Market Pulse
Chinese exports rise slightly in April, but markets wary
China's exports improved last month as a weaker currency boosted sales overseas, yet initial market talk was of a lack of a sustained improvement in exports which was having a 'knock-on' effect on suppliers to Chinese firms throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Commodities: Asset class pushes higher on sustained demand from investors
Commodities markets were awash in green at the end of the week despite another small gain for the US dollar, as data showed that investors were continuing to pile into the asset class.
Brexit could lead to fragmentation of EU, instability, ex-MI5, MI6 heads say
The ex-heads of MI5 and MI6 told the Sunday Times that the UK leaving the European Union might hamper anti-terrorism efforts and have a profound negative impact on the EU and, in time, on Britain itself.
Sunday newspaper round-up: Oil, BoE, Lloyds, buy-to-let, Centrica
Low oil prices look set to drag on after Saudi Arabia's moderate oil minister Ali al-Naimi was ousted by the government. The replacement of Al-Niaimi, who was leading calls to help rebalance the struggling oil market, has scuppered hope that the world’s major oil producing nations might agree to freeze output in a bid to raise prices in the oversupplied global oil market, the Sunday Telegraph said.
Sunday share tips: Lonmin, Icap, ULS Technology
Sell Lonmin shares, said the Sunday Times' Inside the City column. Half a year on from its near-£260m fundraising via a highly discounted rights issue, the platinum miner is heading into a tough month. Interim results are due on 16 May, when the market is likely to see the company has already chewed through a large part of its nest egg, which the company may play up ahead of the next round of pay negotiations with South Africa's mining unions.