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☆ ETF outlook: Why Wall Street strategists aren't chasing a growth stock trade just yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The rally in growth and tech stocks in the first quarter caught much of Wall Street off-guard, but many ETF strategists are sticking to their call and not chasing the hot sectors quite yet. The big winners in the stock market during the first quarter were found among growth stocks. QQQ YTD mountain Growth stocks rebounded in the first quarter. One area that is popular among value investors is income funds, which can help investors offset market declines by generating cash. To be sure, the iShares strategy team has an improving view of growth stocks, at least in high quality names.

☆ Rio Tinto boosts FTSE 100, worries of recession fade
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 up 0.1%, FTSE 250 flatMarch 31 (Reuters) - UK's FTSE 100 inched up on Friday as miner Rio Tinto rose after signing a partnership to develop a copper project, while relief that the domestic economy avoided a recession last year also aided sentiment. Data by the Office for National Statistics showed UK's economy grew in the fourth quarter as the country narrowly avoided a recession. Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto (RIO.L) rose 0.9% after signing a joint venture with Canada's First Quantum Minerals Ltd (FM.TO) to develop the La Granja copper project in Peru. Industrial metals miners (.FTNMX551020) housing Rio Tinto added 0.3% by 0721 GMT. The commodity heavy FTSE 100 (.FTSE) was up 0.1%, while the FTSE 250 (.FTMC) was flat.

☆ London's FTSE 100 up for fourth day, Petrofac leads smallcaps higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Johann M Cherian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.5%, while the FTSE 250 (.FTMC) added 1.1% by 0841 GMT. With a day left for the end of the first quarter of the year, the FTSE 100 is on track for gains of 2%, while the mid-cap index is likely to have a muted end. Top performing sectors this quarter include the FTSE 350 aerospace and defence (.FTNMX502010), construction and materials (.FTNMX501010) and retailers (.FTNMX404010). The FTSE 350 Automobiles and Parts sector (.FTNMX401010) added 2.5% and is among top-performing sectors this quarter. Moonpig Group PLC (MOONM.L) added 17.9% after the online card retailer said it expects revenue to expand across 2024.

☆ Wall Street analysts love these emerging market stocks that all trade in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

While U.S. and European investors continue to navigate a banking crisis, high inflation and slower earnings growth, a host of emerging markets stocks beloved by Wall Street analysts are expected to surge higher. Emerging markets equities had an optimistic start to the year as China reopened its economy, and as high inflation showed signs of easing. In 2023, the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) is up 4.4% through Thursday's open. In fact, some emerging markets stocks that are also listed in the U.S. could be due for huge upside. These names are included in exchange traded funds such as the the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF, iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, the Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF or the SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF.

☆ Asian stocks rally as bank jitters calm, Alibaba lifts mood
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Alibaba's Hong Kong shares (9988.HK) shot up 15%, while the company's U.S.-listed shares closed 14.3% higher. The news lifted investor confidence in the wider Chinese tech sector, with shares of Alibaba's e-commerce rival JD.com Inc (9618.HK) 7% higher, and gaming giant Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700.HK) jumping 5%. "Alibaba's split may pave the way for other Chinese tech giants to do similar," CMC Markets analyst Tina Teng said. "This helps break down the monopolistic power of these conglomerates, which complies with the Chinese government's regulatory overhaul over antitrust issues." Futures indicated European stocks were set to open higher, with Eurostoxx 50 futures up 0.41%, German DAX futures up 0.38% and FTSE futures up 0.08%.

☆ UK stocks climb as banks, export-focused companies rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 up 0.3%, FTSE 250 adds 0.3%March 29 (Reuters) - UK stocks edged higher on Wednesday, supported by gains in banks amid easing fears of a financial sector meltdown, while shares of export-focused energy and materials companies gained as the pound weakened. The exporters-heavy FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.3% as the pound slipped 0.2% . Industrial metals (.FTNMX551020) and precious metals (.FTNMX551030) miners rose 0.1% and 0.5%, respectively. Late on Tuesday, John Glen, chief secretary to the UK Treasury, told Reuters that Britain's banks had not seen deposit outflows in reaction to the failures of U.S. regional lenders. Shares of UK lenders (.FTNMX301010) gained 0.7%.

