Latest news with #Investment
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Are UK investment assets becoming more attractive? Yahoo Finance readers have their say
Earlier this week, investment bank Peel Hunt (PEEL.L) said it was seeing more positivity from institutional investors towards the UK market. In its full-year results, published on Monday, Peel Hunt said: "Following the challenging market conditions of February and March, FY26 has started more positively, with the Trump administration agreeing a number of trade deals, including with the UK, and with interest rates having been cut by the Bank of England. "We are seeing a rotation out of US assets into Europe and greater institutional positivity towards the UK." The investment bank said that equity capital market (ECM) activity in the UK "remains generally subdued but could gain traction should macroeconomic conditions continue to stabilise." Read more: Why the UK's AIM is struggling 30 years on The UK's FTSE 100 (^FTSE) is up nearly 8% year-to-date, while the US S&P 500 (^GSPC) index is just 1.7% in the green since the start of 2025, with concerns about the economic impact of US president Donald Trump's tariffs weighing on investor sentiment. On the back of the FTSE's latest record close last week, Saxo Markets UK investor strategist Neil Wilson said that the UK blue-chip index has "rallied somewhat against the odds with broad-based gains among its diverse membership". "I think we have clearly seen a rotation in global equity markets as investors have for the first time in years questioned the TINATA — there is no alternative to America," he said said. "Investors are looking elsewhere and consistently conversations with clients revolve around geographic diversification and reducing exposure to the US." At the start of the week, we asked Yahoo Finance UK readers whether UK investment assets were becoming more attractive. We received 201 responses, with 41% of readers believing that the UK market was becoming more appealing, while 38% disagreed and 21% were undecided on the matter. Read more: UK consumers braced for petrol price hikes Bank of England holds interest rates at 4.25% amid inflation fears Eurozone inflation falls below ECB target to 1.9%Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Reuters
4 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Haveli Investments to buy AI database firm Couchbase for about $1.5 billion
June 20 (Reuters) - Haveli Investments will acquire Couchbase (BASE.O), opens new tab for about $1.5 billion, the companies said on Friday, as the private equity firm looks to capitalize on the artificial intelligence-focused database company's platform. Couchbase's shares, which have gained 21% this year, were up 29% in early trading following the news. The company's cloud-based database powers AI-related applications that need a flexible data model and easy scalability. Couchbase is part of a group of modern database companies — including MongoDB (MDB.O), opens new tab, Cockroach Labs, Snowflake (SNOW.N), opens new tab and Databricks — challenging legacy players such as Oracle (ORCL.N), opens new tab. New database technologies make it easier and faster to store, manage and use a large amount of unstructured data that modern AI systems require. Haveli Investments, founded by former Vista Equity Partners president Brian Sheth, will pay Couchbase shareholders $24.50 per share, which represents a premium of about 29% to the stock's last close price. The private equity firm has a 9.6% stake in Couchbase, according to data compiled by LSEG. It may engage with Couchbase's management or board to explore strategic options, including a potential merger, according to a March filing with the U.S. SEC. The agreement includes a go-shop period that ends on Monday, during which Couchbase can consider alternate offers.
