russian money as you think March 24, 2014 IT IS obvious that Russia is a significant source of jobs, trade and investment for the UK. But it is also important not to exaggerate these links: while they matter a lot for a few industries, they are less important overall than some commentators assume. It is entirely untrue that London would collapse without Russian [...]
Russian firms count the cost of Crimea crisis March 24, 2014 RUSSIAN firms in London have seen their share prices tank and borrowing costs leap since the Ukraine crisis, with the businesses worried their reputations have taken a severe knock. Some Russian stocks trading in the UK have fallen by more than 30 per cent since the start of the year, as turmoil in emerging markets [...]
Letters to the Editor – 24/03 – Brexit fears, Data appreciation, Best of Twitter March 23, 2014 Brexit fears Hitachi’s decision to move its rail business to Britain, and Bentley’s decision to move more engineering here, confounds the claim by scaremongers that a Brexit from the EU would stop inward investment to the UK. It suggests that companies appreciate that our location, language, business culture and access to the City of London [...]
4 reasons now is the right time to get excited about gold March 21, 2014 With last year's 28 per cent price crash – suffering its sharpest fall in 30 years – it wasn’t just gold bugs and mining companies who have had to endure gold’s bumpy road, as its crashing popularity signalled a shift in economic confidence, upping the favour of paperless assets. This year, things have started to [...]
What you need to know before the US open March 21, 2014 US stock futures have climbed higher, putting Wall Street on track for a good week, despite ongoing geopolitical worries and an interest rate-related fright from the Fed. Things have been escalating between Russia and the West. Obama’s targeted some of Putin’s nearest political and business allies, and the EU’s imposed sanctions on more individuals, in [...]
Introducing Yummy: The rise of HSBC’s metrosexual shopper March 21, 2014 It hasn’t been an easy ride recently for luxury brands operating in emerging markets. This week, Mulberry lost its chief executive, following a shock profit warning in January, and brands Hermes, Kering and LVMH have seen their stocks slide over ten per cent since the autumn. The continued worries about the slowdown in the Chinese [...]
All possible Russian sanctions in one chart March 21, 2014 The European Union is struggling to come up with any measures that would have a meaningful impact on Russian decision making. Earlier today it announced that sanctions related to Russia's annexation of Crimea would be extended to a further 12 individuals. Russia's upper house unanimously approved the treaty that annexed the Ukrainian region on Friday. [...]
What you need to know before the open March 21, 2014 Despite a stronger finish yesterday, markets are expected to remain cautious today, still recovering from Janet Yellen’s surprise suggestions on Wednesday that interest rates could go up sooner than expected. Better than forecast weekly jobless claims and manufacturing activity in Philadelphia in March gave equities something of a boost yesterday. European markets will most likely [...]
EU adds more individuals to Crimea sanctions list March 21, 2014 The EU has agreed to ramp up sanctions in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, imposing them on a further 12 individuals. The move follows President Barack Obama’s earlier confirmation that the US will be meting out further sanctions against Russia. The EU said it won’t accept the annexation now, or in [...]
Asian markets rise after biggest fall for seven months March 21, 2014 Asian shares have gained ground after suffering the biggest loss since August yesterday. The dollar strengthened on Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen's suggestion that interest rates could rise in the first six months of 2015. Markets continue watch events in Ukraine unfold while Russia and the US traded sanctions. The US has imposed sanctions on [...]