Thursday, September 19, 2024

#FRANCE: China's commodity demand decline. @RealConstable, @BatchelorShow Occitanie.

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Listen here.


 Photograph of 2 men and 2 children in an automobile, Paris. 
Alexandre Louis, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

John and I discuss the mess that is China’s economy. The country’s demand for key industrial materials has fallen and prices are falling. Its not a good sign.

Thursday, September 12, 2024

WSJ: FINANCIAL FLASHBACK: Alibaba Becomes Largest U.S. IPO

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Until 2014, American companies dominated the bulk of U.S. tech-company IPOs. Then came the initial public offering of China-based Alibaba in September 2014, raising $21.8 billion — making it the world’s largest IPO at the time. (It was surpassed in 2019 by Aramco.)

On Day 1 of the stock trading in the U.S., Alibaba’s share price closed at $93.89, which was 38% higher than the opening price of $68. Why so successful?

The stock peaked in October 2020 when it had gained over 250% excluding dividends, Yahoo data shows. Since then, share prices slid to $78 recently. Read more here.



#France: Memories of Alibaba rise 2014 and fall 2024. @RealConstable @WSJ @BatchelorShow

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Listen here.

CC-BY-SA 3.0CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons


WSJ: FINANCIAL FLASHBACK: Alibaba Becomes Largest U.S. IPO

Until 2014, American companies dominated the bulk of U.S. tech-company IPOs. Then came the initial public offering of China-based Alibaba in September 2014, raising $21.8 billion — making it the world’s largest IPO at the time. (It was surpassed in 2019 by Aramco.)

On Day 1 of the stock trading in the U.S., Alibaba’s share price closed at $93.89, which was 38% higher than the opening price of $68. .


The stock peaked in October 2020 when it had gained over 250% excluding dividends, Yahoo data shows. Since then, share prices slid to $78 recently. Read more here.

Friday, September 6, 2024

#FRANCE: Collioure on the Mediterranean and Patrick O'Brian. @RealConstable John Batchelor Occitanie

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

John and I discuss British-born author Patrick O’Brian who lived in French coastal town Collioure for more than half a century. He’s the author a series of books about Britain’s Royal Navy.


Liste here.

Collioure harbour. Reiner Rosenwald, CC BY-SA 2.0
via Wikimedia Commons


Thursday, September 5, 2024

Korn Ferry: Fast Quitting in the UK

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Traditionally, UK employers have wanted new hires to stick around for at least a few years. Late last decade, the average tenure of a UK employee was five years. But the job market keeps shifting—fast.

According to a new survey, more than half (53%) of UK workers report quitting their job within the first six months. Read more here.