Global markets recoil and China warns of retaliation after Trump trade war threat August 2, 2019 Stock markets around the world have fallen after a sharp escalation in the United States’ trade war with China. Indices in the US fell after the open, amid fears of an economic slowdown if President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to impose a further 10 per cent tariff on $300bn worth of Chinese [...]
US employment reaches new high as country adds 164,000 jobs in July August 2, 2019 The United States added 164,000 jobs last month, suggesting the economy is cooling but not as much as analysts had feared. The gain was well down on June’s figure of 224,000, but was roughly in line with economists’ forecasts of around 165,000 for July. Read more: FTSE 100 sinks into red on Trump’s threat to [...]
FTSE 100 sinks into red on Trump’s threat to impose fresh China tariffs August 2, 2019 The FTSE 100 has slumped 1.7 per cent this morning, putting it on course for its worst day in more than four months after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose more tariffs on China. Trump’s threatened escalation in the trade war, plus tumbling shares in Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) on the back of [...]
Competition watchdog will probe Salesforce’s massive $15.7bn takeover of Tableau August 2, 2019 Britain’s competition watchdog will investigate Salesforce’s $15.7bn (£12.4bn) buyout of Tableau Software, it said this morning. Salesforce completed the mammoth takeover yesterday, which is the biggest acquisition in the company’s history. Read more: Salesforce to buy Tableau Software in $15.7bn deal But the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into whether the [...]
UK construction sector suffers ‘disastrous’ blow as downturn deepens August 2, 2019 The UK’s construction industry activity sank for the fifth time in six months in July as economists all but ruled out a swift turnaround, a closely-followed measure of sector activity revealed today. Output fell for the third month in a row in July, according to IHS Markit’s UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), leaving the [...]
Mark Carney warns no-deal Brexit shock would be ‘instantaneous’ August 2, 2019 Bank of England governor Mark Carney has hit back at accusations that he is stirring fear about Brexit, warning that the UK would be hit by an “instantaneous” economic shockwave if it cannot strike a deal with the EU. Carney said this morning it is “not helpful” to deny the challenges that a no-deal scenario [...]
British Airways to fight data breach fine as parent company profits stay flat August 2, 2019 British Airways will “vigorously defend itself” against its £183m fine by authorities for a data breach in which more than 400,000 customers’ information was stolen. The airline this morning said it would use all means at its disposal to avoid the record-breaking penalty. Read more: British Airways owner set for record £183m fine after 2018 [...]
Capita return to growth ‘distinctly possible’ as turnaround starts to do the trick August 1, 2019 Capita’s market value shot up today as investors toasted the first fruits of a sweeping turnaround plan. The outsourcer’s share price jumped 17 per cent on the news margins had grown in four of its six main business divisions. Capita runs the Ministry of Defence’s recruitment programme for the British army. The figures Pre-tax profit [...]
Brexit warnings reach fever pitch as BMW and Ford sound the alarm August 1, 2019 BMW and Ford have become the latest manufacturing giants to warn Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the perils of a no-deal Brexit. Speaking to journalists this morning, BMW boss Harald Kruger said a no-deal would be a “lose-lose” scenario for Britain and the EU. He offered to personally deliver his portent to the new PM. [...]
Kier shares soar 40 per cent as it chips away at debt pile August 1, 2019 Kier Group investors rejoiced this morning as they were treated to a rare piece of good news: that the firm is regaining control of its debt. The firm also said it had attracted “significant interest” in its house building arm, which it is trying to sell to reduce its debt. Read more: Kier shares plunge [...]