More QE and a possible crisis: What markets will do in 2015 December 16, 2014 UK stocks look likely to be dominated by political risk PREDICTING the year ahead in markets can be a fool’s game. Last December, fund managers’ 2014 look-aheads heralded the start of a year in which Japan’s shock and awe Abenomics tactics would finally end its disinflationary misery, while the Eurozone would begin to turn a [...]
UK inflation falls to lowest rate since 2002 thanks to plumetting oil prices December 16, 2014 UK inflation fell to its lowest rate since 2002 in November after petrol costs were cut due to plummeting oil prices. The rate of consumer price growth fell to one per cent last month, the lowest rate for 12 years and down from a 1.3 per cent rate in October. Any hopes investors [...]
US stock markets in 2015: Are there any pockets of value? December 9, 2014 Fund managers are finding opportunities in retail shares. According to IMF forecasts, US growth will accelerate to more than 3 per cent in 2015 (compared to just over 2 per cent this year), tearing past other G7 countries like Britain, which is expected to grow by around 2.7 per cent. The Dow Jones and S&P [...]
Oil price hits a five-year low: What does this mean for markets? December 8, 2014 Equities could see a lift, but it’s bad news for oil exporters Looking ahead to 2015, there’s plenty for markets to fret about. Rate hikes in the UK and US are a near certainty – after years of extraordinary monetary stimulus that propped up asset prices and kept sovereign bond yields low – as are [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: George Osborne hits banks to help home buyers December 3, 2014 Chancellor plays Robin Hood by grabbing from the wealthy to fund stamp duty sweetener for those lower down property ladder. THE UK ECONOMIC OUTLOOK ● The UK’s economic growth has outperformed the March forecast of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), giving Britain the fastest growth rate in the G7. ● Unemployment has fallen [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: This is what the CBI wants George Osborne to deliver November 24, 2014 What will George Osborne get out of his red box when he delivers the Autumn Statement next week? The CBI got off the starting block early with its wishlist, asking for a range of measures to boost British business, including better infrastructure around Stonehenge and business rates reform. Here's what the group businesses wants to [...]
Eco-toilet firm Propelair flush with new funds November 13, 2014 CF Woodford Equity Income Fund, headed by top British fund manager Neil Woodford, yesterday agreed to pour £2.6m into toilet firm Propelair. Propelair will use the funds to support the expansion of its sales, marketing and installation teams. It will also provide working capital for the firm to widen its customer base and build stock [...]
Vodafone and Sainsbury push FTSE 100 slightly up – London Report November 11, 2014 The FTSE 100 yesterday advanced to its highest level in more than a month, as a rise in mobile operator Vodafone and supermarket retailer Sainsbury offset a slump in energy stocks. The blue chip index closed up by 0.2 per cent, or 16.15 points, at 6,627.40 points – its best closing level since late September. [...]
As oil prices remain depressed, could this signal the end of the shale revolution? November 5, 2014 Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, says Yes. A period in which crude oil prices were below $80 per barrel would begin to hurt the US shale industry. Over the past four years, the average price of US-produced WTI crude has been north of $95 per barrel, and while this has triggered [...]
Stress Awareness Day 2014: How to cope with workplace pressure November 4, 2014 On Stress Awareness Day, Brian Claridge looks at how high-powered businesspeople manage the strain. It’s often painted as a purely personal issue, but research released today by Friends Life finds that stress could be costing UK companies £690m a day. The report, coinciding with National Stress Awareness Day, found that 23 per cent of [...]