UK shares start 2018 in the red

Raymond Jones
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0
UK shares start 2018 in the red
The FTSE 100 fell on Tuesday, kicking off the new year with losses following a record close on the last day of 2017. The losses were broad with 44 constituents of the FTSE 100 in negative territory. The biggest losers were Land Securities, Standard Life and Johnson Matthey, down between 1%-1.1%. The biggest riser was easyJet, up 3% following an announcement from rival IAG saying it was to acquire NIKI assets of air Berlin. Next was also weaker following a note from Deutsche Bank that called Next and peer group retailers Marks & Spencer’s and Debenhams ‘value traps’. A value trap is traditionally the name given to a share that appears cheap but could have underlying problems.

FTSE 100 closes the year at record high; this year’s winners and losers

Raymond Jones
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1
FTSE 100 closes the year at record high; this year’s winners and losers
The FTSE 100 closed on Friday at 7687 as London-listed stocks added to gains throughout the festive period enjoyed in a so-called ‘Santa’s Rally’. The FTSE 100 closed 2017 up around 7% in a year that was characterised by extremely low volatility throughout a persistent backdrop of political uncertainty and high equity valuations. The best performer in the FTSE 100 this year was NMC Healthcare, the middle eastern healthcare company who joined the index in Q$ 2017. The stock enjoyed an impressive 80% gain in 2017 following strong growth in their hospital business based in Abu Dhabi. Other string gainers this year included Persimmon and Berkeley Group Holdings who were up 54% and 50% respectively. The housebuilders posted significant profit increases despite fears over a Brexit induced UK economic slowdown. A major contributor to their success was the governments support for first-time buyers in the form of the Help to Buy Scheme which some have blamed for creating artificially high house prices. Miners also posted respectable gains this year after commodity prices rallied, ending years of decline. Copper miner Antofagasta was up 49% while Glencore rose 41%. Bottom of the FTSE 100 for 2017 was Centrica, down around 40%. Fears of a price cap for energy suppliers hit the entire sector with National Grid and SSE down between 15%-16%, but news that Centrica were shedding large numbers of customers led to investors dumping shares. Other causalities of 2017 include WPP and ITV who felt the pain of slowing advertising revenues and failed to realign their businesses with digital content consumption trends. BT Group shares also suffered after they failed to recover from and Italian accounting scandal and analysts questioned the investment in TV rights as opposed to their core broadband business.  

Future of Toys R Us hangs in balance as creditors vote

Miranda Wadham
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0
Future of Toys R Us hangs in balance as creditors vote
The future of troubled toy retailer Toys R Us will be decided on Thursday, as creditors prepare to vote on whether to back the proposed rescue plan. The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) had already said it will vote against the plan, after Toys R Us failed to secure £9 million, but both parties have been in talks throughout the night to secure a deal. The pension scheme currently has a deficit of over £25 million, and an outline of the agreement between the two parties is said to include a ten-year commitment to wiping out the deficit. If Toys R Us cannot secure the support of the PPF in the vote, the company will fall into administration and around 3,200 staff across its 105 stores. The talks are part of Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), a last minute step which could save the company but needs the backing of 75 percent of investors. Earlier this week, Toys R Us told shoppers that “there will be no disruption for customers shopping through the Christmas and New Year period.”

Government borrowing falls but public debt soars

Miranda Wadham
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0
Government borrowing falls but public debt soars
Government borrowing has fallen to its lowest November level since 2007, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. Public borrowing for the year-to-date fell to £48.1 billion, £3.1 billion lower than the 2016 April – November period. A spokesperson for the ONS said:
“This is the best year-to-date borrowing in a decade, but there is still further to go to repair the public finances.
“We continue to build an economy fit for the future by taking a balanced approach, getting debt falling while investing in our vital public services and keeping taxes low.” The figure puts chancellor Philip Hammond on track to meet the Office for Budget Responsibility’s expectation of £49.9 billion for full-year borrowing to the end of March 2018. However the same set of figures showed an increase in public sector net debt, which has risen by £72.2 billion to £1.7 trillion. The total figure is equal to 84.6 percent of Britain’s gross domestic product.

UK car production on track for first annual fall in 8 years

Miranda Wadham
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0
UK car production on track for first annual fall in 8 years
UK car production fell in November, setting the industry on track for its first annual fall in eight years. Production at UK factories fell by 4.6 percent in November, putting the total number of cars produced at 161,490. Whilst the number of cars destined for the domestic market fell, the figures were offset by a boost in exports, which saw a 1.3 percent rise. If the weak figures continue into December, the UK car industry will have suffered its first annual fall since the financial crisis. The figures will come as a blow to Brexiteers, who have relied on the strength of the UK’s car manufacturing industry to support Britain’s exit from the European Union. Commenting on the data, SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes, said: “Brexit uncertainty, coupled with confusion over diesel taxation and air quality plans, continues to impact domestic demand for new cars.”

