Mine Sales in Bear Market Brings Private Equity on Prowl
Mining companies led by BHP Billiton Ltd (BHP) are holding the biggest ever sale of assets this year just as commodity prices head into a bear market. What’s bad timing for the miners might be the opposite for private equity. About US$48 billion of mines and assets are on the block, almost double last year’s...
Commodities Slump Sends Slow Ripples through World Economy
Lower airfares, cheaper food and rising profit margins are among the benefits that should flow from tumbling oil and commodity prices – but only after a long lead time. Having poured US$400 billion into commodities over the past decade, many investors are now selling. Their confidence that risky assets could only float higher on a...
Gold Slide Flashes Warning Signs for Global Economy
The plunge in the gold price in the past week may have raised a big red flag over the global economy. Some top investors say the gold sell-off, and the broader declines in oil and metals prices, reflect the failure of the Federal Reserve and other central banks to create robust demand even as they...
Banks Drop Off IsdaFix Panel Amid Rate-Rigging Probes
Banks are leaving the panel that sets ISDAFix, the benchmark for the US$379 trillion swaps market, as regulators probe suspected manipulation of the rate. Hot Deals HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA), Europe’s largest bank by assets, and Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group stopped contributing to the ISDAFix dollar rate between November and January, and haven’t been replaced,...
IEA Cuts Oil Demand Forecast for 2013 on Slower Growth
The International Energy Agency cut its world oil demand forecast for 2013 on Tuesday on continuing fragility in the world economy despite signs of recovery in China and the United States. Hot Deals The IEA said the marginal cut of 85,000 barrels a day was in line with the prospect for slower economic growth forecast...
Property Equities to Continue Strong Returns in 2013
by Donavan Lim Following a good run for global property equities, with returns of 29 per cent in 2012, Henderson Global Investors is positive on the outlook for properties in 2013, as it sees attractive valuations and robust fundamentals for prime assets. Tim Gibson, Head of Property Equities, Asia at Henderson believes that global markets...
World Bank Cuts Growth Forecasts as Developed Nations Lose Steam
The World Bank cut its global growth forecast for this year as austerity measures, high unemployment and low business confidence weigh on economies in developed nations. The Washington-based bank yesterday projected the world economy will expand 2.4 per cent, down from a June forecast of 3 per cent, after growing 2.3 per cent in 2012....
Bond Tab for Biggest Economies Seen Falling US$220 Billion
The world’s leading economies will have US$220 billion less sovereign debt to refinance in 2013, cutting supply after every major government bond market rallied for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis. The amount of bills, notes and bonds coming due for the Group of Seven nations plus Brazil, Russia, India and China will...
Take Part in “Predict The STI” contest Now! Stand A Chance To Win Dining Vouchers Worth S$300!
Tell us what will be the ST Index at the end of trading day on 13 February 2013, the first trading day in the Year of the Snake. Should there be more than one correct entry, the one that submits the earliest will be the first prize winner and so on for the next two...
Fourth-Quarter M&A Surge Spurs Optimism After 2012 Deals Decline
Global mergers and acquisitions rose to the highest level in four years this quarter, as a surge in US deals provided ground for optimism and salvaged what had been the worst year for takeovers since the financial crisis. Companies worldwide have announced US$691.9 billion in purchases in the final three months of the year, the...
Investors Seen Warming to Share Issues as Bond Fashion Fades
After a year marked by strong demand for selected bonds, investor fashion looks set to switch back to equities next year on the back of more positive macro-economic prospects. Some investment bankers will welcome the change. Companies and their advisors have had to take advantage of short windows of opportunity to get share sales done...
World Bank Raises China’s Growth Projection for 2013
The World Bank on Wednesday upwardly revised its projection for China’s economic growth in 2013 from 8.1 per cent to 8.4 per cent, but predicted the rate would taper off in the longer run. This year, growth in the world’s second-largest economy is expected to reach 7.9 per cent, slightly better than the previously projected...