☆ UK's Bellway to buy back shares, hike social housing output
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Ajose Koilparambil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chief Executive Jason Honeyman told Reuters the company started hastening construction in its social housing programme in October after a demand slump. Honeyman said homes built in the programme would make up more than quarter of overall output in the fiscal year ending on July 31. Bellway, which builds everything from one-bedroom apartments to six-bedroom family homes and luxury penthouses, said there was a moderate improvement in bookings since January. Bellway shares edged up about 1% in morning trade. ($1=0.8121 pounds)Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Lenders, energy stocks help London stocks extend gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 up 0.6%, FTSE 250 adds 0.2%March 28 (Reuters) - UK shares extended gains on Tuesday, supported by an upbeat performance in energy heavyweight BP, while lenders gained following reassuring comments by Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey on the stability of the banking sector. The pound strengthened 0.3% as traders weighed the prospects of higher interest rates. The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.6%, while FTSE 250 (.FTMC) climbed 0.2% by 0718 GMT. Energy stocks (.FTNMX601010) rose 1.6%. Reporting by Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Johnnie Walker maker Diageo appoints Debra Crew CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —One of the world’s largest alcoholic drinks companies has appointed its first female CEO. Diageo, which makes Guinness beer and Johnnie Walker whisky, said Tuesday that chief operating officer Debra Crew would succeed Ivan Menezes, who will retire from the company after 10 years at the helm. Diageo is the seventh-largest member of the FTSE 100 (UKX) index and will now become the largest UK-listed company led by a woman. There are just nine other FTSE 100 (UKX) companies led by women, including pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GLAXF) and bank NatWest. Diageo is the world’s fourth biggest alcoholic drinks company by market value, after AB InBev (BUD) and China’s Wuliangye Yibin and Kweichow Moutai.

☆ Diageo CEO Menezes to retire after nearly a decade in role
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

March 28 (Reuters) - Diageo (DGE.L) said on Tuesday that Chief Executive Ivan Menezes will retire and leave the Johnnie Walker whisky maker at the end of June, after nearly a decade at the helm. Menezes will be replaced as CEO by Chief Operating Officer (COO) Debra Crew, who will also join the board, Diageo said in a statement. Crew, who took on the role of COO last October, was previously president of Diageo North America and Global Supply from 2020, the company said. Menezes joined Diageo after the merger of Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan plc in 1997 and has held a number of senior positions in the business, Diageo said. Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; editing by Savio D'Souza and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ London stocks fall as fears of a banking crisis linger
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Banks fall as fears of a banking crisis spikeEnergy down tracking lower oil pricesUK Feb retail sales rise unexpectedlyFTSE 100 down 1.4%, FTSE 250 off 1.0%March 24 (Reuters) - London stocks fell on Friday, dragged by energy shares that tracked oil prices lower, while banks extended declines at the end of a turbulent week as fears of a global banking crisis lingered. The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) fell 1.4%, extending losses after a near 1% drop on Thursday. British banks (.FTNMX301010) lost 2.7%, falling for a third straight session, joining their European peers in Friday's slide. Energy majors Shell (SHEL.L) and BP (BP.L) fell 2.5% and 2.5%, respectively, dragging the broader energy sector (.FTNMX601010) down 2.5%, as oil prices extended losses on worries about a potential oversupply. Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Savio D'SouzaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Wall Street downgrades European banks and names stocks to buy 'in case markets turn sour'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Wall Street is downgrading European banks after stresses in the sector led to the emergency merger of the two largest lenders in Switzerland. The bank's strategists said — in a report titled "A dozen stocks in case markets turn sour" — their list of 12 buy-rated stocks would prove resilient during broad market sell-offs. The list includes companies such as Nokia , Sodexo , and SAP among others that strategists at Deutsche Bank Research said could outperform broader markets during recessionary environments. Meanwhile, they said that Sodexo's defensive growth profile is also expected to lead to top-line growth of 8-10% this year. Deutsche strategists Maximilian Uleer and Caroline Raab added that the German tech giant SAP had finished its costly cloud investments and is now starting to see benefits from the transformation.

