Oil prices post weekly gains despite last-minute dip on renewed trade tensions September 21, 2019 Oil prices fell on Friday on renewed concerns that the US-China trade war could escalate, but still posted strong weekly gains. Brent ended the week with its biggest increase since January following the attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities last weekend. Read more: Oil prices plunge as Saudi production could return sooner than expected On [...]
Why M&S’ relegation from the FTSE 100 doesn’t mean the death of the High Street September 20, 2019 | City Talk Marks and Spencer (M&S) is set to be relegated from the FTSE 100 after the close of business today. This will be the first time that the company has lost its blue chip status. The UK retailer was a founder member of the FTSE 100 and a stalwart of the UK High Street. But its [...]
Pound falls back below $1.25 after earlier rising on Juncker’s Brexit comments September 20, 2019 The sterling has fallen back below the $1.25 barrier despite rising earlier today on hopes of a breakthrough in Brexit negotiations. The pound has fallen by 0.34 per cent to 1.248 on the back of a strong dollar, which in turn weakens the pound. The fall has undone some of the pound’s gains from yesterday [...]
Blackrock says Federal Reserve rate cut should have been ‘bolder’ September 19, 2019 The world’s biggest investment firm Blackrock has criticised the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates by one notch, saying it “missed an opportunity for a bolder stance”. Read more: US Federal Reserve cuts interest rates by a quarter point Rick Rieder, chief investment officer of global fixed income at Blackrock, which manages $6.8 trillion [...]
UK energy suppliers could go bust after Saudi attacks, experts warn September 18, 2019 An attack on Saudi oil facilities might turn the screws on struggling energy suppliers, experts have warned, a year after a winter that felled several smaller firms. More companies might face bankruptcy if they have not bought enough energy in advance to supply their customers through what could be an unusually chilly winter. Read more: [...]
Sirius boss buys shares after project put on review September 18, 2019 The chief executive who put the brakes on his own mining project yesterday has bought more shares in the venture, after they collapsed by more than half. The family of Chris Fraser bought an extra 250,000 of Sirius Minerals shares at just over 4p each, the company revealed in a filing today. The family now [...]
Trump authorises new sanctions on Iran September 18, 2019 US President Donald Trump has said that he will ramp up sanctions against Iran after alleging the country was behind an attack on Saudi Arabian oil refineries. “I have just instructed the Secretary of the Treasury to substantially increase Sanctions on the country of Iran!” the President tweeted. Read more: Iranian leader says Saudi attacks [...]
Sterling falls on lower inflation and Brexit concerns September 18, 2019 Sterling has fallen against the dollar this morning after UK inflation undershot expectations and traders’ nerves grew over Brexit. Read more: Falling computer game prices drag UK inflation to lowest rate in three years The pound was 0.4 per cent lower against the dollar by 10.45am UK time to buy $1.245. Yet the fall was [...]
Can we avoid an energy crunch? September 18, 2019 | City Talk The energy transition has to happen. Climate change can no longer be ignored and the political will is finally there to confront the substantial challenges. The first stage of this process is the switch from energy produced by coal and gas to energy produced by renewables, such as wind, solar and geothermal. As part of [...]
Iranian leader says Saudi attacks were ‘warning’ from Yemenis September 18, 2019 Iran this morning denied any involvement in a series of attacks on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure over the weekend as the Saudis prepare to reveal “material evidence” of Tehran’s role. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the attacks had come as a “warning” from Houthi fighters in Yemen’s civil war, which he accused western countries [...]