Moody’s downgrades Hong Kong’s outlook to negative September 16, 2019 Moody’s has downgraded Hong Kong’s rating outlook to negative, saying that ongoing political protests in the financial hub “reveal an erosion in the strength” of its institutions. Despite the changed outlook, Moody’s maintained Hong Kong’s overall Aa2 rating. Read more: Protesters throw petrol bombs as Hong Kong violence persists Rival ratings agency Fitch Ratings downgraded [...]
Hong Kong vows to chase London Stock Exchange after £32bn bid rejected September 13, 2019 Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) has vowed to pursue a takeover of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) after its £32bn bid was unanimously rejected by the board. Read more: London Stock Exchange rejects Hong Kong takeover bid HKEX said its proposal offered a “highly compelling strategic opportunity to create a global market infrastructure leader”. [...]
Sajid Javid could block Hong Kong bid for London Stock Exchange September 13, 2019 Chancellor Sajid Javid is set to decide on whether or not to block a £32bn bid from Hong Kong for the London Stock Exchange as a government intervention appears imminent. Javid is reportedly mulling whether to step in on public interest grounds, citing national security and financial stability risks after the Hong Kong Stock Exchange [...]
Analysis: Could HKEX’s shock £32bn grab for London Stock Exchange actually succeed? September 11, 2019 Talk about a blockbuster day in the City. Investors expecting a quiet morning were caught off guard when the London Stock Exchange received a shock £32bn offer from Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX). Read more: Hong Kong bourse makes audacious £32bn offer for London Stock Exchange The bid, which puts the LSE’s own £20bn acquisition [...]
Dividends for AIM-listed firms soar to record heights September 9, 2019 The dividends paid by companies listed on the stock exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) exchange reached record highs in the first half of the year, and are on track to beat 2018’s record full-year total of £1.1bn. First-half AIM dividends climbed 23.9 per cent year on year to £633m, according to new figures from Link [...]
Finance bodies start talks to cut stock market trading hours August 19, 2019 Banking and investment groups are working on proposals that could see stock market trading hours shortened across Europe. The Investment Association (IA), which represents the UK’s asset management industry, and the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), a banking lobby group, are planning to consult their members on plans to cut European trading hours, [...]
London Stock Exchange share price hits record high on Refinitiv takeover talks July 29, 2019 Shares in the London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) jumped 14 per cent this morning after it emerged the company is in talks to buy data analytics firm Refinitiv for $27bn (£22bn). Read more: London Stock Exchange in talks to buy data analytics firm Refinitiv for $27bn The company confirmed that it is in discussions with [...]
AIM delistings fall to lowest level in over a decade July 29, 2019 The number of companies delisting from the stock exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) dropped to the lowest level for a decade last year. Just 66 companies delisted from AIM during the year ending 30th June, according to research by accountancy group UHY Hacker Young. This is down from last year’s figure of 82, and represents [...]
London Stock Exchange in talks to buy data analytics firm Refinitiv for $27bn July 28, 2019 The London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) is in discussions to buy data analytics firm Refinitiv for $27bn (£22bn) in a blockbuster deal that could see the company take on Bloomberg. The exchange group confirmed it is in talks with Thomson Reuters and a consortium of funds linked to private equity firm Blackstone to acquire the [...]
Why the Square Mile must break its silence on China June 17, 2019 If timing is everything, London’s stock exchange tie-up with China has been a disaster from the start. It is now four years since the plan was first revealed under the Sino-philic leadership of David Cameron and his chancellor George Osborne. Read more: London-Shanghai Stock Connect finally launches Yet the summer of 2015 also brought a [...]