Budget 2018: What to expect
Monday afternoon will see Philip Hammond’s last budget before the UK leaves the EU.
The budget will be delivered at 15:30 GMT and will announce the government’s plans for taxes and how it will spend public money.
What can we expect from the annual budget?
Elon Musk says $40m tweet was “worth it”
After a tweet cost Elon Musk and his company $20 million (£16m) each in fines, the Tesla boss admitted it was “worth it”.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission fined Musk and Tesla a total of $40 million after the CEO tweeted he was considering taking the company private at $420 (£327) a share, adding that the “funding secured”.
When a Twitter user asked Musk about the ratio of likes was for his “funding secured” tweet, he replied saying “worth it”.
As well as the large fine, Tesla also needs to appoint an independent chairman by 13 November.
Favourite for the chairman position is James Murdoch, who is currently chief executive of 21st Century Fox, however, will soon leave the role and will be succeeded by his brother.
Murdoch is currently a non-executive director of Tesla.
“The Tesla chairman job is perfect for James. He’s working on this fund and will be sitting next to Elon … he’s going to get access to so much deal flow,” a person briefed on the discussions told the Financial Times.
Tesla reported profits of $312 million over the past three months, beating analyst expectations.
Musk told analysts that it was an “incredibly historic quarter”.
“Customers actually cared about the future of the company so much that they volunteered their time to help the company succeed. It chokes me up, actually,” he added.
Shares jumped 10% in after-hours trading.
Shares in the group (NASDAQ: TSLA) are currently trading up 5% at 330,90 (0822GMT).
Jair Bolsonaro wins Brazil general election
Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro has won Brazil’s general election.
Bolsonaro based his campaign on promises to end corruption, crime and communism and won 55.1% of the votes.
Fernando Haddad, who represented the left-wing Workers’ Party won 44.8% of votes.
After losing the vote, Haddad told supporters not to lose hope. He said: “We will continue with our heads held high, with determination and with courage, We have a lifelong commitment to this country and we will not allow this country to go backwards.”
Brazil has been governed by the left-wing Workers’ Party for 13 years between 2003 and 2016, with the most recent election resulting in a significant swing to the right.
Bolsonaro is a former paratrooper has gained to the nickname “Trump of the Tropics” following certain comments on abortion, race, migration and homosexuality.
US president’s spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, said in a statement of the news: “President Trump called President-elect Bolsonaro of Brazil this evening to congratulate him and the Brazilian people on today’s elections. Both expressed a strong commitment to work side by side to improve the lives of the people of the United States and Brazil, and as regional leaders of the Americas.”
Like his American counterpart, Bolsonaro has also suggested that Brazil could pull out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.
Amnesty International has said that his presidency is likely to pose a “huge risk” to Brazil’s indigenous peoples, LGBT communities, activists and civil society organisations, black youth and women.
The new President has also spoken about his plans to relax gun laws in Brazil. He said earlier this month: “Every honest citizen, man or woman if they want to have a weapon in their homes – depending on certain criteria – should be able to have one.”
He will begin leading the country on 1 January 2019.
FTSE 100 dips amid global tech slump
The FTSE 100 closed on Friday down 64.54 points at 6,939.56.
However, despite the overall fall, the UK blue-chip index did manage to recover from earlier lows of 6,851.59.
Tech Stocks take a hit
Amazon and Alphabet’s worse-than-expected third quarter results have seemed to have affected the whole market, sending both the NYSE and FTSE down. The FTSE 100 was down 116.4 points, or 1.7%, to 6,887.7. Tech stocks affected by Amazon and Alphabet’s fall in share price included Sophos Group PLC (LON:SOPH), which was down 6.9% to 397.8p. Also taking a hit was Avast PLC (LON:AVST), which fell 3.6% to 271.9p.Rolls-Royce engine troubles send shares down
The aerospace engineer is reportedly facing troubles with the Trent 900 and 1000 lines of engines. This year’s profits are expected to be dented by £450 million, which sent shares down 14% earlier in the afternoon. A statement confirmed the engine issues. “While the production ramp-up issues in Q4 are regrettable, such issues in the early stages of a new engine program are not uncommon in our industry,” it said. “As we move into 2019 we are confident that Trent 7000 production and delivery volumes will increase significantly to meet our customer commitments.” The group remains committed to its full-year guidance.Friday’s FTSE climbers
Paddy Power Betfair plc (LON:PPB) was the top climber of the day, recovering from losses earlier in the week. Shares were up 2.1% to 6,520p. Another riser was British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group PLC (LON:IAG). The group shares rose 1.8% to 597.8p on Friday thanks to strong profits in the third quarter.US economy grows at 3.5% rate
New figures have shown the US economy to grow at an annualized rate of 3.5% in the third quarter.
