Taha Lokhandwala

Jan 23, 2025 | investorschronicle.co.uk | Taha Lokhandwala

Enthusiasm for President Donald Trump’s first actions, or lack thereof, is waning this morning with shares in London, Paris and Frankfurt all flat or marginally in the red, after a good day yesterday. The Stoxx 600 had hit an intra-day high on Wednesday as traders revelled in the lack of European tariffs from the new president, and were buoyed by data showing a growing appetite for European shares from global fund managers, as per Bank of America’s popular survey.

Jan 23, 2025 | investorschronicle.co.uk | Taha Lokhandwala

We expected things to move fast and to be volatile, and traders were too hopeful when it came to China and tariffs. President Donald Trump has now said he will impose a 10 per cent tariff on the country’s exports to the US from next month. After rising following the inauguration, when Trump failed to mention China, overnight the renminbi fell dragging mainland shares down with it, as the Shanghai Composite fell 0.9 per cent, while the Hang Seng down 1.6 per cent. The CSI 300 also fell 0.9 per cent.

Jan 21, 2025 | investorschronicle.co.uk | Taha Lokhandwala

Well, we were expecting a reaction to now-president Donald Trump’s first day in the Oval Office via currency and Asian stock markets, which happened, but not in the way we thought. Asian shares were marginally in the green, with the mainland China index, the CSI 300, rising 0.08 per cent in Tuesday’s session, and the Hang Seng up 0.9 per cent. This was after Trump didn’t mention Chinese tariffs in the meaningful way many were expecting.

Jan 20, 2025 | investorschronicle.co.uk | Taha Lokhandwala

It’s a quiet start to the week in Europe with most eyes on the US where president-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated. He’ll then potentially action as many as 100 executive orders, taking a dictatorship approach and bypassing Congress, with new rules expected on tariffs, border control and gas exports. Everyone is still unsure what will come, and the dollar has sold off ahead of any changes.

Jan 17, 2025 | investorschronicle.co.uk | Taha Lokhandwala

It’s only been a day since I suggested the UK stock market was less affected by the macro picture and rate cut obsession, and yet today FTSE 100 buyers have their version of a ‘bad news is good news’ play. The London index hit a record high this morning rising 1.2 per cent. No company or sector in particular is driving this, although Smiths Group’s activist campaign has seen its shares rise 5 per cent. So what is then? Well, retail sales growth came in below forecast, of course. There is some logic.