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SEA GUARDIAN Threat & Risk Assessment 14 Feb – 21 Feb 2025

Vice Admiral (ret.) H.N. John (Ioannis) Pavlopoulos, Honorary Commander in Chief of the Hellenic Fleet,  Former Military Representative of Greece  to the NATO and EU 

Brief Update No 25/05 Date: 21 Feb 2025

​​ STATEMENT

This document has been approved for distribution by Sea Guardian S.G. Ltd / Operations Department. The provided Intel and information derive from open sources, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) and United Kingdom Maritime Trade...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/02/21/sea-guardian-threat-risk-assessment-14-feb-21-feb-2025/

Market report: UK retail sales bounce but shoppers still frugal

Susannah Streeter
  • Shoppers defy the gloom with retail sales rising 1.7% in January but still show signs of frugality.
  • Food stores sales volumes rose by 5.6% on the month, the largest rise since March 2020.
  • Non-food stores including department, clothing, household and other non-food stores fell 1.3% over the month.
  • GfK’s monthly consumer confidence index edged up in February, as consumers took heart from the interest rate cut.
  • Government borrowing snapshot for January highlights that the UK...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/02/21/market-report-uk-retail-sales-bounce-but-shoppers-still-frugal/

Market Report: wage growth in focus for UK investors

Matt Britzman
  • FTSE ticks higher off mixed wage data
  • BHP sees lowest profit in six years
  • Sovereign GPU demand on the rise
  • US dollar rises as rates come back in focus
  • Oil extends its gains on supply disruptions

Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown:

“UK markets are digesting the latest labour market data, with the FSTE 100 opening 0.15% higher. Yesterday was the defence stocks’ time to shine, with the sector’s heavy hitters soaring on expectations that the UK will ramp up...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/02/18/market-report-wage-growth-in-focus-for-uk-investors/

Market Report: UK stocks in search of momentum, gold and oil find their footing

  • FTSE 100 looking for a fresh catalyst.
  • GSK gets FDA vaccine approval.
  • UK asking prices rose 0.5% in February.
  • Gold’s back on the menu for investors.
  • Oil finds a floor after 3 days of losses.

Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown:

“The struggle to maintain momentum last week looks set to bleed into early trading on Monday, with the FTSE 100 broadly flat at the open. Investors are keeping a close eye on US-led peace talks for the Ukraine war, especially since EU and Ukrainian...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/02/17/market-report-uk-stocks-in-search-of-momentum-gold-and-oil-find-their-footing/

Market report: Trade uncertainty, TikTok reprieve and Chinese tech hopes

Susannah Streeter
  • FTSE 100 opens lower amid uncertainty over the latest tariff threats.
  • Pound gains ground against the dollar, putting some pressure on listed multinationals.
  • Chinese e-commerce giants ground as TikTok gets fresh reprieve and tech talks are in focus.
  • Wall Street traders calm amid tariff threats with MGM Resorts results buoying sentiment.
  • End of an era for NatWest in sight with UK government looking set to sell off remaining stake this year.

Susannah Streeter, head of money and...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/02/14/market-report-trade-uncertainty-tiktok-reprieve-and-chinese-tech-hopes/

SEA GUARDIAN Threat & Risk Assessment 05 Feb – 13 Feb 2025

Brief Update No 25/05 Date: 13 Feb 2025

​​ STATEMENT

This document has been approved for distribution by Sea Guardian S.G. Ltd / Operations Department. The provided Intel and information derive from open sources, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) and United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) respective WebPages and products. All rights reserved. No part of this Risk Assessment may be reproduced in any form: electronic, mechanical, or...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/02/14/sea-guardian-threat-risk-assessment-05-feb-13-feb-2025/

Market report: FTSE pulls back from record high despite rosier GDP picture

Derren Nathan
  • UK GDP grows 0.4% month-on-month
  • FTSE down slightly after record close
  • Dax also tests record highs
  • Wall Street pulls back after stubborn inflation print
  • Palo Alto, Applied Materials, Deere in focus today
  • Brent crude weakens on Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine
  • BATS outlook disappoints as noose tightens on cigarettes
  • Nestle cooks up a solid set of results
  • Barclays sets positive tone for UK bank earnings

Derren Nathan, head of equity research, Hargreaves Lansdown:

“UK GDP for...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/02/13/market-report-ftse-pulls-back-from-record-high-despite-rosier-gdp-picture/

Market Report: calm has been restored to global markets…for now

Matt Britzman
  • FTSE 100 flat at the open after posting new record yesterday.
  • Barratt offers an upbeat outlook.
  • Heineken raises a glass.
  • US inflation data in focus.
  • Oil dips after 3-day streak.

Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown:

“There’s an overarching sense of calm in the air, perhaps a little unnerving given the storm of political drama we’ve become accustomed too since Tump took office. The FTSE 100 opened flat this morning, and after posting another record high...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/02/12/market-report-calm-has-been-restored-to-global-markets-for-now/

Market Report: Global investors try their hardest to look past the latest US tariff news

Matt Britzman
  • FTSE 100 opens at new all-time high
  • Entain’s CEO drama
  • Tui’s strong quarter slightly dampened by softening demand
  • UK retail sales top forecasts in January
  • US futures dip as Trump signs in new tariffs
  • OpenAI in the headlines
  • Oil prices rise on supply concerns

Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown:

“UK markets are shrugging off Trump’s latest tariff storm, with the FTSE 100 rising at the open, extending gains from yesterday to reach another all-time high. But the...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/02/11/market-report-global-investors-try-their-hardest-to-look-past-the-latest-us-tariff-news/

The cost of being single: more on bills, less on fun, and most of your financial resilience

Sarah Coles
  • Singles are forced to spend 22% more on essential housing per person than their couple counterparts – despite living in cheaper accommodation.
  • They also spend more per person on fixed costs like food (28%) and communications (32%).
  • They spend 21% less per person on eating out and hotel stays in the UK (despite the single supplement in hotels), 13% less on clothes and shoes and 13% less on recreation and culture. 
  • Even this leaves them worse off, with fewer holding enough emergency...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/02/10/the-cost-of-being-single-more-on-bills-less-on-fun-and-most-of-your-financial-resilience/

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