Budget Special March 23, 2011 THE CBI The UK’s top business lobbying organisation. It aims to influence government policy on a wide range of business matters. DIRECTOR GENERAL JOHN CRIDLAND “The chancellor has made clear the UK is open for business. The extra 1p cut in corporation tax will help firms increase investment. Meanwhile, significant changes to entrepreneurs’ taxation will [...]
FTSE 100 breaks its winning streak as risk appetite wanes March 22, 2011 BRITAIN’S top share index fell yesterday, snapping a three-session rally, as further airstrikes against Libya and disruption caused by the earthquake in Japan dented investors’ appetite for risk. At the close, the FTSE 100 index was 23.38 points lower, or down 0.4 per cent, at 5,762.71, having rallied 2.9 per cent over the three previous [...]
Libya ceasefire soothes markets March 18, 2011 A ceasefire by Colonel Gaddafi’s forces in Libya has helped energy companies and spurred the markets on to a positive close, with the FTSE 100 closing 0.4 per cent up at 5,718.13. Political news dominated the day as G7 governments pulled together to support Japan’s efforts to stabilise its currency the yen. Central banks intervened [...]
Japan races to cool unstable nuclear plants March 16, 2011 OPERATORS of the quake-crippled nuclear plant in Japan said they would try again yesterday to use military helicopters to douse overheating reactors, as US officials warned of a rising risk of a catastrophic radiation leak from spent fuel rods. Japan had earlier called off helicopters attempting to pour water on its exposed nuclear reactors at [...]
Investors drop equities on continued Japan worries March 16, 2011 HEIGHTENED fears about the nuclear crisis in Japan saw investors shun equities yesterday, with falls by heavyweight commodity issues dragging Britain’s top share index lower. Banks were the biggest fallers, however, also under pressure as a downgrade of Portugal’s credit rating by Moody’s further unnerved investors. At the close, the FTSE 100 was down 97.05 [...]
US wholesale prices rise fastest in 18 months March 16, 2011 US producer prices surged in February at their fastest pace in just over 18 months, pointing to a build-up in pipeline inflation pressures from soaring food and energy costs. The US Labor Department says its seasonally-adjusted index for prices paid at the farm and factory gate jumped 1.6 per cent, the largest increase since June [...]
ABNORMAL YEN STRENGTH MAY NOT LAST LONG March 15, 2011 DIRECTOR OF CURRENCY RESEARCH, GFT IMAGINE a country with a debt-to-GDP ratio in excess of 200 per cent, faced with a massive natural disaster that leads to a nuclear emergency. The situation deteriorates further as a third of the country’s energy’s production is lost. Under normal conditions, that country’s currency would come under sustained selling [...]
Antofagasta to pay $1bn extra to shareholders March 8, 2011 CHILE-FOCUSED miner Antofagasta revealed a huge special dividend of almost $1bn (£619m) yesterday to share last year’s rewards from booming copper prices and increased production. The firm said pre-tax profit rose 79 per cent to $2.5bn, boosted by an 18 per cent rise in copper production. However, the results missed some forecasts once one-off gains [...]
FTSE bounces on commodity rebound as oil price weakens March 3, 2011 A REBOUND by commodity stocks fuelled strong gains by the UK’s top share index yesterday, as oil prices fell back on hopes for a peace deal in Libya, easing concerns over global demand. The FTSE 100 was up 90.20 points or 1.5 per cent at 6,005.09 at the close, ending above the 6,000 level for [...]
Wall St shrugs off fresh oil price rise March 2, 2011 US stocks eked out gains yesterday despite another rise in oil prices as investors bet the latest data signaled the economy could absorb expected higher energy costs. Wall Street seesawed as oil fluctuated throughout the day. Brent crude LCOc1 hit a 2 1/2-year high above $117 a barrel in the late morning but later slipped. [...]