CNBC Comment: Why Kiev’s corruption problem matters March 17, 2014 WHAT have insider trading, price-fixing, front-running financial market players got to do with the Crimea crisis we are now confronting in Ukraine? On the surface, not a lot. But as I sit here at my vantage point overlooking the destruction and barricades in the centre of Kiev, I can’t help thinking that there is one [...]
What you need to know before the US open March 17, 2014 As investors wait to see how US and EU powers continue to respond to the referendum in Crimea yesterday, S&P 500 stocks futures suggest US markets will open slightly higher today. European markets have extended the early gains they made today, keeping their nerve, despite rising tensions over the Ukrainian crisis and weak EU inflation [...]
Russian gold glitters in face of Ukraine conflict March 17, 2014 The geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine are boosting the gold price and benefitting Russian miners, according to Canaccord Genuity today. The broker has upgraded its recommendations on Russian gold producers Polymetal International and Petropavlovsk to “buy”, as a result of its bullish view on the yellow metal and a weaker currency, [...]
Markets unfazed as Hague confirms sanctions to come March 17, 2014 Markets have shrugged off the news this morning that 96.7 per cent of Crimean voters voted for joining Russia, according to the official results of yesterday's referendum, with the FTSE 100 up almost 0.3 per cent, and the DAX and CAC 40 up almost 0.2 per cent. Turnout yesterday has been reported at 83.1 [...]
Asian shares slide after Crimea vote March 17, 2014 Asian shares have taken a hit as Western leaders condemned the controversial referendum in Crimea as a “mockery of proper democratic practice,” even as Russia claimed it had won a 95.5 per cent mandate for it to annex the Ukrainian province. President Obama’s spokesman said “the international community will not recognise the results of a [...]
Russia under fire over Crimea poll March 17, 2014 FOREIGN secretary William Hague last night joined a chorus of disapproval condemning a controversial referendum in the Crimea as a “mockery of proper democratic practice,” even as Russia claimed it had won a 95.5 per cent mandate for it to annex the Ukrainian province. President Obama’s spokesman said “the international community will not recognise the [...]
Russia’s Ukrainian grab requires a firmer response from West March 17, 2014 AT THE start of every year, forecasters try to predict what could go wrong over the next 12 months – and every time, they get it terribly, spectacularly wrong. Just three months ago, the big risks were seen to be China, Iran, tapering or Eurozone deflation – of course, one or all of these could [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 17 March 2014 March 17, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES Big banks put forex bonuses on hold Barclays, Citigroup and Royal Bank of Scotland have frozen bonuses across swaths of their foreign exchange trading teams pending internal investigations into possible manipulation of key currency benchmarks. The cash and share bonus suspensions are targeted on the wider team rather than just the traders under [...]
I’m off skiing. That’s nice. Where? Valmorel. Never heard of it. Me neither… March 16, 2014 If you’re looking for an alpine adventure before the snow melts, check out the slopes at this underrated resort: perfect for Francophiles THE above conversation happened every time I told someone I was going to Valmorel. Virtually no one from Britain goes skiing there. Before my trip I could barely find a mention of it [...]
What you need to know before the US open March 14, 2014 US futures had been moving higher today, pointing to a more optimistic open for markets after a difficult week. But bond yields have slipped after an unexpected fall in producer prices: The producer price index fell 0.1 per cent in February, with services decreasing 0.3 per cent. Goods, however, rose 0.4 per cent. Consumer confidence, [...]