China’s economic slowdown: There’s been blood on the trading floor this Black Monday – but should we be afraid of what’s to come? August 24, 2015 The Chinese government and regulators are currently learning some of the more harsh lessons that their Western counterparts have found out over the last century or so. You can fight free markets as much as you want but sooner or later you will lose. Monday’s 8.5 per cent fall in the Shanghai Composite, when [...]
China’s economic slowdown: Commodities plunge to 16 year low as China fears push oil prices down further August 24, 2015 Commodity companies’ shares have been hit hard by crashing oil prices and “Black Monday” market fears that China’s slowdown will worsen a global oversupply of raw materials. Bloomberg’s commodity index, a basket tracking 22 different raw materials, tumbled to 86.3542 today, its lowest level since 1999, as commodity prices continue to slump amid a global [...]
China’s economic slowdown: Shares in Shanghai Composite, Hang Seng, Taiex and Nikkei close down August 24, 2015 Markets throughout Asia collapsed on Monday amid concerns over China's slowdown, prompting comparisons with the region's financial crisis in the early 1990s. The Shanghai Composite closed 8.49 per cent down, wiping out all 2015 gains so far and marking the largest drop since 2007. Taiwan’s Taiex closed down 4.8 per cent, though during trading it [...]
Chaos on European markets as FTSE 100 tumbles, while S&P 500 crashes below 2,000 points August 21, 2015 The FTSE 100 clocked its biggest weekly loss this year, falling 2.8 per cent to 6,187.6 points, while US markets were equally hit, with the S&P 500 crashing below 2,000 for the first time since February. Meanwhile, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 closed down three per cent, its worst one-day fall since October. Britain's top share [...]
From TfL Tube strike and Greek debt crisis to awful colleagues and FTSE woes: Here’s what got us talking this week August 21, 2015 There was a flypast. There was a bus in someone’s front garden. And somewhere – or perhaps everywhere – the sound of prosecco corks being popped overtook those of champagne. Here’s what got us talking this week 1. Our colleagues To be fair, it’s something we probably discuss most weeks, and we’re not alone. Perhaps that’s [...]
Volatility on European and Asian markets sets off the Vix “fear index” August 21, 2015 A widely watched “fear index” jumped 16 per cent in intraday trading to 22.19 points amid increasing concern about a slowdown in China’s economy. A purchasing managers survey released early this morning showed China’s factories shrank at the fastest rate in almost six-and-a-half-years in August. The news has weighed on stock markets in Asia, Europe [...]
FTSE hits 2015 low as China stocks plummet after sharp contraction in manufacturing August 21, 2015 The FTSE 100 hit a new intraday low for 2015 this morning, falling as low as 6,328 points, after shock manufacturing figures from China pushed markets across the world lower. Figures published overnight showed Chinese factories contracted at their fastest pace in six and a half years in August. The Caixin/Markit purchasing managers' index for [...]
Unlimited upsides? Check. Too big to fail? Check. History tells us careful investors could be about to make millions in China August 21, 2015 The Chinese government could be forgiven if it now feels rather pleased with itself. After interventions including banning negative reporting on markets, threatening to prosecute short-sellers, and ordering companies to engage in share buybacks, it has succeeded in arresting a stock market crash – albeit with a few bumps along the way. Not many governments [...]
Asian life insurer AIA weathers China storm to note rising profit August 21, 2015 ASIAN life insurer AIA yesterday reported a robust rise in the profitability of new policies it sells to customers alongside a double- digit increase in the value of this new business. Tottenham Hotspur-shirt sponsor AIA has shrugged off China’s slowdown. Formerly part of US giant AIG, it hiked its new business margin to 55.8 per [...]
Have we hit peak smartphone? Global growth hits two-year low as China’s sales decline for first time ever August 20, 2015 Is Peak Smartphone upon us? Drooping sales in China have caused smartphone sales to hit the brakes with the slowest growth rate since 2013, according to Gartner’s latest report, released today. In China, the world’s largest market, sales have fallen for the first time ever, with a four per cent decline year on year. Anshul [...]