Author: Lucas

Copper cathodes produced by Nornickel. (Image courtesy of Nornickel). The European Union is considering to ban Russian imports of several platinum group metals and copper as part of new sanctions targeting Moscow for its war against Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter. The restrictions, if backed by member states, may cover iridium, rhodium, platinum and copper, according to the people who asked not to be identified because the information is not yet public. EU sanctions require the backing of all EU member states, and the bloc is aiming to adopt the new package this month. Spokespeople for the…

Forex trading has become increasingly popular among New Zealand residents, offering opportunities to trade currencies in the global foreign exchange market. With the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) providing robust regulatory oversight, New Zealand traders have access to some of the world’s most reputable forex brokers and trading platforms. This comprehensive guide examines the best forex broker options available to New Zealand traders, explores the regulatory landscape, and provides essential trading tips for both beginners and experienced traders looking to navigate the forex market successfully. Forex Trading in New Zealand The forex trading landscape in New Zealand operates under strict regulatory…

Olympic Industries recorded a slight year-on-year increase in profit in the October–December quarter of 2025, supported by higher revenue and effective management measures.According to its latest financial statements, the leading consumer goods maker reported a net profit of Tk 62.46 crore for the second quarter of the 2025–26 financial year, up 4 percent year-on-year.Both basic and diluted earnings per share rose to Tk 3.12 for the quarter, compared with Tk 2.99 in October–December 2024.During the July–December period of the current fiscal year, the company posted a net profit of Tk 119.71 crore, slightly higher than Tk 116.31 crore in the…

The chase is on for gold and silver medals in the Dolomites, as the winter Olympics get under way this week. In the markets, however, investors are running in the opposite direction after a spectacular bursting of the precious metal bubble. Renewed rout Gold and silver tumbled again after the weekend as investors continue to assess President Trump’s nomination to replace Jerome Powell at the Federal Reserve. Kevin Warsh is seen as a serious hard-money economist, who is unlikely to be pushed by the White House into aggressive, and inflationary, interest rate cuts. At a stroke that has removed one…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Central banks’ purchases of gold unexpectedly declined 20 per cent last year as investment demand soared, highlighting how funds and private investors have increasingly become the key driver of bullion’s record-breaking rally.Purchases by central banks and other institutions, such as sovereign wealth funds and government entities, fell to 863.3 tonnes last year, according to industry body the World Gold Council (WGC), as high prices and the swelling value of existing holdings damped demand for further buying by the official sector. However, investment…

Who hasn’t started a new year determined to get on top of their finances? Well, 2026 could be the year you actually make it happen. It takes a little time and effort but there’s lots of support out there to help you on your way.Get started by understanding your approach to money matters and how the decisions you take can shape your future. That’s where our quiz comes in …1CIGobbzTgr4a0or_EopXNUhuZxKk0Bi_IUkF8VqgpjUYou’ve got this: visit aviva.co.uk for support and guidance on life’s big financial milestones Source link

We live at a frantic pace and try to accomplish everything possible and even more. Modern conditions require us to be flexible, mobile, and quick to make decisions, and this strongly affects all areas of our lives, including the financial field. Trading is a popular activity today, and regardless of whether you perceive it as your main or additional income, it is extremely important to be able to quickly adapt to new conditions. In this regard, trading from a mobile device has already become a necessity for many traders. Mobile trading is becoming increasingly popular, especially among forex traders, as…

Pocket money is in decline, data shows – but kids are finding new ways to pay for their everyday “essentials”.Data from the NatWest pocket money index (looking at transactions from 308,000 children in the Rooster app), shared with our Money blog, shows only 30% of families now pay pocket money as part of a regular routine (down 2%), with children getting £3.78 on average a week (down 10p from last year). In fact, pocket money now makes up just 14% of children’s income.Instead, they’re finding new income streams – with a typical child netting £479.96 a year (£9.23 a week)…

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay The UK’s City minister has highlighted the government’s plan to issue a bond using blockchain technology as “actively bringing digital innovation to the heart of government” in a keynote speech.HM Treasury (HMT) has been gearing up for the issuance of a ‘digital gilt instrument’ – being referred to as ‘DIGIT’ and issued using distributed-ledger technology (DLT) – for the past 18 months, with the idea first put forward by the previous administration.A gilt is a government liability denominated in sterling and listed on the London Stock Exchange. They have been issued by the UK…

This week, it’s two-for-one in our stock screen section. Based on two stockpicking methods developed by the financial researcher-turned-investor Jim O’Shaughnessy in his classic book What Works on Wall Street, they’re a good example of how the way we define certain stock factors (and how these factors perform) can sometimes fall flat.I say ‘fall flat’, but the good news is that both of our O’Shaughnessy screens – what the author terms the Cornerstone Value and Cornerstone Growth methodologies – managed to beat the market over the past 12 months. Noting how value stocks tend to do well during bear markets,…