Chinese insurers to splurge $73bn on real estate November 25, 2015 Chinese insurers could splash out as much as $73bn (£48.4bn) on the global real estate market by 2019, new research shows, as companies look to protect themselves from volatile equity markets and take advantage of relaxed rules on overseas investment. According to Cushman & Wakefield, top insurance companies in China had just 0.8 per cent of [...]
Energy and oil drive Wall Street higher – New York Report November 24, 2015 Arise in energy stocks due to an increase in oil prices after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border yesterday pulled New York indices up. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 19.51 points, or 0.11 per cent, to 17,812.19, the S&P 500 gained 2.55 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 2,089.14 and [...]
US GDP expanded faster than initially believed due to smaller decline in inventories November 24, 2015 The US economy grew at faster rate than expected in the three months to September, according to new official figures published today. The US commerce department said the economy grew at an annualised rate – the rate the economy would grow if the pace were maintained for a year – of 2.1 per cent rather [...]
Pound sterling edges down as Bank of England governor Mark Carney errs on the side of caution November 24, 2015 The pound edged down against the euro today after Bank of England governor Mark Carney failed to give any indication that interest rates might climb faster than markets expect. "The question in my mind is when is the appropriate time for interest rates to increase, and that is strongly consistent with the strength of the domestic [...]
Rockhopper merges with Falkland Oil and Gas in a £57m deal to better face “challenging” oil and gas market November 24, 2015 Rockhopper, the AIM listed oil and gas exploration company operating in the Falkland Islands, is to merge with Falklands Oil and Gas in a £57m deal. Shareholders in exploration outfit Falklands Oil and Gas, will receive 0.2993 Rockhopper shares for each of theirs, valuing Falklands Oil and Gas stock at 10.70p a share, an 11 per cent premium to its [...]
CBI Distributive Trades Survey: Mild weather hits retail sales growth in November ahead of shopping bonanza November 24, 2015 Retail sales growth unexpectedly slowed in the year to November, for what's now the second month in a row, however shop owners are bracing for a shopping bonanza ahead of Black Friday and the Christmas period. The balance of CBI's quarterly distributive trades survey unexpectedly dropped to +7, from +19 in October, marking the slowest growth rate in [...]
IFO survey: German business confidence reaches 17-month high November 24, 2015 German business confidence has hit its highest level for 17 months, despite the ongoing emissions scandal that has rocked the country's car manufacturing industry. The business climate index for German industry and trade released by research group IFO rose to 109 points in November from 108.2 points in October. "The German economy remains unaffected by growing [...]
UK house prices: This is how long you have to sell your house before estate agents lose interest November 24, 2015 Here's another reason to get your ducks in a row before hitting the market with your property. The process might be an arduous one, but the people helping you sell your home apparently have a very short attention span. A new survey suggests estate agents lose interest after just two weeks if a property hasn't received [...]
Oil stocks drag down the FTSE ending its rally – London Report November 24, 2015 Traders’ concerns over miners and retailers yesterday pull down London’s main index, ending a week-long run. The FTSE 100 dropped 29.1 points to 6,305.5. Oil companies were struggled after Saudi Arabia indicated it will work to stabilise oil markets, sending the price pinballing. Producers ended lower, despite a late rally after the oil price bounced [...]
London house prices: Buy-to-let investors looking outside the capital for best value as Brewin Dolphin warns sector is a “disaster waiting to happen” November 24, 2015 A rising number of buy-to-let investors are trying to get their hands on cheaper properties outside of London and the South East, new figures reveal today. Meanwhile, one London investment manager has warned BTL is a "disaster waiting to happen" due to a lack of understanding on recent changes in the tax rules. Figures released by [...]