Articles by Daniel Marsh
ASX 200 Surges 1.85% on Tech and Real Estate Rally; Pepper Money Soars on Takeover Offer
Australian shares rebounded sharply Monday, with the S&P/ASX 200 climbing 1.85% to 8,870.1, led by technology and real estate sectors. Pepper Money surged over 30% after receiving a A$1.16 billion takeover bid.
Mortgage Rates Hold Steady Near 6% Threshold, Refinancing Costs Remain Elevated
U.S. mortgage rates showed little movement this week, with the benchmark 30-year fixed rate persisting around 6%. Refinance rates continue to outpace purchase rates, dampening homeowner incentive.
FTSE 100 Dips Amid UK Political Uncertainty; NatWest Acquisition and Greggs Downgrade Highlighted
The FTSE 100 edged lower as political concerns around Prime Minister Keir Starmer unsettled investors. NatWest shares fell sharply after a major acquisition deal, while Greggs tumbled following a broker downgrade.
HSBC Gains Ahead of Earnings as UK Banks Shift Focus to Wealth Management
HSBC shares rose 0.4% in London trading as investors await annual results on Feb. 25. The move comes amid a broader pivot by UK banks toward fee-based wealth management services.
NatWest Shares Drop on £2.7bn Wealth Management Acquisition and Buyback
NatWest Group shares fell nearly 5% after announcing the £2.7 billion acquisition of Evelyn Partners and a £750 million share buyback. The deal marks the bank's largest transaction since the 2008 financial crisis.
Goldman Downgrade Weighs on China Mobile as 5G Expansion Pace Slows
China Mobile shares fell 2.1% in Hong Kong after Goldman Sachs cut its rating to Neutral, citing a cooler outlook for 5G base station deployments in 2026 and 2027.
FedEx-Led Consortium Offers €7.8B for InPost, Shares Surge 14%
InPost shares jumped 14% after FedEx and a consortium of investors proposed a €7.8 billion acquisition at €15.60 per share, a 17% premium to Friday's close.
Novo Nordisk Shares Surge as Hims Abandons Low-Cost Semaglutide Pill
Novo Nordisk stock climbed over 8% after Hims & Hers canceled plans for a $49 compounded weight-loss pill. The move follows FDA warnings against unapproved GLP-1 drug marketing.
IAG Shares Gain as Oil Retreats; Focus Shifts to Upcoming Earnings
IAG shares advanced nearly 2% in London trading as Brent crude declined over 1%, easing fuel cost concerns. Investors await the airline group's full-year results on February 27 for insights on demand and expenses.
Halma Gains as European Markets Recover, Investors Await March Update
Halma shares advanced 0.65% to 3,570p in early trading, outperforming the broader FTSE All-Share index. The stock's next catalyst will be a trading update scheduled for March 12.
Hedge Fund Titans Pivot to AI Infrastructure and Software Plays
Prominent hedge fund managers including Ken Griffin and Steven Cohen added positions in Palantir Technologies and Comfort Systems USA last quarter, signaling a broadening AI investment theme beyond semiconductors.
Standard Chartered Taps Ex-UBS Banker for Wealth Push Ahead of Earnings
Standard Chartered shares gained slightly after appointing former UBS banker Raza Jafree as global head of private client sales. Investors await full-year results on Feb. 24 for updates on wealth business momentum.