Shares in Ocado, the online grocery delivery platform, soared +44% to fresh record highs on news of another licensing agreement, this time with Kroger, which would allow the US supermarket giant to use Ocado software to strengthen its own grocery-delivery network. Kroger will, of course, pay licensing fees to use Ocado platform. Interestingly, however, it…
Crest Nicholson has dealt a blow to UK Housebuilders this morning with a profits warnings attributable to flat pricing and higher building costs (up 3-4%). While its own shares have plunged more than 12%, re-testing March lows, the read-across is understandably weighing on sector peers which trade 0.8-1.7% lower; Redrow worst off, Taylor Wimpey resisting…
Vodafone shares plunged over 4% despite the company announcing consensus-beating FY 2017 results (Adj. EBITDA +12% YoY organic, beating 10% guidance). With positive results across the board, one would expect markets to react by buying the shares, and yet investors are clearly taking a dimmer view about the company’s prospects with the CEO of 10…
The strongest factors influencing the direction and momentum of the FX rate are major macroeconomic indicators, chief among them changes in the key interest rates. Higher interest rates tend to make the currency more attractive, increasing demand and strengthening it. In the UK, interest rate policy is determined by the Bank of England’s (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC),…
Friday, 11 May Interactive Investor The higher open in London comes “after Wall St rallied back to positive territory for 2018 and Asian bourses climbed further (best week since Feb), sentiment buoyed by confirmation of a 12 June US-NK summit,” said Michael van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets. http://www.iii.co.uk/alliance-news/1526024437500770600-3/london-market-open-zpg-shoots-up-30-on-gbp2-2-billion-takeover-deal Thursday, 10 May Herald…
Cryptocurrencies got a bit of a tongue-lashing this week, as Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s right hand man at Berkshire Hathaway, unloaded a stream of vitriol on Bitcoin, calling it “worthless” and an “artificial gold” (to pick some of the more printable quotes from the venerable investor). Even the Wizard of Omaha himself wasn’t exactly sparing…