The three geopolitical red herrings that won’t spook markets this year January 12, 2014 EACH year, we release our Top Risks report, where we consider the ten biggest geopolitical threats to markets and economies, judged by probability and potential impact. What’s at the top of our list for 2014? Uncertainties about America’s foreign policy and China’s ambitious domestic reforms create the potential for volatility and surprises this year and, [...]
Award winners open the LSE November 25, 2013 THE WINNERS of City A.M.’s fourth annual awards continued their celebrations yesterday at the London Stock Exchange, where they were invited to open the markets. Editor Allister Heath led the way on a morning which saw shares generally rising after positive diplomatic news from Iran led to hopes of lower oil prices and less geopolitical [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 27 November 2013 November 26, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES RBS faces possible criminal probe The Serious Fraud Office is considering a criminal investigation into allegations Royal Bank of Scotland defrauded companies by forcing them out of business, amid growing pressure on the bank over its treatment of SMEs. The SFO has conducted interviews with former executives of UK firms affected by RBS’s [...]
No turning back: Four reasons Osborne’s Budget matters March 19, 2014 FOUR key things strike me about the 2014 Budget. First, George Osborne stuck to his plan. Osborne’s Budgets will be remembered for two things: slow, steady, drawn-out spending cuts, bearing down gradually upon the government’s huge deficit; and a large rise in the income tax personal allowance. Both aspects were reflected in yesterday’s Budget speech. [...]
No turning back: Four reasons Osborne’s Budget matters March 19, 2014 FOUR key things strike me about the 2014 Budget. First, George Osborne stuck to his plan. Osborne’s Budgets will be remembered for two things: slow, steady, drawn-out spending cuts, bearing down gradually upon the government’s huge deficit; and a large rise in the income tax personal allowance. Both aspects were reflected in yesterday’s Budget speech. [...]
BP-led consortium signs £17bn Azerbaijan gas supply contract December 17, 2013 A CONSORTIUM of oil majors, including BP and Statoil, yesterday confirmed that they have signed a $28bn (£17.2bn) deal that will bring gas from Azerbaijan into Europe. The project aims to produce 120,000 barrels of condensate gas per day from the Shah Deniz field in Azerbaijan – expanded from 50,000 barrels per day – over [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 20 February 2014 February 19, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES ‘Boomer bulge’ hits US jobs data The drop in the percentage of Americans at work in recent years is often cast as a story about the long-term unemployed who give up trying to find jobs. But declining workforce participation rates, which have sharply reduced headline unemployment calculations in the world’s largest economy, could [...]
Tomorrow’s Opec meeting and why the pressure’s on for oil next year December 3, 2013 It'd be unlikely that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) doesn't freeze its output ceiling tomorrow. Speaking ahead of the cartel's meeting, Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi (pictured) told reporters today, "the market is in the best position it can be". But a note from investment bank Citi warns that pressure will mount [...]
What you need to know before the open – 25/11 November 25, 2013 European markets are expected to rise this morning after gains in Asia and another record finish in the US. Sentiment has also received a boost from the deal with Iran regarding its nuclear programme. Brent crude prices started the week down 2.5 per cent. Morning all. There's a bit going on early doors. Could [...]
Lloyds and RBS slapped with £90m in fines December 11, 2013 RBS and Lloyds Banking Group were yesterday hit by a combined £90m worth of fines from regulators in the UK and US. Lloyds was asked to pay £28m for “serious failings” in relation to bonus schemes for sales staff, marking the largest fine that the Financial Conduct Authority or its predecessor, the Financial Services Authority, [...]