UK consumers push ahead with hunt for bargains
UK retail sales increased by 1.4% in March on a like-for-like basis from March 2017, when they had decreased 1% from the preceding year, according to the latest British Retail Consortium/KPMG report
5 books to make investors more informed traders
Before you trade, read. There are plenty of gurus and must-read sources. Here are just a few important books to whet your appetite. Remember: knowledge is power – in markets too.
Sell sterling, buy Swiss francs, spot or forward
Sell sterling, buy Swiss francs, spot or forward. That might be one conclusion to draw after due consideration of the relative values of the two quite different currencies.
Carillion collapse thrusts pension provision to the fore
The collapse of outsourcing provider Carillion has put the question of pension provision firmly in the spotlight. Carillion's significant pension liabilities which will be absorbed into the UK's pension fund lifeboat (more properly known as the Pension Protection Fund).
Appetite for blockbuster M&A deals still evident
The appetite for blockbuster mergers and acquisitions (M&A) has yet to have been derailed despite continuing political uncertainty and rising protectionism spreading globally.
Which will be the first US$1trn company?
Which will be the first company to boast a market capitalisation of US$1trn? We put that question to a number of market observers to mark the start of 2018.
Bank closure plans continue remorseless decline
Plans recently announced by The Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Bank to close more branches is yet another milestone in a long-term trend. It continues the remorseless decline in bank branch numbers over nearly three decades.
The year in Bitcoin: the phenomenon of 2017
This is a review of the year in Bitcoin, the best known of the so-called cryptocurrencies which came to the fore during 2017.
The complete guide to identifying and hedging risk
A hedge is an investment product designed to offset the risk of adverse price movements in another asset. It usually means taking the opposite position to your main asset but in a related asset or security, often a derivative.
Forking the word of the moment in cryptocurrency
Forking is the word of the moment in the cryptocurrency world. At least six forks are currently expected to take place over the next few weeks, each potentially creating a new cryptocurrency.
Who's who of stock markets around the world
Jeffrey (Jeff) C Sprecher, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of InterContinental Exchange, is the most influential person in the world's financial markets structure,
Is RMB internationalisation running out of steam?
Is the internationalisation of the Chinese domestic currency, the Renminbi yuan, running out of steam? The question is prompted by the most recent report on the topic by SWIFT
Economic preview: US Federal Reserve meeting Tuesday/Wednesday
The economic highlight of the coming week is surely the US Federal Reserve Bank's final meeting of 2017. The big question is whether the Fed will continue its gradual tightening
Are the major stock markets overdue for correction?
Market moves at the end of last week have prompted discussion of whether the world's major stock markets might be overdue for correction.
Look to the future for UK autumn budget
The UK's second budget statement of the year, scheduled to be delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer (the UK's term for its minister of finance) on Wednesday 22 November, will probably not contain much in the way of surprise.