A complicated outlook for oil prices May 13, 2019 Oil prices have surged by around 30% this year, but the rally off the Christmas lows has paused for breath. Despite the unrest in Venezuela and Iran sanctions denting the short-term supply outlook, coming at a time when OPEC and its allies are already curbing output in a bid to raise prices, Brent crude has [...]
Standard Chartered given bloody nose as investors revolt over chief executive pension pay May 8, 2019 Standard Chartered shareholders have given the bank a bloody nose over a ‘stealth increase’ to chief executive Bill Winters’ pension. Investors holding more than 36 per cent of the UK-headquartered multinational bank’s shares voted against its directors’ pay report at its AGM today. Read more: Standard Chartered unveils $1bn share buy back plan Shareholder advisory [...]
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accuses China of using ‘arbitrary detention’ for political gain September 6, 2019 Justin Trudeau has hit out at China for using “pressure tactics” in trying to secure the release of Huawei’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou. The Canadian Prime Minister has said that Beijing is “using arbitrary detention as a tool to achieve political goals” after they detained Canadian nationals Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Read more: [...]
UK ‘first in line’ for trade deal with US after Brexit: Bolton August 13, 2019 The UK will be “first in line” for a trade deal after leaving the EU, according to one of Donald Trump’s most senior advisers. John Bolton, who is in London for meetings with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said Trump would “enthusiastically” support a no-deal Brexit, while ensuring trade deals were quick to follow. They would [...]
Peugeot maker PSA Group sales plunge in first half July 15, 2019 Peugeot manufacturer PSA Group reported that sales plummeted in the first half of the year driven by poor performance in emerging markets. Sales fell to 1.9m between January and June from 2.18m the previous year as the company suffered a sharp decline in several regions. Read more: Peugeot marker PSA reaches deal to buy Opel [...]
Rory Stewart: We need less politics and more action to tackle terrorism February 5, 2020 Speaking to a man in Streatham who’d cradled a bleeding victim after Sunday’s terrorist attack reminded me of many places far away. I remembered the attack on my compound in southern Iraq, the screams and wreckage of bombs in Baghdad and Kabul, my friend Haider who was killed by terrorists, because he worked for me [...]
Oil prices remain at four-year high ahead of Trump’s Iran decision May 8, 2018 Oil prices remained at a four-year high this morning, ahead of US President Donald Trump’s highly anticipated announcement on the Iran nuclear deal. WTI Crude was still above $70 a barrel, despite slipping by 0.8 per cent, having risen above the threshold for the first time in four years yesterday, as traders anticipate Trump confirming [...]
Huawei: Britain to make 5G decision on Chinese telecoms giant in autumn August 27, 2019 Britain will decide whether to let Huawei’s equipment be used in its 5G networks this autumn, according to Nicky Morgan. The culture secretary said this morning that whatever decision it takes on the Chinese telecoms giant, the government will ensure it is for the long term. Read more: Huawei will not pass information to Beijing, [...]
Oil prices reach new 2019 high as tensions rise in Libya April 8, 2019 Oil prices hit a fresh 2019 high this morning with international standard Brent crude futures reaching $70.77 (£54.21) per barrel. Read more: Unexpected rise in US oil stockpiles steals the wind from Opec’s sails Brent crude first broke through the vaunted $70 mark for 2019 on Friday, after falling to a low of $50.47 in [...]
Five political risk predictions for a new era January 7, 2020 As Jules Verne’s unmatchable adventure Around the World in Eighty Days so eloquently put it: “Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real.” Fresh off my firm’s victorious analysis of both Brexit and the outcome of December’s British General Election, we sincerely hope that the new year continues to affirm for us Verne’s [...]