US consumer confidence rises but house prices continue to fall May 26, 2009 FURTHER evidence of green shoots in the US emerged yesterday as stronger than expected consumer confidence data for May boosted optimism the recession could be nearly over. The Conference Board’s sentiment index jumped from a revised 40.8 in April to 54.9 in May, well above forecasts for 42, and suggesting underlying improvement in the economy. [...]
Britvic says growth to slow on cold snap January 27, 2010 SOFT drinks company Britvic yesterday reported an 11 per cent rise in first-quarter revenues but expects to see slower second-quarter growth due to tougher comparisons and recent bad weather. The producer and licensed bottler of brands including Robinsons, Tango, J2O, Pepsi and 7Up, on Tuesday posted first-quarter sales of £243m for the 12 weeks to [...]
China’s Mr Private Equity explains the new frontier’s hopes and risks October 17, 2010 VICTOR ZHIKAI Gao is staying at the Langham Hotel, down the road from the Chinese Embassy. Just off a plane from Beijing, and sipping green tea to stay ahead of his jet lag, he is in London to brief an investment bank on China’s rapidly developing private equity sector. Although jaded, he manages to be [...]
How to invest if you fear another recession July 25, 2010 IN THE aftermath of Friday night’s announcements on the stress tests, the big issue remains whether they will make any difference to confidence and to the fragile recovery. We won’t know immediately. But Pau Morilla-Giner, senior portfolio manager at London and Capital, says the probability of a double dip is growing, regardless of the health [...]
THE TIPSTER August 2, 2010 HIGH street retail giant Next releases its latest trading statement tomorrow and the statement should give some insight into whether the company feels that the man on the street is more optimistic than he was six months ago or if concern about government cuts is still curbing our spending at the tills. Next had a [...]
EU toughens up protection for investors July 12, 2010 Account holders in the European Union who are faced with a run on their bank would get their money back within a week under a draft EU law published yesterday to protect consumers in the wake of the global crisis. The European Commission’s proposals are intended to restore investor confidence, shattered by the worst financial [...]
EU toughens up protection for investors July 12, 2010 Account holders in the European Union who are faced with a run on their bank would get their money back within a week under a draft EU law published yesterday to protect consumers in the wake of the global crisis. The European Commission’s proposals are intended to restore investor confidence, shattered by the worst financial [...]
UK car sales rise again June 4, 2010 NEW car registrations in Britain rose an annual 13.5 percent in May to 153,095 vehicles, according to official industry figures. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said it was the 11th straight monthly rise. However, it warned that there were still tough times ahead. “May was another good month for the UK new [...]
austerians take on the keynesians June 29, 2010 BORIS SCHLOSSBERG DIRECTOR OF CURRENCY RESEARCH, GFT WILL the new Austerians or the old Keynesians win the public policy debate on economic growth going forward? The contrast between the two became evident last weekend at the G20 summit when the UK and the US moved in opposite directions. The new Austerians were led by the [...]
From easy money to $1m comic books February 23, 2010 Q. What do quantitative easing and super-hero comic books have in common? A. Quite a lot. Cheap money from central bank asset purchases and ultra-low interest rates is helping to reinflate bubbles in parts of the global economy. UK house prices are soaring irrationally again, for instance. But my favourite anecdote comes from ComicConnect.com, a [...]