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 [...]
Miner Glencore and China lead FTSE to seven-month low – London Report August 20, 2015 THE FTSE 100 fell yesterday to its lowest level since January, hit by anxiety over metals consumer China’s economy, with Glencore leading the mining sector lower after poorly-received results. The blue chip index was down 122.84 points, or 1.9 per cent, at 6,403.45 points by the close – its lowest closing level since 15 January, [...]
China stocks recover after second day of falls as markets nervously await Fed minutes August 19, 2015 Stocks in China finished today's session up, despite falls in early trading. That followed big losses on Tuesday. The Shenzhen Composite finished 2.19 per cent higher, at 2,222.05 points, while the Shanghai Composite rose 1.23 per cent to 3,794.11 points – having dipped as low as 5.3 per cent and 6.1 per cent respectively during the [...]
China slowdown: The two reasons British business should remain optimistic August 18, 2015 It’s easy to be down on China. Last week’s negative headlines after the unexpected devaluations of the renminbi (RMB) played into the “China slowdown” narrative which has taken root as this year’s accepted story. But we’re not giving China enough credit. By opening up the RMB to more market forces, it has moved one step [...]
China’s weakened yuan: From deflation to US equities, the effects are set to ripple out across the world August 18, 2015 One week on and investors are still digesting the impact of China’s sudden currency devaluation. Last week the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) dropped the daily reference rate it sets for the yuan by 1.9 per cent, and committed to taking the market’s views into account when setting the currency’s value in future. Consensus [...]
As China’s yuan devaluation shocks markets, should the world fear a global currency war? August 13, 2015 Gabriel Stein is director of asset management services at Oxford Economics, says Yes Not because China wants to start one, but because the decision is not China’s. Ostensibly, the changes implemented over the past three days aim to give market forces greater influence over the currency. That is good news. But by announcing, on three [...]
How low can yuan go: China lets the renminbi fall for third consecutive day August 13, 2015 China sought to allay fears that the renminbi could enter into free-fall, as it devalued the currency for the third consecutive day. During a press conference in the early hours of this morning, the People's Bank of China (PBoC) said the strong economic environment, sustained trade surplus, sound fiscal position and deep foreign exchange reserves provided "strong support" to the [...]
Unilever and China weigh on FTSE but Randgold shines – London Report August 13, 2015 BRITAIN’S top share index was dragged lower yesterday by Unilever and mining companies after the fall in the value of China’s currency pulled down metal prices. The blue chip FTSE 100 index was down 1.4 per cent at 6,571.19p by the close, slightly outperforming other European equities. Consumer goods company Unilever shed 4.3 per cent [...]
Gold prices rise for fifth consecutive day on worries about China’s economic slowdown August 12, 2015 The price of gold went up for the fifth day in a row today, as uncertainty about China’s flagging economic growth had investors fleeing to safer havens. Rising 1.4 per cent to $1,124.01 an ounce, gold prices are recovering from the five-year low that had gold miners feeling the squeeze. Mining companies were buoyed by [...]