Sony secures financial backing from Abu Dhabi fund

Sony Corporation has reportedly secured financing from Abu Dhabi’s investment fund, Mubadala, to help compete for British music label EMI Group. The Middle Eastern investment funds’ backing, and additional financial support from media investment bank Raine, will assist Sony to better compete with the other bidders which are said to include Warner Music Group and…

Europe’s shares higher after Italy downgrade

Stock markets in Europe bounced higher early on Wednesday as traders decided to pick up stocks trading down at discount levels following three days of losses and Italy’s credit downgrade late on Tuesday. Moody’s cut Italy’s credit rating from Aa2 to A2 with a negative outlook, blaming “material increase in long-term funding risks for the…

China in $1.29bn copper mine deal with Anvil

Minmetal Resources, a unit of Chinas largest metal trader, China Minmetals Group, on Friday launched a C$1.3bn ($1.29bn) friendly takeover bid for Congo-focused copper producer Anvil Mining. The move by Hong Kong-listed Minmetal Resources is the second attempt to acquire a copper producer with operations in Africa as it unsuccessfully bid C$6.3bn for Equinox Minerals…

European regulators extend short selling ban

Italian, Spanish and French financial market regulators late on Wednesday extended the temporary bans on the short selling of selected financial stocks and banks in a bid to curb market volatility. The ban, which was originally implemented on August 12, will now last until November 11 for France and Italy owing to “continued market instability…

Markets open higher on bleak Greek hopes

Stocks across the board rose in early trading Tuesday as markets remained hopeful that discussions between German chancellor Angela Merkel and Greek prime minister George Papandreou will resolve Greece’s bailout and avert default. In Europe the FTSE 100 index climbed 2.28 percent to 5,205.38, the Stoxx Europe increased by 2.31 percent to 225.37, the German…

How To Profit In A Double Dip Recession

Over the last several months, many of my clients have been asking me if Las Vegas home prices are heading for a “double dip” as the recession continues to drag on. I don’t know if I would call it a “double dip” since I definitely don’t predict that home prices will experience any further drastic…

Markets cautious ahead of Fed meeting

European stocks remain fairly steady while Asian markets traded higher on Wednesday ahead of a Federal Reserve policy meeting.  Europe recuperated the ground it lost on Tuesday following an Italian credit rating downgrade after news emerged that Greece is “making good progress” in reaching a deal regarding the next tranche of €8bn as part of…