☆ Smiths Group upgrades forecasts after first-half profit jumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, March 24 (Reuters) - British industrial technology company Smiths Group (SMIN.L) upgraded its annual forecasts after first-half profit climbed 27% boosted by strong demand for its products from customers in the oil, gas, airports, ports and defence sectors. For the 12 months to the end of July, Smiths said it now expected organic revenue growth of at least 8%, up from guidance given in January for growth of at least 7% after its first-half results beat expectations. Headline operating profit came in at 241 million pounds ($296 million) for the first-half, 27% higher than the same period last year, and above a consensus forecast, on organic revenue growth which stood at 13.5% in the period. "With order books healthy and trading strong, we are again raising our full-year 2023 organic revenue growth guidance," he said in a statement on Friday. Shares in Smiths have risen 14% in the last 6 months, outperforming Britain's bluechip index which is up 7%.

☆ European bank stocks: UBS, Deutsche sink as fear returns
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Europe’s Stoxx Europe 600 Banks index, which tracks 42 big EU and UK banks, fell 5% in morning trade. Last week, Switzerland’s biggest bank UBS bought its embattled Swiss rival for 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.25 billion) in an emergency takeover brokered by the Swiss government. The DOJ had sent subpoenas to those employees before UBS took over Credit Suisse, according to the report. “Contagion fears are not yet going away — bank shares are lower again this morning and weighing on broader sentiment. Yesterday we witnessed Deutsche Bank credit default swaps blow out,” Neil Wilson, chief markets analyst at trading platform Markets.com, said in a note Friday.

☆ Citigroup downgrades European Banks, sees STOXX 600 little changed by year-end
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Wall Street brokerage cut its rating on European banks (.SX7P) to "neutral" from overweight" in a note dated Wednesday, saying the likely continued monetary policy tightening adds to worries stemming from the turmoil in the global banking sector. They, instead, prefer technology stocks (.SX8P) and upgraded the sector to "overweight", citing healthy cash balances and several growth drivers. Citigroup trimmed its 2023 year-end forecast for the pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX) index by more than 5% to 445 points, which represents a 0.4% downside from current levels. Citi also cut its forecast for UK's FTSE 100 index (.FTSE) by 5%, now expecting the blue-chip index to end the year at 7,600 points, less than 1% higher from current levels. The STOXX has risen 5.24% so far this year, while the FTSE 100 has gained 1.54%.

☆ Asian shares surge, dollar slips after Fed hints at rate pause
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SINGAPORE, March 23 (Reuters) - Asian shares spiked on Thursday and the dollar slid after the U.S. Federal Reserve hinted it could pause interest rate rises following turmoil in the banking sector, though it also reiterated its commitment to fighting sticky inflation. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 1% to touch a two-week high of 515.62. Wall Street ended sharply lower overnight as investors digested the Fed's policy statement and comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference. In the currency market, the dollar index , which measures the dollar against other major currencies, fell nearly 0.5% to fresh seven week low of 101.92. The two-year U.S. Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, was down 10 basis points at 3.881%.

☆ London stocks fall ahead of BoE rate decision, banks down
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The FTSE 100 (.FTSE) fell 0.7%, after recording its highest closing level in more than a week on Wednesday. The focus now shifts to the BoE, which is widely expected to also raise its lending rate by 25 bps at 1200 GMT. "It's highly unlikely that the BoE would diverge from other central banks," said Julien Lafargue, chief market strategist at Barclays Private Bank. Ahead of its decision on interest rates, the BoE said in a letter to lawmakers that more sharp moves in asset prices could expose weaknesses in parts of Britain's financial system. Informa (INF.L) dropped 2.7% after Morgan Stanley cut its rating on the events organizer's stock to "equal-weight" from "overweight".

☆ World stocks cautiously higher ahead of high stakes Fed decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Dhara Ranasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] A man shelters under an umbrella as he walks past the London Stock Exchange in London, Britain, August 24, 2015. Data showing British inflation unexpectedly rose to 10.4% in February boosted expectations for a quarter point rate hike at Thursday's Bank of England meeting, lifting sterling. While London's FTSE stock index dipped (.FTSE), European stock markets more broadly edged higher (.STOXX) while Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) added 1.3%. The spotlight was firmly on the Fed, which concludes a two-day meeting later on Wednesday. "Plus, delivery of a 25 bps hike still means the Fed is tightening, there is likely at least another hike to come."

☆ Asia hopes for best on banks, much rests with Fed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Efforts by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to calm nerves seemed to be working with bank shares rallying overnight. The unease left both S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures barely changed. EUROSTOXX 50 futures edged up 0.2%, while FTSE futures rose 0.1%. All of which puts the Fed in a tough position as it decides whether to raise interest rates later today. Two-year Treasury yields were hesitating at 4.13%, having made a remarkable round-trip from 5.085% to 3.635% in just nine sessions.

