Daily Investment Market News from London
Tuesday 13th of May 2008
March 31, 2008

Global markets mixed on session

Permalink: Global markets mixed on session by Elaine Frei

Global markets mixed on session

Equities markets in the Asia Pacific region saw their biggest first quarter declines since 1992 on concerns that drops in US consumer spending will hurt exports in the region. Australia’s markets saw their largest quarterly decline since 1987 despite slight gains on the day, with the S&P/ASX200 adding 0.09 percent to ...

Oil, metals, most grains see price declines

Permalink: Oil, metals, most grains see price declines by Elaine Frei

Oil, metals, most grains see price declines

Crude oil prices declined Monday, joining most other commodities in price drops as investors took profits on recent gains, as conditions calmed in Iraq, and on analyst opinion that US oil stockpiles grew last week. May contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude were down $4.04 to close at $101.58 per barrel ...

Swiss Government Cuts 2009 Economic Growth Forecast

Permalink: Swiss Government Cuts 2009 Economic Growth Forecast by Peter Charalambous

Swiss Government Cuts 2009 Economic Growth Forecast

The economic forecast for the next year has been cut by the Swiss government, as the US fallout driven by the housing recession and faltering export demand has damaged the growth prospects. Aymo Brunetti, the state secretariat's chief economist said that the latest economic forecast is definitely more cautious, because ...

Dollar, pound down versus euro

Permalink: Dollar, pound down versus euro by Elaine Frei

Dollar, pound down versus euro

The US dollar traded close to record lows versus the euro on Monday while the pound touched a new record low versus the shared currency during the session on reports that a regional manufacturing index was lower in March in the US and home prices in England and Wales were lower during ...

Japan gets go-ahead for first passenger jet

Permalink: Japan gets go-ahead for first passenger jet by Kay Murchie

Japan gets go-ahead for first passenger jet

Japan has launched a $1 billion (£500 million) project to build its first ever home-grown passenger jet aircraft, a next-generation regional airliner that aims to meet growing demand for fuel efficient planes. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI) said it had decided to proceed with the commercial development of the plane ...

Job losses at Ryanair

Permalink: Job losses at Ryanair by Kay Murchie

Job losses at Ryanair

Low-cost airline Ryanair has announced it is to shut its Dublin Telesales activity which will result in 40 job losses. The airline said internet reservations had outperformed phone bookings so the operation had to close. However, it will still maintain its cheaper call centres in Romania and Germany. Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said these kind ...

Punch Taverns walks away from M&B merger

Permalink: Punch Taverns walks away from M&B merger by Kay Murchie

Punch Taverns walks away from M&B merger

Punch Taverns has withdrawn its offer to merge with pub operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) after it admitted that its offer was too generous and no longer in the best interests of its shareholders. Punch Taverns, led by Giles Thorley, said it had withdrawn its merger offer to M&B placed ...

March 28, 2008

May crude futures see price declines

Permalink: May crude futures see price declines by Elaine Frei

May crude futures see price declines

Crude oil prices were lower Friday after the dollar strengthened versus the euro and as worries about Iraqi supplies faded. May contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude was down $1.96 to $105.62 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange while Brent crude for May delivery dropped $1.27 to $103.73 per barrel. Nymex ...

Australia markets decline on banks

Permalink: Australia markets decline on banks by Elaine Frei

Australia markets decline on banks

Most Asia-Pacific region equities markets saw advances on Friday, led higher by reports of higher profits within the oil sector and on predictions that sales will rise from within the electronics sector. The main exception was Australia’s markets, which fell on declines among banks after one Australian bank hiked interest rates ...

Pound declines as USD sees gains

Permalink: Pound declines as USD sees gains by Elaine Frei

Pound declines as USD sees gains

The pound was lower versus most major currencies on Friday as consumer confidence fell, on slow growth in the value of a home there, and on anticipation that thee Bank of England will cut interest rates soon. Home values were up 1.1 percent in March from the same time last year, the ...