![Malaysia logs RM253bil in May trade, highest ever for the month [BTTV]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia logs RM253bil in May trade, highest ever for the month [BTTV]
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's trade in May 2025 rose by 2.6 per cent to RM252.48 billion, marking the highest monthly value ever recorded for May. The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) said in a statement that this was the 17th consecutive month of year-on-year growth since January 2024, continuing the country's upward trade momentum. The ministry said exports saw a slight decrease of 1.1 per cent to RM126.62 billion, while imports grew by 6.6 per cent to RM125.86 billion. Malaysia maintained a trade surplus for the 61st consecutive month since May 2020, amounting to RM766.3 million. MITI said exports of electrical and electronic products continued to show resilient performance in May 2025, registering an increase of nearly RM4 billion. This was consistent with the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics forecast of an 11.2 per cent increase in global semiconductor sales in 2025. "As a key player in the global semiconductor supply chain, Malaysia stands to benefit significantly from this anticipated expansion. "Nevertheless, potential challenges remain, notably the uncertainties in global economic conditions. "While the sector's outlook remains positive, proactive policy responses will be crucial to sustain this growth momentum," it added. In terms of destination, MITI said exports to key trading partners, including the US and the European Union, recorded robust growth, while exports to Taiwan not only expanded but also attained a new record high. Exports to free trade agreement partners, notably the United Kingdom and New Zealand, also recorded increases, primarily due to higher shipments of palm oil-based manufactured products. For the period of January to May 2025, trade, exports, and imports achieved their highest cumulative value on record. Trade rose 6.2 per cent to RM1.23 trillion compared to the corresponding period in 2024, with exports expanding 5.5 per cent to RM638.48 billion and imports up by 6.9 per cent to RM591.54 billion. The trade surplus stood at RM46.94 billion, a decline of 9.4 per cent. "Recognising the impact of global trade uncertainties, MITI and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) are ramping up efforts to build resilience in the trade ecosystem. "These strategic initiatives are also contributing to Malaysia's growing global competitiveness," MITI said. Malaysia also recently advanced 11 spots to the 23rd position among 69 economies in the World Competitiveness Ranking 2025. MITI said this marked the country's strongest performance since 2020 and signalled renewed investors' confidence in Malaysia's economic governance and policy direction.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Goldman, Citi See Europe's Economic Edge Extending Stock Rally
(Bloomberg) -- The perils of trade and geopolitics will only slow the rally in European stocks rather than derail it, according to Wall Street strategists. Security Concerns Hit Some of the World's 'Most Livable Cities' JFK AirTrain Cuts Fares 50% This Summer to Lure Riders Off Roads One Architect's Quest to Save Mumbai's Heritage From Disappearing NYC Congestion Toll Cuts Manhattan Gridlock by 25%, RPA Reports Taser-Maker Axon Triggers a NIMBY Backlash in its Hometown The Stoxx Europe 600 Index is expected to end the year around 557 points, according to the average of 19 strategists polled by Bloomberg. That implies a further 3% advance from Wednesday's close, handing investors annual returns of about 10%. Europe's loosening monetary policy and increased government spending are forecast to give the region's stocks the impetus they need to overcome risks from tariffs and rising international tensions. 'Equity markets have been remarkably resilient, despite many risks,' said Citigroup Inc. strategist Beata Manthey. She noted that global equity market valuations reflected relatively average levels of geo-economic risk in the lead up to the Israel-Iran conflict. 'This could be worrisome from a short-term perspective, but over the longer term we see many structural tailwinds to support European equities.' European stocks have posted moderate moves since mid-May, following a V-shaped recovery that erased all the losses triggered by the US tariff announcements of early April. Recent weeks have proved more volatile, as Middle East tensions intensified and pushed oil prices higher. The Stoxx Europe 600 is down 1.5% this month, with energy shares and utilities the only sectors in the green. 'Many investors we are speaking with are awaiting the end of the truce on US tariffs on July 9 to gain better visibility,' said Societe Generale SA strategist Roland Kaloyan. 'Looking ahead, we anticipate that the European equity market will remain within a trading range.' Most strategists have had to chase the rally in Europe as the outlook brightened, updating the cautious price targets they drew up in January. Challenges to so-called US exceptionalism in stocks, Europe's improving economic prospects, as well as a wide interest-rate differential have fueled bets on the region. The positive sentiment is also evident among investors. The Bank of America Corp. fund manager survey conducted this month before Middle East tensions escalated showed that a net 34% of European investors expect stocks in the region to rise in the coming months. While that's broadly unchanged from May, the net proportion expecting gains in the coming 12 months has rebounded to the February high of 75%. On a relative basis, asset allocators are increasingly bullish on Europe. A net 34% of portfolio managers in the BofA survey said they are overweight European equities against their funds' benchmark levels — close to a four-year high. A net 36% said they are underweight US equities, nearly the most in two years. While investors haven't lost sight of the risks posed by trade tariffs, they are growing more optimistic about the economy, which will feed into corporate profits, the survey showed. 'Our view is that the diversification theme has further to go,' said Goldman Sachs Group Inc. partner and chief global equity strategist Peter Oppenheimer, adding the weakening dollar favors European assets. 