February, 2016

• 16 February

  ‘Brexit’ to put $670bn of UK trade at risk

  Alex Morales / Bloomberg A British departure from the European Union would put at risk 466 billion pounds ($670 billion) of U.K. trade with nations in Europe and beyond, according to a report published on Tuesday by the Centre for Economic and Business Research. Britain’s membership of the bloc gives it “easy” access to trade with the other 27 member …

  Read More »
• 16 February

  Poland plans growth boom with $254bn investment programme

  

  WARSAW / Bloomberg Poland’s new government plans to harness 1 trillion zloty ($254 billion), or nearly half of the country’s annual economic output, for investment in manufacturing and innovation to help the nation catch up with richer European Union neighbours. The government is due to discuss the proposal, drafted by Development Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the former chief executive officer at …

  Read More »
• 16 February

  British inflation hits one-year high in Jan

  London / AFP Britain’s annual inflation rate rose in January to its highest level for a year, buoyed by the higher prices for clothing and alcohol, official data showed Tuesday. The 12-month Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.3 percent last month, after registering 0.2 percent in December, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement. Alcohol and …

  Read More »
• 16 February

  Putin’s reward for doing a deal with OPEC overshadowed by risks

  

  MOSCOW / Bloomberg Neither a recession nor a collapse in revenue has yet been enough to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin that it’s time to join with OPEC in cutting oil output to boost prices. His reasons may be pragmatic rather than political. As Russia’s oil minister meets his Saudi Arabian counterpart in Doha on Tuesday, the world’s second-largest crude …

  Read More »
• 16 February

  Emirates Securities Market Index up by 0.92 percent

  

  ABU DHABI / EMIRATES BUSINESS The Emirates Securities Market Index has increased by 0.92% to close at 4161.49 points. Accordingly the Market Capitalization has gained AED6.16 Billion attaining AED675.05 Billion. A total of 0.64 Billion Shares were traded with a total value of 0.75 Billion AED during the trading session of 16-02-2016 through 8512 transactions. The number of companies which has been …

  Read More »
• 16 February

  Oil rebounds, Asia stocks go up

  

  Hong Kong/ AFP Asian markets extended their rally on Tuesday as hopes were raised that major oil exporters Russia and Saudi Arabia could agree action to ease a global supply glut, and authorities will step in to boost growth in major economies. Gains on European markets also gave investors confidence to buy again as Shanghai surged more than three percent …

  Read More »
• 16 February

  New year woe for Taiwan as exports fall again

  Taipei/ AFP The new year has brought Taiwan no respite from its economic woes as exports fell in January for the 12th successive month, the longest continuous decline for almost seven years. The island slid into recession in the last quarter of 2015, posting its slowest annual growth since 2009, as China’s economic slowdown and weaker international demand took their …

  Read More »
• 16 February

  BoK keeps rate at record low amid market turbulence

  

  Bloomberg The Bank of Korea (BoK) kept its key rate unchanged Tuesday for an eighth consecutive month as it waits for a clearer picture of first-quarter data and assesses the impact of unstable markets. The decision to keep the seven-day repurchase rate at a record low 1.5 percent was forecast by all 15 economists in a Bloomberg survey. South Korea’s …

  Read More »
• 16 February

  Swedish Banks’ big risk becomes a benefit

  

  Bloomberg For years, the country’s central bank and financial supervisor have railed against lenders’ dependence on markets — rather than deposits — because of the risk that investors might flee, leaving banks in a lurch. Now, Sweden is finding the markets may be a better funding source than savers as central bank rates go deeper into negative territory. Market funding …

  Read More »
• 16 February

  China to mull minimum bad-loan coverage

  Bloomberg China’s cabinet has discussed lowering the ratio of provisions banks must set aside for bad loans, potentially easing a drag on earnings after soured debts at lenders climbed to the highest in a decade. The China Banking Regulatory Commission would be responsible for deciding the timing and magnitude of any reduction, said people with knowledge of the matter, who …

  Read More »