Analysis: Morningstar DBRS Just a day to the UK general election on 4th July and a change in government looks imminent. The Labour party has continued to lead in the voting intention polls and if polls prove right, Labour will form the next government. After 14 years of a Conservative-led government, a change to Labour … Read more
The Saskatchewan government ended the last fiscal year with a $182-million surplus, lower than the original forecast but higher than other predictions.Increased tax revenues and a strong economy helped the province avoid a deficit, Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said Thursday.Saskatchewan initially forecasted a $1-billion surplus, but larger expenses on the agriculture sector reduced that figure, … Read more
Moody’s Ratings has placed all Hellenic Bank ratings and assessments on review for upgrade, with the exception of the Prime-2 short-term Counterparty Risk Ratings (CRRs) and Prime-2(cr) short-term Counterparty Risk (CR) Assessment which have been affirmed. “This announcement reflects our strong financial performance and strategic development,” the bank said in a brief statement. Last month, … Read more
Fitch has raised the sovereign credit rating for Cyprus by a notch, with the country’s president saying this is a “vote of confidence” and a reward for maintaining a resilient economy. The rating agency said it upgraded Cyprus from ‘BBB’ to ‘BBB+’, which indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. According to Fitch, … Read more
– Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a summer election in the UK, surprising many and giving a modest boost to the pound.
– Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has been leading in opinion polls since Sunak took power in 2022.
– UK equities tend to be quite flat in the six months after a national election, with the FTSE 250 outperforming the FTSE 100.
– The pound is sensitive to election time, reflecting international investor opinion about the UK and expected government policies.
– Sectors like Natwest Group, housebuilders, and the water sector will be under scrutiny during the election.
– Bond market investors will closely examine the two parties’ spending plans, especially Labour’s, to ensure bond market stability.
– Credit default swap markets currently price the UK as if it had a higher credit rating than it actually does.
Boeing raised billion through debt markets after burning .93 billion in free cash during the first quarter.
– Moody’s has given a positive assessment on Hellenic Bank’s move to acquire CNP Insurance in Cyprus and Greece.
– The acquisition will position Hellenic Bank Group as the leader in the Cypriot insurance market.
– The acquisition price of €182 million is expected to be recovered through retained earnings.
– The agreement is likely to include the 330 CNP employees.
– The potential acquisition will strengthen Hellenic Bank’s activities in the life insurance and general insurance sectors.
– The transaction will enhance the diversification and sustainability of Hellenic’s profitability.
– The combination of insurance activities will result in synergies and create opportunities for product distribution.
By end-February 2024, the government had accumulated cash deposits of over €3.5 billion at the Central Bank and €2.1 billion at commercial banks.
Fact: Ottawa plans to spend .9 billion more than planned over the next five years, with a projected billion deficit this fiscal year.
Fact: The Greek economy is forecast to grow nearly 3 per cent this year, approaching its pre-crisis size of 2009 and far outpacing the eurozone average of 0.8 per cent.