Consumers Market

Market Report: FTSE dips as UK unemployment inches up

Derren Nathan
  • FTSE stumbles at the open
  • Magnificent Seven investors embrace US/China trade agreement
  • Sun shines on British retailers with April footfall up 7.2%
  • Unemployment up from 4.4% to 4.5% as expected
  • Sterling rises from 1 month low against the dollar
  • On the Beach results highlight strong holiday demand
  • US core Consumer Price Index (CPI) later today – consensus +2.8%
  • Brent Crude down a touch to around $64.9 per barrel

Derren Nathan, head of equity research, Hargreaves Lansdown:

“The FTSE...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/05/13/market-report-ftse-dips-as-uk-unemployment-inches-up/

U-Freight achieves HKAEO accreditation for high security standard

l to r: Jason Chen, project manager; Joey Cheung, general manager, and Matthew Sze – human resources and administration manager from U-Freight Ltd, with the HKAEO certificate.

U-Freight Ltd has been officially accredited as a Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator (HKAEO) by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department.

This accreditation acknowledges that the company has met stringent security standards in its operations and cargo handling processes and will enable it to enjoy a range of trade...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/05/13/u-freight-achieves-hkaeo-accreditation-for-high-security-standard/

Market report: Swell of optimism amid progress on China US trade deal

Susannah Streeter
  • Stocks rise after fruitful weekend negotiations between the US and China.
  • FTSE 100 trades higher at the start of the week, with a spring in its step.
  • Optimism looks set to spread to Wall Street, with strong start expected for S&P 500.
  • Gold prices fall back more than 1% to $3275 an ounce, as investors retreat a little from safe havens.
  • Heathrow records busiest ever April, despite trade turmoil and substation fire.
  • Brent Crude heads above $66 a barrel, near a two-week high. 

Susa...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/05/12/market-report-swell-of-optimism-amid-progress-on-china-us-trade-deal/

“The Strategy of Battle”…

…Possibly (?) is transformed to “A race of Strategy and Luck”

by Commodore (HN Rt) Kostas Papachristodoulou (pictured above).

International and National institutions in order to create a concept for translating the pursuit of power formulated a Geo-politic concept which will explain how powers is going to pursue or how they translate the alliances and conflicts in the global with uncovered or covered initiatives. Strategic and Economic pursuits tend to represent this competition as a game of...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/05/07/the-strategy-of-battle/

Squeezed middle fall into the protection gap

  • 43% of people have enough life insurance.
  • Those with a mortgage need more, and are more likely to fall short: 36% have enough.
  • Families also need more cover, and have huge shortfalls. Only 30% of couples with children and 10% of single parents have enough life insurance.
  • Families on lower incomes struggle – just 3% of parents in the bottom fifth of earnings have enough cover, as do just 16% of parents in the middle income bracket.
  • Those who don’t have enough emergency savings (to cover 3...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/05/07/squeezed-middle-fall-into-the-protection-gap/

IMO midterm measures to add 80% premium to bunker costs by 2035 says MSI

Will Fray, Director, MSI. Development of SEASCAPE has been driven by demand from customers for improved modelling of fleet behaviour at a time when fleet inefficiencies and diversions are impacting earnings and values far in excess of historical norms.

Analysis using SEASCAPE platform shows that money raised could amount to $100bn annually for bunker fuel within the next decade

London and Singapore, 07 May 2025. Maritime Strategies International, a leading provider of maritime and energy...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/05/07/imo-midterm-measures-to-add-80-premium-to-bunker-costs-by-2035-says-msi/

Leonardovalentini FW25: A Poetic Rebellion Woven in Memory and Music

By Elena Sendona on March 1, 2025

At Milan Fashion Week, Roman designer Leonardo Valentini presented his FW25/26 collection Crudelio Fabiola, a raw and emotionally charged tribute to memory, loss, and the redemptive power of creation. Shown as part of the Lineapelle Designers Edition, the collection transcended conventional fashion presentation, becoming a cathartic act of personal storytelling.

Dedicated to Fabiola—a deeply significant figure in the designer’s life—the...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/05/06/leonardovalentini-fw25-a-poetic-rebellion-woven-in-memory-and-music/

Market Report: Stock markets defy weak US data on strong tech earnings

Derren Nathan
  • FTSE off to a strong start
  • China hints at open door to US trade talks
  • US PMI drops to 48.7 in April, jobs data in focus
  • Shell beats first quarter
  • Brent crude prices flat at $67 per barrel
  • Tariffs take a bite from Apple’s investor sentiment
  • NatWest smashes Q1 forecasts

Derren Nathan, head of equity research, Hargreaves Lansdown:

“The FTSE ‘s off to a strong start and US futures are also pointing up after yesterday’s gains on Wall Street. Markets were helped by solid earnings from...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/05/02/market-report-stock-markets-defy-weak-us-data-on-strong-tech-earnings/

Meta: shares jump on strong outlook and capex raise

  • Q1 revenue $42.3bn vs $41.4bn expected
  • Q1 EPS $6.43 vs $5.28 expected
  • Daily active users up 6%
  • Full year capex guide raised to $64-72bn

Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown:

“Meta shares are racing higher in after-hours trading after a strong set of results – and, more importantly, a confident outlook. This was never really about the quarter just gone for Meta; all eyes were on guidance for the second quarter and capex for the full year – and neither disappointed. The...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/04/30/meta-shares-jump-on-strong-outlook-and-capex-raise/

Mare Blu ‘90 by Harmont & Blaine: A Mediterranean-Inspired Style Revival for Spring/Summer 2025

By Elena Sendona on April 30, 2025

The capsule takes inspiration from archival images of youthful explorers soaking up the Mediterranean sun in iconic locales like Capri, reinventing that same carefree aesthetic through bold stripes, floral daisy prints, and an unmistakably playful palette. Think retro-cool swimsuits, terrycloth polo shirts with the brand’s signature dachshund embroidery, and an array of airy cotton separates layered over Bermuda shorts and drawstring...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2025/04/30/mare-blu-90-by-harmont-blaine-a-mediterranean-inspired-style-revival-for-spring-summer-2025/

+ More