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Markets higher despite mixed rates messaging and what to expect from retailers
Thursday 21 Dec 2023As was widely anticipated the US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on 13 December but accompanying commentary suggesting rates could be cut as much as 75 basis points in 2024 gave markets a big boost. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said that the US central bank is ‘not likely...
Why economists are adamant China does not face Japan-style stagnation
Thursday 14 Dec 2023China is not on the brink of a major period of deflation, according to economists, despite the latest underwhelming growth data. China’s consumer prices fell at the fastest pace in three years in November, dropping 0.5% both from a year earlier and compared with October, data from the Chinese...
Alphabet’s Gemini AI launch has Wall Street in raptures
Thursday 14 Dec 2023Google-owner Alphabet (GOOG:NASDAQ) hasn’t been shooting any AI (artificial intelligence) lights out lately, but the launch of its Gemini AI model could mark a significant leap in the tech giant’s quest to regain dominance in the sector That’s clearly the thinking among Wall Street analysts, who...
Has British American Tobacco’s future gone up in smoke?
Thursday 14 Dec 2023Shares in British American Tobacco ( BATS ) took a proper pounding after the firm lowered its full year 2023 sales outlook and said it would incur an impairment charge of around £25 billion. Newly-appointed chief executive Tadeu Marroco explained the charge was due to ‘the current macro-economic...
Artisanal Spirits’ down 50% in six months following profit warning dram-a
Thursday 14 Dec 2023Shares in Artisanal Spirits ( ART:AIM ) have dropped 50% over the past six months, and at 47p languish the best part of 60% below their June 2021 initial public offering ( IPO ) issue price of 112p. The latest dram of weakness was stirred by a profit warning (8 December) from The Scotch Malt Whisky...
Climate change and geopolitics could force transport costs higher again
Thursday 14 Dec 2023Just when it seemed inflation was being brought under control, particularly in terms of input costs for businesses like energy and labour, events thousands of miles away are threatening to send prices back up again. While they may seem to have nothing to do with UK consumers or investors, together...
Fund manager hails Cybertruck solution to Tesla’s soggy share run
Thursday 07 Dec 2023The first handful of Cybertrucks are being delivered to customers this month reigniting optimism that Tesla’s (TSLA:NASDAQ) long-awaited flatbed electric vehicle can spark the shares beyond $280 2023 highs. Tesla investor and managing partner of the US-based Future Fund, Gary Black, remains...
Can Oracle maintain its cloud growth mojo?
Thursday 07 Dec 2023There has been a good deal of bullish commentary of around Oracle (ORCL:NASDAQ) this year as it finally starts delivering on its long-promised cloud growth. Year-to-date, the stock is up nearly 40%, and while most of that rally happened in the first half of the year, when investors began getting...
New energy firm Ceres Power has failed to live up to expectations
Thursday 07 Dec 2023Horsham-based fuel cell and electrolysis firm Ceres Power ( CWR ) has had a torrid 2023, with its shares losing almost half their value after a series of disappointing trading updates. The firm’s fuel cells are used for power generation and storage, while its electrolysis technology is used to...
Find out why gold and oil prices are diverging
Thursday 07 Dec 2023Gold is back in vogue with the spot price making a new all-time high this week after touching $2,147 an ounce, surpassing the prior peak seen in May 2023. Meanwhile, oil is close to entering a new bear market with Brent crude prices dropping nearly 20% in the last month despite war in the Middle...