IMF downgrades UK economic growth in wake of Brexit

Miranda Wadham
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1
IMF downgrades UK economic growth in wake of Brexit
The International Monetary Fund has warned that the UK may lose out in the wake of Brexit, downgrading growth prospects in its latest report. The IMF now expects growth of 1.6 percent this year, down from its previous forecast of 1.7 percent. Growth is expected to slow further in 2018 to 1.5 percent. The report highlighted the negative impact of the weak pound on the domestic economy, as well as its effect on UK trade. It said: “The sharp depreciation of sterling following the referendum pushed up consumer price inflation, squeezing household real income and consumption. “Business investment growth has been lower than would be expected in the context of strong global growth and high levels of capacity utilisation, owing to heightened uncertainty about economic prospects.” Christine Lagarde, the IMF’s chief, also said it was clear that the UK was “losing out” from the impact of Brexit.

Post Office to be given extra £370m funding

Miranda Wadham
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0
Post Office to be given extra £370m funding
The Post Office is to be given an extra £370 million by the government, after the postal service announced it had made a profit for the first time in to get 16 years. The money will be used largely to protect Post Office services in rural areas, as well as to modernise the existing 11,600 Post Offices. The Government has already committed £2 billion to the group since 2010, with £160 million of this round going towards rural branches and £210 million to modernise services. Business Secretary Greg Clark announced the extra funding on Wednesday, saying the Post Office was “at the heart of communities across the UK, with millions of customers and small businesses relying on their local branch every day to access a wide range of important services”. He said: “With the network at its most stable in decades, this £370 million of government funding will ensure it can continue to modernise and bring further benefits to customers across the UK.”

How to Trade Cryptocurrencies

Raymond Jones
-
0
How to Trade Cryptocurrencies

6 simple steps which will help you master the basics of trading in crypto currencies in world markets. You can download your copy absolutely free of charge.

In this book you will learn:

⇒How to simply open a trading account?

⇒How to choose a trading platform that suits you?

⇒How to find cryptocurrencies on your chosen platform?

⇒How to open your first position on your trading platform?

⇒How to prevent unwanted losses while trading?

Download Report Now:

Fortrade is authorised and regulated in UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), FRN 609970, and is a leading provider of online Foreign Exchange and CFD trading services.

Risk Warning and Disclaimer Contracts for Difference (CFDs)
Trading CFDs and other leveraged products carries a high level of risk to your capital as prices may move rapidly against you. Be Aware: You can lose all, but not more than the balance of your Trading Account. These products may not be suitable for all clients therefore ensure you understand the risks and seek independent advice. This material does not constitute an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. Fortrade accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of the information and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information, consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk.

This report is issued and approved by Fortrade.

By entering your details you agree to be contacted by UK Investor Magazine and the company operating this investment opportunity regarding this opportunity specifically and similar investment opportunities and news.

How to Trade Cryptocurrencies

Raymond Jones
-
0
How to Trade Cryptocurrencies

6 simple steps which will help you master the basics of trading in crypto currencies in world markets. You can download your copy absolutely free of charge.

In this book you will learn:

⇒How to simply open a trading account?

⇒How to choose a trading platform that suits you?

⇒How to find cryptocurrencies on your chosen platform?

⇒How to open your first position on your trading platform?

⇒How to prevent unwanted losses while trading?

Download Report Now:

Fortrade is authorised and regulated in UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), FRN 609970, and is a leading provider of online Foreign Exchange and CFD trading services.

Risk Warning and Disclaimer Contracts for Difference (CFDs)
Trading CFDs and other leveraged products carries a high level of risk to your capital as prices may move rapidly against you. Be Aware: You can lose all, but not more than the balance of your Trading Account. These products may not be suitable for all clients therefore ensure you understand the risks and seek independent advice. This material does not constitute an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. Fortrade accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of the information and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information, consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk.

This report is issued and approved by Fortrade.

By entering your details you agree to be contacted by UK Investor Magazine and the company operating this investment opportunity regarding this opportunity specifically and similar investment opportunities and news.

British manufacturing sector strong going into 2018

Miranda Wadham
-
0
British manufacturing sector strong going into 2018
The British manufacturing industry surged towards the end of the year, with order books at a near 30-year high in December. November’s strong growth continued into December, according to the latest figures from the Confederation of British Industry, helped by inflationary pressure and a weak pound. In a survey of 371 manufacturers, 28 percent said order books were above normal while 11 percent said they were below normal. The overall balance of + 17 points was one of the highest figures on record, driven largely by the motor vehicles and transport equipment and mechanical engineering sectors. Anna Leach, head of economic intelligence at CBI, said: “As we head towards the end of 2017, UK manufacturers’ total order books remain at a near 30 high, with export order books remaining at their strongest since the mid-1990s. “While the lower level of sterling continues to support exporters, cost pressures remain intense. Businesses will expect to see the Government’s Industrial Strategy make rapid progress next year to support manufacturing and the wider economy in every corner of the UK.”  
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