'In total returns, European stocks offer quite a compelling story for investors, especially given their starting point of having very concentrated portfolios, particularly in US equities.' European stocks have outperformed US peers this year, but the gap is narrowing. Renewed appetite for American tech megacaps, potential tax cuts and optimism about trade negotiations helped the S&P 500 erase its losses for 2025 last month. Still, for Deutsche Bank AG strategists led by Maximilian Uleer, who've been consistently bullish on the outlook for the Stoxx 600, tariffs will be a bigger burden for US companies than their European peers. Earnings momentum and valuations are more favorable in Europe, while political uncertainty remains more of a problem, they said. The outlook for fiscal policy and interest rates also favors Europe, while a potential ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia would be an additional boost. 'Once we have more clarity on US tariffs, the One Big Beautiful Bill, the German budget and fiscal package, as well as NATO spending, markets could start moving higher again in late summer,' the Deutsche Bank team said. 'In the medium-term, European equities could start outperforming US equities again.' --With assistance from Jan-Patrick Barnert, Sagarika Jaisinghani and Leslie Nutakor. Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros Is Mark Cuban the Loudmouth Billionaire that Democrats Need for 2028? The US Has More Copper Than China But No Way to Refine All of It Can 'MAMUWT' Be to Musk What 'TACO' Is to Trump? How a Tiny Middleman Could Access Two-Factor Login Codes From Tech Giants ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
The Star
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
‘Do not neglect our well-being'
KUALA LUMPUR: As women shoulder growing responsibilities in the workplace and at home, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is calling for focus on mental health and work-life balance to avoid burnout. Speaking at the Women Economic Forum (WEF) Asean 2025, the Prime Minister's wife and former deputy prime minister stressed that true progress means not just economic empowerment, but also shared family duties and emotional well-being – areas often overlooked in the push for gender equality. 'Despite our hectic work schedules, we must not neglect our well-being, including mental health, in the pursuit of work-life balance. 'Achieving this balance involves dedication to personal growth and development to enhance professional skills while nurturing spiritual and emotional well-being,' she said in her opening speech at the event yesterday, which was attended by women leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers from across the region. Dr Wan Azizah, who is the Bandar Tun Razak MP, noted that work-life balance, however, remains a challenge for working parents who lack the extra support to afford living costs, manage careers and maintain good parenting. 'Yes, we want more women to contribute to the economy, yet we must also remind ourselves that caring for the family is a shared responsibility. 'Both parents should actively participate in the emotional, physical and logistical aspects of raising children and sharing household duties,' she said, adding that the balance may not always be equal but should be based on mutual understanding and tolerance. Speaking from her experience, Dr Wan Azizah called on parents not to take for granted the responsibility of taking care of our families. 'This responsibility extends beyond the visible and direct expenses. Unpaid care work, household management and emotional support have substantial economic value, but they are not quantifiable. 'Whether we realise it or not, the 'profits' can only be 'sown' in perhaps 20 years' time,' she said. In her address, Dr Wan Azizah said the concept of the 'SHEconomy' is a testament to the growing influence of women in shaping economic narratives. She said the forum's theme, 'Women Leaders Beyond Borders: Shaping the Future of Asean SHEconomy', resonated deeply with her vision of leadership, inclusivity and cross-border collaboration. 'I believe this forum can highlight women's roles in advancing technology, sustainability, trade, and governance,' she said, expressing her hope that the dialogues will translate into actionable commitments and partnerships. 'Let us commit ourselves wholeheartedly to building a world where gender ceases to be a barrier to success and where every woman has the opportunity to shine,' she added. Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, who was at the event, called for urgent measures to enhance female participation in Malaysia's economy. He said there is a need for equal opportunities for women across all aspects of life, noting a discrepancy between women's educational attainment and their workforce participation. 'Although 65% of our public university students are women, the female labour participation rate lags at 56%, compared to 82.9% for men. This is a challenge we must overcome for Malaysia to thrive,' he said. Despite successes like women holding 58% of civil service jobs and 42% of decision-making positions, Liew identified barriers such as reliance on cheap foreign labour and inadequate childcare services. 'We need to change this. By moving our economy up the value chain, we can attract more skilled women into the formal labour market,' he said. The opening ceremony also saw several notable awards presented to deserving leaders and entrepreneurs. Among the awards presented were the Women of the Decade, Leaders of the Decade, Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All, and Exceptional Women of Excellence. Taking place until June 21, the three-day WEF Asean 2025 is organised by Yayasan Bina Kesejahteraan with the support of the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry. The forum focuses on efforts to create a cross-border economic ecosystem, emphasising dignity, inclusivity and data-driven policies, with gender equality as a core principle. Fireside chats, plenary sessions, workshops, roundtable meetings and WEF Awards will take place throughout the days before culminating in a closing ceremony tomorrow.
