It is thirteen years since pensions-fund expert John Ralfe described Royal Mail as a hedge fund that delivers letters. That was before privatisation and was Ralfe’s warning about Royal Mail’s secret decision to invest £5.13 billion of workers’ pension funds into the futures market—a high-stakes gamble that risked financial ruin for …
Read More »Shares, oil and the pound all lose out as Omicron fears hit the City
In London the FTSE 100 tumbled more than 2%, off 163 points at 7106 as unease gripped the City. At one point, just three shares in the main index were showing gains – Royal Mail, Ocado and Polymetal – a precious metal business favoured by gold speculators. The biggest fallers …
Read More »London pre-open: Stocks seen lower as investors eye Brexit talks
London stocks were set to fall at the open on Friday as investors continue to eye Brexit talks. The FTSE 100 was called to open 26 points lower at 6,525. CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: “Asia markets have finished the week slightly on the back foot, after the Bank …
Read More »London close: Stocks higher, investors take US election uncertainty in their stride
London stocks finished higher with investors seemingly brushing off the as yet inconclusive US election results, although a ‘clean sweep’ of the White House and Congress by Democrats was now off the table. The FTSE 100 rose 1.67% to 5,883.26 and by the end of the session, cyclical areas of …
Read More »UK stocks slip as virus fears quell risk appetite
The FTSE 100 slipped 0.4% and marked its second consecutive week in the red after an uptick in new cases of the virus in China and South Korea hit stocks more exposed to commodity prices, including oil majors and miners <.FTNMX1770>. “Perhaps the reality of the situation is starting to …
Read More »European shares tread water with Fed decision looming
European shares ended flat on Wednesday, as gains for the defensive real estate and utilities sectors were countered by losses in luxury good makers, with caution prevailing ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. After flitting between small gains and losses during the session, the pan-European STOXX 600 …
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