Before the open – 31/07 – Investor caution ahead of Fed policy meeting, Japanese real wages fall July 31, 2013 The Nikkei fell on a raft of poor data last night, including the first drop in manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) since late last year and wage growth remained below rising inflation. Nomura’s measure of manufacturing PMI fell from 52.3 to 50.7 in July (where above 50 indicates growth), while labour cash earnings rose just [...]
Secret list of law firms and financial services firms that used convicted private investigators held back from public July 31, 2013 Some 22 law firms, nine insurance companies and eight financial services companies have commissioned work from private investigators convicted of illegally obtaining private information, the Home Affairs Select Committee has revealed, pressing the Serious and Organised Crime Agency to publish a secret list of businesses and individuals linked to the scandal. The list was compiled [...]
UK consumer confidence hits 39 month high in July July 30, 2013 UK consumer confidence has hit its highest level since April 2010, according to the GfK NOP index which rose by five points in July. Nick Moon, managing director of Social Research at GfK, comments: There is now no doubt that consumer confidence has recovered strongly from the unparalleled trough of the last five years. At [...]
Evraz stops production at Italian mill as steel plate market weakens July 30, 2013 Miner Evraz has announced that it is to stop operations at the Palini e Bertoli plate mill in Italy on 20 August (release). Evraz says that the suspension is expected to last until at least the end of October. EVRAZ Palini e Bertoli remains committed to duly perform under all existing arrangements and will execute all [...]
Investor attacks regulator for being “hostile to banks” July 30, 2013 The head of equities at Barclays' fifth largest shareholder has slammed the UK's financial regulator for being "capricious and hostile to banks". David Cumming, head of equities at Standard Life Investments, has told Reuters that regulators are responsible for a "lack of stability or consistency" in capital requirements. From a taxpayer and investors viewpoint this [...]
French firm may make formal £3.3bn offer for Invensys tomorrow July 30, 2013 French firm Schneider is said to be close to a $5bn (£3.3bn) deal to purchase engineering firm Invensys, according to Reuters. The package offered is unlikely to change from the initial announcement, as no rival bid has emerged. This offer comes a little earlier than expected, with a deadline of 8 August. Shares in Invensys [...]
US consumer confidence fell slightly in July July 30, 2013 Confidence among US consumers contracted in July, with the Conference Board’s indicator falling unexpectedly to 80.3 from a revised 82.1. Analysts had expected a fall to 81.5. But it’s not all bad news. The number of consumers saying business conditions were “good” rose to 20.9 per cent from 19.4 per cent, while those stating conditions [...]
Global fertiliser prices forecast to plunge as Russian potash cartel breaks down July 30, 2013 The break-up of a Russian potash cartel could spark a global price war among fertiliser producers, its chief executive has said. Uralkali pulled out of the Belarus Potash Corporation (BPC) after accusing its partner Belaruskali – which controls around 47 per cent of the global potash market – of selling fertiliser outside of the marketing [...]
US home price index sees Dallas and Denver hit all-time highs July 30, 2013 One US home price index has shown house prices have risen 12.2 per cent versus a year ago (release). While slightly below estimates of a 12.4 per cent rise, that's still a huge increase. The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index has yet again seen prices rise in every city in May. All 20 cities showed positive [...]
Greek bank bailout fund has used up nearly three quarters of its reserves July 30, 2013 Greece’s bank bailout fund has so far spent €38bn (£33bn) keeping up the country’s banking system – around three quarters of the €50bn total it was initially given (release). The Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSH) said it spent around €25bn on bolstering the capital of the country’s four largest lenders and a further €13bn on [...]