The last three weeks have seen the UK’s UK 100 blue-chip index of shares bounce over 300 points (+4.1%). And it’s still pointing north. Impressive when you consider we’ve had multiple events, some of which tragic (Las Vegas attacks) and others more political (Catalonia referendum) which one would assume could scupper the uptrend. But it’s not just…
Some of the biggest winners and losers on the UK Index this week can be derived from UK Prime Minister Theresa May and the Conservative Party Conference. Nothing to do with the P45 prank or uncontrollable coughing, rather her party pledge to help fight for consumers on two fronts: energy prices and the housing market….
Shares in #1 UK grocer Tesco have already given up 2% results-inspired gains as investors dig deeper into what is, on the surface, a solid set of results. Drastic Dave Lewis’ continued aggressive cost-cutting has helped deliver an impressive eight-fold increase in pre-tax profits and a consensus beat once exceptionals are stripped out. Great news…
Macro observations If last week was the week of the central bankers, this week, it’s time for the politicians to take back control. Figuratively, at least. After the chaos of the Catalonian independence referendum over the weekend, the European Union has reiterated the Spanish government’s view that the referendum was illegal, as well as maintaining…
Over the past month, the winds have begun to change. After 10 long years of accommodative monetary policy from global central banks, the rest of the world has begun to catch up with the US Federal Reserve. UK Banks have been on the back foot since February, with a combination of continued ultra-low interest rates,…
My colleague is sure to have caught your eye by talking about the Banks being likely to benefit from a UK interest rate rise by year-end. So it’s my turn to look the other way and discuss who might suffer. Banks profitability might indeed get a boost from being able to lend out money more…