The US Commerce Department said the US economy grew at a faster-than-expected rate thanks to strong consumer and government spending.
The economy grew slower than the 4.2% rate in the second quarter but the latest results were the sixth consecutive quarter with a growth above 2%.
Analysts at Wells Fargo wrote: “Growth downshifted a bit in Q3 and we look for some further slowing in the quarters ahead.”
“That said, the US economy continues to grow in excess of the rate that most analysts consider to be its long-run potential growth rate.”
With rates growing as they are, the US economy is expected to grow at about 3% in 2018. This would be the fastest in a decade.
Consumer spending in the third quarter grew at an annual rate of 4%. This is an increase from the 3.8% that recorded in the second quarter.
Scott Anderson, the chief economist at the Bank of the West, said: “Four percent growth is a phenomenal performance.”
“We don’t think that’s sustainable. We think spending is getting a little ahead of incomes. Some of those interest-rate sensitive spending categories are going to feel more pressure as interest rates continue to rise.”
Whilst the US economy is performing well it is not, as Donald Trump has claimed many times, the best it’s ever been.
Megan Black, assistant professor of history at the London School of Economics, said: “If you choose to look at the health of the economy based on GDP, Mr Trump’s claims are suspect when compared to the national economic boom of the post-War years.”
“The post-War era saw tremendous economic growth, most notably in manufacturing, but also in agriculture, transportation, trade, finance, real estate and mining.”
Asda plans new round of cost-cutting, risking 2,500 jobs
Asda will begin a new round of cost-cutting before its proposed merger with rival Sainsbury’s (LON: SBRY), risking 2,500 jobs.
The supermarket has been owned by the US retail giant Walmart (NYSE: WMT) since 1999 and is looking to reduce operations across all stores, affecting staff in bakeries, petrol stations and back office roles.
Asda said in a statement: “In a competitive retail market, where customers rightly expect great value and ease of service, we must always look at how we can work more quickly and efficiently for them – and inevitably, that means we need to consider changing the roles we need our colleagues to do or the hours needed in particular parts of our stores.”
The GMB union, which represents employees working at Asda has said that it will “fight tooth and nail for every single job”.
Gary Carter, the national officer of the GMB trade union, said: “These proposed redundancies are a hammer blow to Asda workers. The timing of this announcement, in the run-up to Christmas, is doubly appalling. Asda is performing well and is highly profitable because of the hard work of our members.”
“These cuts make no sense whatsoever. Slashing our members’ jobs would hurt the service Asda customers receive. With all the speculation surrounding the proposed Sainsbury’s merger and potential sell-off of stores, this news will not put anyone’s mind at rest.”
Last year Asda cut 300 jobs at the head office in a round of cost-cutting. It also cut jobs in 18 underperforming stores, whilst also asking staff in another 59 stores to work more flexibly.
Sainsbury’s proposed buyout of its rival is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Last month, the CMA said there were 400 stores where the combined group may have to close stores as there was a “realistic prospect of a significant lessening of competition”.
Amazon shares fall 10% on disappointing Q3 sales
Shares in Amazon plunged 10% in after-hours trading after the retailer reported disappointing third-quarter sales.
The group missed Wall Street estimates of above $57 billion, when sales to the three months to September 30th rose 29% to $56.6 billion.
In a statement, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos highlighted the growth of the business.
“Amazon Business has now reached a $10 billion annual sales run rate and is serving millions of private and public-sector organizations in eight countries,” he said.
In Friday’s pre-market trading, shares fell to $1,600 a share – the biggest decline in January 2014.
The group’s fourth-quarter guidance is between $66.5 billion and $72.5 billion. This is below previous $73.79 billion.
Loop Capital’s Anthony Chukumba said in a note: “We were particularly impressed by the continued YoY operating margin expansion, which is consistent with our view the company has transformed into a ‘profit machine,’ driven by multiple tailwinds (most notably AWS, which posted an over 30% operating margin for the first time).”
Shares in Google’s parent company Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) also fell on Friday after it missed analysts estimates for the third quarter.
Shares fell 8% in pre-market trading.
Despite the fall in shares Scott Galloway, a professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, remained confident.
“From an investor’s standpoint, you are stupid not to own these stocks,” he said. “This company has incredible earnings power – because it is awesome to be a monopoly in a growing economy. The only thing standing between Google and continued growth is the government.”
