FTSE opens higher

Investec PLC shares powered 10% higher after the banking group announced it would spin off and separately list its asset management business in the next 12 months. 

The move is part of the restructuring process triggered by the departure of current chief executive Stephen Koseff. The new company will be listed in both London and Johannesburg and will keep at its helm the current chief executive of the asset management business Hendrik du Toit. 

Du Toit will also briefly become the joint chief executive of the whole group in October when Koseff steps down. Investec’s asset management unit has 109 billion pounds in clients’ assets under management. 

BoE’s Carney warns of Brexit-induced financial crisis

Sterling is holding steady against the dollar this morning, trading up 0.16%, but is nudging down against the euro 0.05% following a stark warning from the Bank of England’s Mark Carney. 

In a special meeting with the cabinet Carney said that a chaotic no-deal Brexit could create a financial crisis on the scale of 2008, trigger a decline in house prices of between 25% and 35% and see the pound weaken further. 

It remains to be seen if the warning provokes any reactions within the top echelons of UK politics who seem to be more embroiled in a political power struggle than finding ways of leaving the EU in an orderly fashion. 

JD Weatherspoon 

The hot British summer helped pub owner JD Weatherspoon grow its pre-tax profit year on year by 4.3%. 

The group had a reasonable revenue increase in September but expects that higher wages, taxes and interest costs will make a dent in its profits. To maintain its current profit levels the group will have to grow sales in the coming financial year by 4% and in September those sales grew by 5.5%. 

Like other UK retailers, pub owners and restaurants Weatherspoon will have to face the fallout from Brexit and potentially higher interest rates later this year.