London Report: Weak China figures prompt FTSE to fall to three-week low March 10, 2014 BRITAIN’S top equity index fell to its lowest closing level since mid-February yesterday, dragged down by major mining stocks and telecoms group Vodafone. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed down by 0.4 per cent, or 23.22 points, at 6,689.45 points – marking its lowest closing level since it ended at 6,663.62 points on 14 February. [...]
Miners take a tumble as China’s credit growth slows even more March 10, 2014 Weak trading data from China – exports unexpectedly fell 18.1 per cent in February from a year earlier, and imports rose 10.1 per cent – has hit miners this morning. BHP Billiton’s down almost two per cent, with Anglo American and Glencore Xstrata both down over one per cent, and Rio Tinto down almost one [...]
Glencore beats forecasts with £7.9bn earnings March 4, 2014 INTEGRATED miner-trader Glencore Xstrata yesterday pleased investors and analysts with consensus-busting earnings, in its first full-year results since the completion of its merger. Adjusted earnings of $13.1bn (£7.86bn) were flat but beat company-compiled estimates by seven per cent and Barclays forecasts by five per cent. Core profit from Glencore’s trading arm rose 17 per cent, [...]
London Report: FTSE reverses losses as crisis in Crimea eases March 4, 2014 THE UK’S top share index rebounded from two-week lows yesterday, recouping its losses in the previous session, with the perception that tensions between Russia and Ukraine were easing and robust earnings boosting investors’ risk appetite. However, investors remained cautious in placing strong bets on the sustainability of the share rally, given that Russia and the [...]
Glencore Xstrata upbeat about 2014 after 2013’s weaker prices March 4, 2014 Glencore Xstrata has confirmed that it saw broad production growth over 2013. Copper increased 26 per cent, despite a reasonably challenging year for the metal, and reported revenue rose nine per cent to an astonishing $233bn last year. On a pro forma basis, revenue crept up just one per cent to £239bn, showing that, like others, the [...]
What you need to know before the open March 4, 2014 Russia’s stock market has jumped five per cent this morning, a rebound from yesterday’s catastrophic fall of over 10 per cent. The rebound could be a response to reports that Russian troops have been ordered back to their bases, which also mean European markets should open higher this morning. The US has suspended military relations [...]
London Report: UK marks five-year anniversary of low Bank interest rate March 2, 2014 WEDNESDAY marks the five-year anniversary of the Bank of England’s record low 0.5 per cent interest rate, a figure that Thursday’s rates decision is unlikely to change. In other economic news, February PMI reports for manufacturing, construction and services will be announced. The corporate calendar starts today with news from Amlin, Intertek, Keller Group, Senior [...]
European Report: Shares climb to highest level since January February 17, 2014 EUROPEAN shares climbed to a three-week high in thin volumes yesterday, extending a strong two-week rally fuelled by record inflows from a greater number of investors betting on the region’s economic recovery. Data showing brisk lending in China, the world’s biggest metals consumer, boosted miners, with BHP Billiton and Glencore Xstrata rising 1.2 per cent [...]
Glencore enjoys surge in copper production as zinc and lead disappoint February 11, 2014 Mining giant Glencore has reported a surge in copper production of 26 per cent to 1.5m tonnes, while coal output rose four per cent in the year to 31 December. The strong performance of copper and coal helped offset weaker results from zinc and lead. Zinc output fell by nine per cent while lead suffered [...]
London Report: Barclays, Bank of England and Lloyds in focus February 9, 2014 BRITISH banks will be under the spotlight this week as Barclays and Lloyds deliver their full-year results and Bank of England governor Mark Carney updates the markets on its forward guidance policy for setting rates. Lloyds has already provided an update on its progress, predicting an underlying profit of £6.2bn for 2013 compared to £2.6bn [...]