What you need to know before the US open April 28, 2014 US stocks futures have been buoyed by the slew of M&A activity we’ve seen today, suggesting markets will following European counterparts at the open. European stocks are still being lifted by announced deals, with AstraZeneca still the biggest mover on the FTSE, keeping the index near seven-week highs. Meanwhile, President Obama’s announced further sanctions against [...]
Asian markets tumble as Russia sanctions loom April 28, 2014 Asian markets are in retreat after a lacklustre performance on Wall Street and western nations prepare to impose further on sanctions on Russia in wake of heightened tensions in Ukraine. Representatives from all 28 EU member states will meet today to impose travel restrictions and asset freezes on a further 15 influential Russians, according to [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 28 April 2014 April 28, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES Pfizer renews interest in AstraZeneca Pfizer, the US pharmaceuticals group, has renewed its interest in a takeover of UK rival AstraZeneca, in what would be one of the global drugs industry’s largest ever deals. The US group approached AstraZeneca, which has a market value of £51.5bn, within the last week and could make [...]
S&P downgrades Russia to BBB- April 25, 2014 Standard and Poor’s has cut its credit rating for Russia to BBB- – the lowest investment grade. The reason for the downgrade to a notch above "junk" is owing to large capital outflows from the country and worsening economic risks, the credit rating agency said, as the situation over Ukraine becomes more tense. It maintains [...]
Sanctions on Russia will hurt – but doing nothing also has a price April 23, 2014 EUROPEAN leaders were quick to say Russia’s annexation of Crimea was “unacceptable”, but mostly accepted it. Others say they know Russia is behind the violence in eastern Ukraine, but still do nothing. Talk is cheap. The real test is whether the EU will move from rhetoric to real action and impose meaningful sanctions on Russia. [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 23 April 2014 April 22, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES Russian bank’s post-Crimea bond A Russian bank in the oil-rich region of Tatarstan has become the country’s first lender to issue a dollar-denominated bond since Moscow’s official annexation of Crimea and the subsequent tension with western governments. Tatfondbank, which has branches across Russia, raised $70m yesterday through a three-year bond. Numericable eyes €8.5bn [...]
Ukraine peace deal unravelling fast as violence flares in the east April 22, 2014 A FRAGILE peace deal, agreed between Russia and Ukraine last Thursday, looks to be unravelling after reports that two pro-Ukrainian supporters, one a politician, were tortured and killed emerged yesterday. Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov called for counter-terrorist operations, suspended last week as part of the peace deal, to resume in eastern Ukraine. “The terrorists [...]
Polymetal commits to London listing as gold production rises April 22, 2014 RUSSIAN precious metals miner Polymetal said yesterday that it has no plans to move its listing from London to Moscow, as it unveiled a 34 per cent surge in gold output in the first quarter. The FTSE 250 company, which fell out of the top 100 index last year, shrugged off recent proposals from Russian [...]
Natlata may back Petroneft deal April 22, 2014 Shares in Aim-listed Russian oil explorer Petroneft surged yesterday, after its largest shareholder Natlata indicated that it may support a recently-agreed farm-out agreement with Oil India. “If the deal is as attractive as suggested, Natlata would consider supporting it,” it said. But Natlata added that further details were lacking on the deal and urged for more [...]
It’s time to read the writing on the wall: Why the West no longer exists April 22, 2014 WHATEVER the final outcome of the violently simmering crisis in Ukraine, and however likely it is that that embattled state will remain caught in Russia’s crushing embrace, the greatest global political risk can’t be found in Kiev, eastern Ukraine or any of the other hotspots that get the media so excited. It lies in the [...]