Wells Fargo outperforms estimates as profits climb July 16, 2019 Wall Street banking giant Wells Fargo reported a rise in quarterly profits this afternoon, comfortably beating expectations as it presses ahead with a major cost-cutting overhaul. The lender posted earnings per share of $1.30 during the second quarter of 2019, rising from $0.98 per share a year ago and beating $1.15 per share Refinitiv estimates. [...]
Goldman Sachs beats Wall Street estimates despite profit drop July 16, 2019 Goldman Sachs outperformed expectations on Wall Street this afternoon as a double-digit surge in investment and lending boosted the banking giant, despite a fall in quarterly profits. Shares in the New York-based firm edged up 1.1 per cent pre-trading after it reported earnings per share of $5.81, falling from $5.98 a year earlier but beating [...]
How the FTSE 100 returned 122% in 20 years but barely moved February 25, 2020 The story of the FTSE 100 over the last 20 years is a compelling argument for reinvesting dividends. As revellers saw in the new millennium on New Year’s Eve 1999, the FTSE 100 closed at a then-record high of 6930. The stock market was in the grip of the “dotcom” boom. They were good times [...]
JP Morgan trumps expectations with 16 per cent rise in profits July 16, 2019 JP Morgan Chase beat analyst estimates this afternoon after posting a double-digit rise in profit, bolstered by a tax windfall and higher net interest income. America’s largest bank reported a 16 per cent rise in profit to $9.65bn (£7.7bn) today, or $2.82 per share, trumping Refinitiv estimates of $2.50 per share. Read more: Citigroup starts [...]
European M&A value hits six-year low driven by fall in UK deals March 8, 2019 European merger and acquisition values have hit a six-year low in 2019 so far driven by Brexit-related uncertainty among foreign investors. M&A deals in Europe have reached $81.1bn in the year to date, down 60 per cent on the previous year to levels not seen since 2013, according to analysis from Refinitiv. Read more: M&A [...]
Big tobacco: Philip Morris and Altria start talks over $210bn mega-merger as Marlboro-makers seek to light up alternative products August 27, 2019 One of the world’s most hotly anticipated mega-mergers kicked off yesterday as tobacco giants Philip Morris International (PMI) and Altria said they were in talks to form a $210bn (£170bn) behemoth. The deal would reunite two companies that split up in 2008 amid regulatory pressures at the time. Read more: Juul raises $325m to fund [...]
European investment banking fees plunge in bleak first quarter as M&A hits six-year low April 4, 2019 European investment banking fees have plunged 25 per cent to $4.9bn (£3.75bn) as the first quarter of the year looks set to be even bleaker than originally feared. The value of M&A deal involving any European companies also fell 64 per cent to $183m the lowest in six years, according to a review from Refinitiv. Read [...]
And we’re off: Citigroup starts Wall Street earnings season with rise in profit July 15, 2019 Citigroup kicked off Wall Street’s earnings season today by trumping market expectations, reporting a rise in profits and revenues during the second quarter of 2019. America’s third largest bank posted profit of $4.79bn (£3.82bn), or $1.95 per share, during the three month period, rising 20 per cent and beating $1.80 per share estimates given by [...]
Jack Ma’s Alibaba chases ‘$20bn Hong Kong float’ May 28, 2019 Alibaba is seeking to raise up to $20bn (£15.8bn) in a Hong Kong float, it is reported. Read more: DEBATE: Does Jack Ma deserve criticism for backing the ‘996’ working week? The listing would be its second after a 2014 $25bn initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange. The online retail and cloud [...]
FTSE 100 crashes 10.9 per cent in worst one-day fall since 1987 March 12, 2020 The FTSE 100 suffered its second biggest one day fall in the history of the index, and the worst day since 1987, as it closed down 10.87 per cent. London’s blue-chip index plunged 639 points to close at 5,237 points, as global stocks suffered yet another meltdown after Donald Trump imposed a travel ban on [...]