Takeover talks end at Mapeley, shares plummet

Permalink: Takeover talks end at Mapeley, shares plummet by Kay Murchie

Takeover talks end at Mapeley, shares plummet

Mapeley has confirmed it has ended takeover discussions with an un-named suitor, sending its shares plummeting 14.3%. The UK property investment and outsourcing company had been in talks for over a month. After receiving a takeover approach at the end of February, the company appointed Lazard & Co. The identity of the ...

Ocean Parcs snaps up Pontins for £46 million

Permalink: Ocean Parcs snaps up Pontins for £46 million by Kay Murchie

Ocean Parcs snaps up Pontins for £46 million

Family holiday camp Pontins has been bought for £46 million by Ocean Parcs - a team led by former Pontins chief executive Graham Parr and ex-Matalan finance director Ian Smith. The new owners plan to re-vitalise the leisure brand by capturing the growing market for value and as an ...

British Airways hit by Heathrow’s T5 problems

Permalink: British Airways hit by Heathrow’s T5 problems by Kay Murchie

British Airways hit by Heathrow’s T5 problems

The chaos continues at newly opened Heathrow's Terminal 5 after its baggage system collapsed. As a result, British Airways was forced to cancel 34 flights and thousands of passengers were left waiting for 3 hours for their luggage in the new £4.3 billion terminal. Shortly after midday yesterday, BA had ...

March 27, 2008

WTI, Brent gain on session

Permalink: WTI, Brent gain on session by Elaine Frei

WTI, Brent gain on session

The price of crude oil rose as high as $108.14 in New York on Thursday after an explosion and fire damaged an oil pipeline in Iraq. Reports varied, with some saying that the blast was caused by a bomb and others calling the cause unknown, while some said damage from the blast had ...

Dollar gains on revised consumer spending data

Permalink: Dollar gains on revised consumer spending data by Elaine Frei

Dollar gains on revised consumer spending data

The US dollar gained on the euro Thursday on revised data showing that consumer spending was up in the fourth quarter by an annual 2.3 percent rather than the earlier estimate of 1.9 percent but some gains were lost after financial stocks fell on reduced earnings forecasts from analysts. In early ...

JP Morgan and ClimateCare join forces in acquisition

Permalink: JP Morgan and ClimateCare join forces in acquisition by Kay Murchie

JP Morgan and ClimateCare join forces in acquisition

ClimateCare, a company which deals in carbon emission reductions, has been bought by US investment bank JP Morgan. The companies will join forces in an acquisition to invest in quality, large-scale carbon emission reduction projects and to advance the development of a liquid financial market that trades in carbon ...

Revamp hits profits at B&Q

Permalink: Revamp hits profits at B&Q by Kay Murchie

Revamp hits profits at B&Q

Kingfisher, the owner of DIY chain B&Q, has seen its profits fall 2.8% after revamping its stores and product range. Last year, B&Q revamped 60% of its product ranges and modernised the layout of half of its retail space. Pre-tax profits were £386 million in the year to 2 February compared to ...

UK Mortgage Approvals down by a third.

Permalink: UK Mortgage Approvals down by a third. by Peter Charalambous

 U.K. Mortgage Approvals down by a third

U.K. mortgage approvals fell by a third in February compared to last year figures due to a combination of the current credit crisis which has mean increased credit costs which have deterred buyers. Furthermore banks and mortgage lenders have had to stiffen their regulations especially due to the ...

China’s reduced Industrial Profit Growth

Permalink: China’s reduced Industrial Profit Growth by Peter Charalambous

 China's reduced Industrial Profit Growth

The attempts of the Chinese government to control inflation has prevented oil refineries and power generators to raise their prices and as a result Chinese industrial companies profits have risen at slowest pace in three years as their combined net income in January and February to 348.2 billion Yuan. Income rose ...

Australian Banks Weathering Storm

Permalink: Australian Banks Weathering Storm by Peter Charalambous

Australian Banks Weathering Storm”/>
</p>


Glenn Stevens, Governor of the central bank describes Australian banks as “weathering the storm'' of the global credit crisis, and a result have remained profitable due to their capital reserves.

The Governor said in a speech today that: “there is very little direct exposure to the U.S. sub-prime problems” and this was as a result ...<br />

			</div>						
			</div>

	<!--
	<rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf= -->