Earlier this month, Amazon announced plans to its first Manchester office, creating 600 jobs.
UK manager for Amazon, Doug Gurr, has said the UK is “taking a leading role in our global innovation”.
“These are Silicon Valley jobs in Britain, and further cement our long-term commitment to the UK,” he continued.
“Manchester was at the heart of the industrial revolution and has a fantastic history of innovation. The city offers an incredibly talented workforce and a budding tech scene with some of the most exciting, fast-growing tech companies in the UK situated here.”
Alphabet revenues “slightly behind expectations”, shares fall 8%
Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) missed analysts estimates for the third quarter, sending shares down 8% in after-hours trading.
Google’s parent company has engulfed by a turbulent few months after it was found to cover-up a major security flaw in its social network Google+, as well as its handling of sexual misconduct allegations.
Revenues for the group were up by 21% compared to the third quarter of 2017. The revenues totalled to $33.7 billion (£26.3 billion) and profits grew by 36% to $9.2 billion.
George Salmon, who is an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown said that Alphabet’s revenue was “slightly behind expectations”.
The results were released just after the company’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, admitted that the company had fired 48 people for sexual harassment including 13 who were senior managers.
Alphabet was also found trying to cover up allegations related to Android founder Andy Rubin, who was paid $90 million to leave.
Rubin tweeted that The New York Times report contained “numerous inaccuracies about my employment at Google and wild exaggeration about my compensation”.
“Specifically, I never coerced a woman to have sex in a hotel room. These false allegations are part of a smear campaign to disparage me during a divorce and custody battle,” he said.
“Also, I am deeply troubled that anonymous Google executives are commenting about my personnel file and misrepresenting the facts.”
Pichai sent a letter to staff on Thursday after the report and insisted that the company took a “hard line” in sexual misconduct allegations.
Earlier this month, Interbrand ranked Google in the top two most valuable brands.
Scott Galloway, a professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, showed confidence in the tech giant, despite missing forecasts.
“From an investor’s standpoint, you are stupid not to own these stocks,” he said. “This company has incredible earnings power – because it is awesome to be a monopoly in a growing economy. The only thing standing between Google and continued growth is the government.”
London’s former Stock Exchange Tower sold for £385m
A Singaporean group has bought London’s former Stock Exchange Tower in a £385 million deal.
City Developments Ltd (SGX: C09) has said it has taken advantage of Brexit uncertainty and purchased 25 Old Broad Street from the US-based private equity group Blackstone.
Frank Khoo, who is the group chief investment officer at CDL, said: “The short-term uncertainties surrounding Brexit have presented us with opportunities to acquire assets with deep value.”
“We believe 125 Old Broad Street provides a complementary addition to our London portfolio, both from a geographic perspective and from a tenant mix perspective.”
“We have confidence in the long-term fundamentals of London as a global financial hub with a robust office market,” he added.
CDL also purchased Aldgate House earlier this year for £183 million.
Andrew Hawkins, an international partner at Cushman & Wakefield, said that CDL bought the former Stock Exchange Tower at an “attractive price”.
Blackstone (NYSE: BX) bought the tower for £320 million in 2014.
A few iconic London buildings have been purchased over the past 18 months by foreign buyers.
China completed a reported £200 million-plus deal to buy the Royal Mint Court site, which it plans to use for the UK embassy.
Paul Goswell, the Managing Director at Delancey, said: “We are delighted with the People’s Republic of China’s decision to transform Royal Mint Court into their new London embassy. Delancey, along with its partner LRC Group, were fully committed to building out the office development, having spent the last four years designing the scheme in conjunction with Tower Hamlets and the GLA, both of whom have been constructive and supportive throughout the process.”
“However, the scale of the buildings, coupled with the unparalleled history and large area of amenity and public realm, make it one of a kind in the City of London and undeniably perfect for the needs of a prestigious embassy. We wish the People’s Republic of China all the very best in their new London home.”
In March last year, the “Cheesegrater” was sold for £1.15 billion to CC Land.
“This sale shows continued investor appetite for best-in-class, well-located property in London,” said Tim Roberts, head of offices and residential at British Land at the time of sale.
FTSE 100 closes at session peak
On Thursday’s close, the FTSE 100 was 41.12 points higher at 7,004.10.
The index finished on the day’s high following the early low of 6,995.99.
“Stocks have rebounded as solid corporate earnings and a lack of negative news prompted dealers to snap up cheap stocks,” said David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets UK.
“The mood has lightened on Wall Street, but we have seen bounce backs before, and seeing as interest rate hike fears, and geopolitical tensions still persist, the upward move may not last.”