FTSE closes above 5,800 mark after good US data boosts world outlook May 1, 2012 B RITAIN’S top share index jumped more than one per cent yesterday after stronger-than-expected US manufacturing data gave a lift to global growth hopes, pulling commodity stocks higher. Banks were also in demand as investor risk appetite returned. Shares of Lloyds rallied more than eight per cent after the part state-owned lender reported a £288m [...]
The mayoral debate: Boris and Ken issue their final message to voters April 30, 2012 THIS election comes when we have been going through the toughest times that anyone can remember. The big question is therefore blindingly simple. It is about who has the best plan for the jobs and growth that will help bring prosperity to all. It is about who will deliver the investment – from central government [...]
Shell earnings rise fuelled by oil price jump April 26, 2012 OIL major Royal Dutch Shell beat forecasts yesterday with an 11 per cent rise in quarterly profit, fuelled by higher oil prices. Europe’s largest oil company by market capitalisation said its current cost of supply (CCS) net income – an industry measure of profit – jumped to $7.66bn (£4.7bn). Production lifted by 1.4 per cent [...]
Silence of the doves as inflation concerns grow April 18, 2012 AFTER tolerating the UK’s high inflation for years, Bank of England officials have suddenly begun to worry that it is not coming down towards its two per cent target as they had hoped. The Bank had predicted inflation would fall to its target before the end of the year, but deputy governor Paul Tucker yesterday [...]
It’s true: There’s a real danger that fracking will cause a major boom April 17, 2012 A REPORT commissioned by the government and released yesterday has given the green light to the extraction of shale gas. The report concludes that hydraulic fracturing (fracking), a technology that pumps water and chemicals underground to fracture shale formations in order to release trapped gas, is safe but requires tight regulation and seismic monitoring. The [...]
UK inflation rises April 17, 2012 British inflation ticked up in March, driven by higher food and clothing prices and reinforcing expectations the Bank of England will not inject more stimulus into the economy next month. The Bank of England and the government have been hoping that falling price pressures will ease the squeeze on Britons’ budgets and boost consumer spending. [...]
Good earnings help US shares bounce back April 11, 2012 AN encouraging start to earnings season helped US stocks rebound yesterday five days of losses that pushed the S&P 500 below a key technical level. Equities cut gains late in the session after the Federal Reserve said rising energy costs were a concern for economic growth. Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said the economy would [...]
Consumers hit as oil inflates UK food prices April 4, 2012 FOOD price inflation started rising again in March after five months of falls, according to data published today, as increased oil and fuel costs pushed up transport expenses. However, non-food prices were lower than in the same month of 2011, as weak consumer demand forced firms to cut prices to battle for attention on the [...]
US DATA KEY TO CONTEST AMONG BULLS AND BEARS April 2, 2012 FX 360 ONE of the more astounding aspects about the recent price action in the currency market is the absolute lack of direction in euro-dollar. Over the past week the pair has traded in a miniscule 150 point range – its narrowest swing in more than four years. With the Greek saga now behind us [...]
BEST of the BROKERS April 1, 2012 GDF SUEZ UBS rates the energy group “buy” and has a 12-month price target of €23. The broker thinks GDF’s bid for the remainder of London-listed peer International Power has come earlier than expected, although the offer itself is hardly surprising. UBS reckons the offer price of 390p per share is likely to rise, and [...]