London View

Independence Worries Continue to Weigh on Markets, Apple Product Launch Due Today

The FTSE is currently down by around 0.2% this morning, as fears continue over the possibility of Scotland voting Yes in next week’s independence referendum. Should Scotland vote to separate itself from the UK, a series of financial issues will have to be faced, including whether Scotland would be allowed to keep the pound and whether some of Scotland’s biggest companies will decide to move operations south of the new border. European markets are also keeping a close eye on the Scottish referendum – the DAX and CAC are both down slightly this morning, 0.06% and 0.16% respectively – with the worry being that a victory for the Yes campaign in the independence referendum could have a rejuvenating effect on other separatist groups within Europe.

The Asian session earlier saw the Nikkei rise on the back of exporter gains, with continued weakness from the Yen leading to the Dollar reaching a 6-year high against the Japanese currency, at 1:106.09. The Nikkei closed up by 0.28% at 15,749.15, its highest level in over 7 months.

In stocks news, Boeing shares closed up by 2.64% yesterday, as news came in of an order of 200 of the US aviation firm’s new 737 Max 200 aircraft, in a deal worth over $20 billion. The new aircraft - believed to reduce fuel costs by nearly 20% - will start rolling off the production line in 2019.

Meanwhile, Apple’s share price closed down by 0.62% in Monday’s trading, dipping in the run-up to Apple’s product launch later today. Apple stock has had a bumpy ride over the past few days, with Samsung’s recent release of its new generation of tech devices (including a phone with a curved screen and a new 3D Virtual Reality Headset) putting pressure on Apple. So far investors seem underwhelmed by reports that Apple will be unveiling two new iPhones and a Smart Watch. It remains to be seen whether Apple can come up with innovations which will leave Samsung scrambling to catch up, rather than the other way around.