☆ Asia shares hope for best as Fed decides on rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Efforts by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to calm nerves seemed to be working with bank shares rallying overnight. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) added 0.9%, with Chinese blue chips (.CSI300) up 0.3%. All of which puts the Fed in a tough position as it decides whether to raise interest rates later today. Two-year Treasury yields were hesitating at 4.14%, having made a remarkable round-trip from 5.085% to 3.635% in just nine sessions. German two-year yields overnight recording the biggest daily jump since 2008 as markets went back to pricing in more ECB hikes.

☆ London stocks fall as hot UK inflation data spurs rate-hike fears; Fed in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies UK inflation still in double-digit territoryReal estate stocks fall on rate-hike concernsBank stocks gain, help cut lossesFed decision awaited on Wednesday, BoE on ThursdayFTSE 100 down 0.2%, FTSE 250 off 0.3%March 22 (Reuters) - London's exporter-heavy FTSE 100 fell on Wednesday, with real estate stocks leading the retreat, as hotter-than-expected UK inflation data raised fears of more interest rate hikes and boosted the pound. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index (.FTSE) fell 0.2% after a near 2% bounce on Tuesday, with investors also waiting for the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision later in the day. The pound rose sharply against the dollar after Britain's consumer price index (CPI) inflation unexpectedly rose to 10.4% in February. Real estate stocks fell (.FTUB3510) 2.2%, with British Land Company (BLND.L) down 4.2% after Morgan Stanley reduced its price target. ,Helping cut losses were banking stocks (.FTNMX301010), which gained 0.9% as fears of a crises appeared to ease.

☆ European banks battered after Credit Suisse rescue
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Lucy Raitano | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - Shares in European banks were battered in early trade on Monday following UBS's (UBSG.S) state-backed rescue of Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) that brought with it massive writedowns for the latter's bondholders. Shares in Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) fell more than 63% while UBS Group (UBSG.S) shares were last down 12.5%. UBS on Sunday agreed to pay 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.23 billion) for 167-year-old Credit Suisse and assume up to $5.4 billion in losses. JPMorgan said that although UBS stood to gain in the longer-term from the deal, the writedown of the AT1 bonds would impact other European banks. Barclays cut its view on European banks to "neutral" from "positive" on Monday, citing likely increased regulatory scrutiny after Silicon Valley Bank collapse and UBS agreeing to buy Credit Suisse.

Still, analysts say the worry about a possible banking crisis is far from over. Credit Suisse's chief executive said on Friday the bank was working hard to stem customers outflows, although this could take time. At 0944 GMT, the MSCI world equity index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, was up 0.4% on the day. The central bank's supervisory board met on Friday to discuss stress and vulnerabilities in the euro zone banking sector. The Australian dollar, seen as a liquid proxy for risk appetite, was up 0.7% on the day at $0.6705 .

☆ Big changes in the S&P 500 Friday highlight the power of index providers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Ever wonder why Walmart is classified as a consumer staples stock in the S&P 500, but similar retailers such as Target, Dollar General and Dollar Tree are classified as consumer discretionary stocks? Target, Dollar General and Dollar Tree will move from the consumer discretionary corner of the stock market, and join Walmart as consumer staples companies. Consumer staples will get bigger; consumer discretionary will get a little smaller. If you're an investor in a broadly diversified total market index fund like the S&P 500, the changes will make little difference to you. "Are they reflecting changes in consumer demand or the changes in the marketplace structure?"

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☆ UK's Ofcom delays BT fibre pricing decision after CEO remarks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rivals such as Virgin Media O2 and alternative fibre providers known as altnets are investing billions of pounds to build competing networks. 'SIGNIFICANT CONCERN'But comments made by BT Chief Executive Philip Jansen to the Financial Times - headlined "BT chief warns Openreach fibre push will 'end in tears' for rivals" - caused "significant concern", Ofcom said. Ofcom chief Melanie Dawes said in a letter to Jansen, published on Friday, that the regulator was committed to network competition. "They must question why BT Group is reducing its wholesale charges whilst increasing the prices that consumers pay for broadband," INCA said. BT's earlier wholesale pricing, Equinox, was challenged by altnet CityFibre, but Ofcom decided not to intervene.

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