Oil prices end the week down on global demand worries March 2, 2019 Oil prices ended Friday 2 per cent down, finishing the week around 3 per cent lower on concerns over global demand following weak US manufacturing data that overshadowed supply cuts and sanctions on Venezuela and Iran. After a promising start to the session to over a three-month high, crude fell sharply on demand worries, while [...]
Parliament gets Brexit votes: Pound hits $1.33, FTSE 100 comes off 7,200 March 1, 2019 | City Talk Just as it seemed Theresa May was on track to appease the hard-line Brexiters in her party, it’s now the Remainers causing problems. Last week three MPs, Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen, quit to join the new Independent Party formed by eight breakaway Labour MPs a few days before. More Conservatives have threatened [...]
Higher oil prices help Repsol beat expectations with surging profits February 28, 2019 Repsol beat expectations today as production increased and oil prices ticked upwards. The Spanish oil and gas firm said it is on track to meet its objectives until 2020, including a €15bn (£13bn) investment drive, and debt reduction. Net profit, adjusted for one-off gains and inventory effects, increased 7.5 per cent to €632m last year, compared to [...]
Oil and gas firm Diversified could benefit from Brexit, boss says as earnings soar February 28, 2019 Diversified Gas and Oil could benefit from Brexit, its chief executive said today, as the company posted a leap in earnings of 912 per cent as production rocketed. Rusty Hutson said his US-based company, which is denominated in dollars, will see little negative impact of Britain’s exit from the European Union, and might even see an upside. [...]
Mining giant Rio Tinto rewards investors with $4bn special dividend after better-than-expected results for 2018 February 27, 2019 Rio Tinto announced a $4bn (£3bn) special dividend to shareholders yesterday in the light of positive results for 2018, which were ahead of market expectations. The news brings Rio’s total shareholder payout for 2018 to a record $13.5bn. Underlying profits rose two per cent year on year to $8.8bn. The Anglo-Australian mining giant also announced [...]
Sterling climbs as markets welcome parliament’s vote on possible Brexit delay February 27, 2019 Sterling soared against the euro and dollar today as markets welcomed the possibility that Brexit could be delayed. The pound rose 0.5 per cent to an eight-month high against the dollar of $1.331. Read more: Tory MP leaves government after Brexit amendment to protect EU citizens It did even better against the euro, bubbling up [...]
Why the Fourth Industrial Revolution may create beach hotspots for investors February 27, 2019 | City Talk The Industrial Revolution resulted in a rail network that has influenced real estate values ever since. Now the Fourth Industrial Revolution is driving the latest wave of value creation – for certain beach locations. Our focus on this blog is on identifying the shifting fortunes of global cities. Part of this involves careful analysis of [...]
M&S buying growth with Ocado? February 27, 2019 | City Talk M&S’s purchase of Ocado’s UK retail business looks rather like one of its own ready meals – overpriced, not very good for you but easy, quick and ready to heat up. M&S and Ocado have confirmed the details of their joint venture. M&S is paying up to £750m for the 50/50 stake in Ocado’s UK [...]
How VCTs can be used to build the next ARM in the UK February 27, 2019 | Sponsored When Venture Capital Trusts were launched in 1995, their purpose was simple: enable SMEs to raise risk equity finance. It’s easy to see why. In 2018, small businesses made up 99.3 per cent of the private sector in the UK and 60 per cent of all private sector jobs. SMEs play an important role in the economy, [...]
Chemicals firm Croda stockpiles goods ahead of Brexit February 26, 2019 Chemical manufacturer Croda announced today it is stockpiling goods in mainland Europe and adapting its trading model in preparation for Brexit. Read more: Carney: UK growth 'guaranteed' to fall in no-deal Brexit The British firm, which supplies chemicals to Unilever, Proctor & Gamble and L'Oreal among others, also saw adjusted profit before tax tick up 1.2 [...]