Highlights of the Day
Asian Markets
Asian stock markets mostly gained in early trading Monday, following advances on Wall Street on Friday after reports that the U.S. and China are drawing a road map to resolve their trade dispute |
U.S. Markets
The U.S.30 jumped on Friday after a report said President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping hope to discuss U.S.-China trade in November. |
Today's News
Standard & Poor’s downgraded the rating on Turkey’s long-term sovereign debt on Friday on the back of the “extreme” volatility in the value of its currency over the past two weeks, which was expected to result in an economic recession in 2019 even as it leads to a “considerable increase” in funding risks for the country’s lenders.
UK house prices dropped in August as more sellers entered the market during summer holiday season, property website Rightmove reportedly said Monday. Average asking prices decreased 2.3% in August from July.
Greece has emerged from its third and final bailout programme, ending eight years of EU and IMF loans that attempted to help the country out of its debt crisis. No celebrations are expected, though Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to mark the occasion with a highly anticipated speech.
NMC Health posted a 19% rise in first-half profit as it generated more revenue from its hospitals in the Middle East and margins expanded. Net profit for the six months through June increased to $116.7m, as revenue rose 20% to $932.0m.
Polymetal International said that its Kyzyl mine in Kazakhstan had shipped first concentrate to China. Around 2,000 tonnes of gold concentrate were been shipped on 18 August by rail to an off-taker in China,’ the company said.
TBC Bank Group posted a 25% rise in first-half profit as it increased lending volumes in a growing economy. The company also announced it would consider expanding into new countries.
John Wood Group said it has secured a six-year contract to provider asset management services to Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s Malampaya deepwater gas-to-power project located in the Philippines.
Premier Oil announced that the development of its Tolmount Main gas field has been sanctioned by the joint venture and infrastructure partners.
Paddy Power Betfair said it has started a new £300m share buyback programme, after completing a £200m buyback.
Walmart has officially taken a 77% stake in India’s e-commerce giant Flipkart. Walmart’s investment includes $2bn (£1.6bn) in new equity funding, to help speed up Flipkart’s growth. Both companies will retain their own brands and operating structures in India.
Oil Prices dipped as concerns over slowing economic growth weighed on markets.
Gold Prices held steady supported by mild weakness in the U.S. dollar on hopes trade tensions between the United States and China could be easing.
Companies Reporting this week
Day |
Companies |
Monday: |
NMC Health * TBC Bank |
Tuesday: |
BHP Billiton * John Wood Group * Persimmon * Charter Court Financial Services * Energean Oil & Gas |
Wednesday: |
Grafton Group * Polymetal |
Thursday: |
Premier Oil * OneSavings Bank * John Laing Group * Playtech * CRH * Phoenix Group * |
Friday: |
Computacenter |
Early Market Movements
Market |
Index |
Change |
% Change |
UK 100 |
7,574.3 |
+15.8 |
+0.2% |
UK 250 |
20,451.5 |
+7.2 |
+0.0% |
GER 30 |
12,261.0 |
+50.4 |
+0.4% |
FRA 40 |
5,362.5 |
+17.6 |
+0.3% |
US 30 |
25,669.32 |
+110.59 |
+0.4% |
U.S. 500 |
2,850.13 |
+9.44 |
+0.3% |
OIL (Crude) |
71.75 |
-0.08 |
-0.1% |
GOLD |
1,186.39 |
+2.14 |
+0.2% |
UK Risers & Fallers (8:15am)
Company |
Price |
Change |
% Change |
NMC Health |
4196 |
+136 |
+3.4% |
Randgold Resources |
5136 |
+98 |
+2.0% |
KAZ Minerals |
496.5 |
+18 |
+3.8% |
Sage Group |
621.8 |
-44 |
-6.6% |
G4S |
245.9 |
-6.5 |
-2.6% |
Nostrum Oil & Gas |
237.75 |
-5.25 |
-2.2% |
Latest Broker Views
Company |
Broker |
Recommendation |
Price |
Target |
Royal Bank of Scotland |
Citigroup |
Buy |
240.9 |
300 |
Sage Group |
Deutsche Bank |
Sell |
665.8 |
540 |
Randgold Resources |
HSBC |
Buy |
5038 |
7600 |
Marshalls |
Berenberg |
Buy |
481.4 |
530 |
Forthcoming Economic Data
Time/Date |
Previous |
Forecast |
Outcome |
4.00pm: U.S. FOMC Member Bostic Speaks |
– |
– |
– |
Sources
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/asian-markets-mostly-gain-on-us-china-trade-talk-hopes-2018-08-19
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/17/us-markets-china-us-trade-developments-earnings-data-on-the-agenda.html
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil/oil-dips-on-concerns-of-slowing-economic-growth-idUSKCN1L501F
https://uk.reuters.com/article/global-precious/precious-gold-prices-steady-as-us-china-trade-optimism-pressures-dollar-idUKL3N1VB05G
http://www.stockmarketwire.com/article/6096910/TBC-Bank-eyes-expansion-outside-of-Georgia-as-profit-jumps-25pct.html
http://www.stockmarketwire.com/article/6096914/Polymetal-ships-first-gold-from-Kyzyl-mine-in-Kazakhstan.html
http://www.stockmarketwire.com/article/6096581/NMC-Health-profit-up-19pct-as-patient-numbers-bed-occupancy-rates-rise.html
https://uk.webfg.com/news/news-and-announcements/premier-oils-tolmount-main-development-sanctioned-by-partners–3447657.html
https://uk.webfg.com/news/international-economic/turkey-sp–3447480.html
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/alliance-news/detail/1534749285849008500.html
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/alliance-news/detail/1534747357828927800.html
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/alliance-news/detail/1534743533668696200.html
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/alliance-news/detail/1534743657688699500.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/business-45218386