The United Kingdom has fallen to seventh place in the world in terms of the total capitalization of companies traded in the country, passing the Canadian market, Bloomberg writes.
Since the beginning of the year, the market value of companies traded in Canada has increased by 11% to $3.22 trillion.
The British stock market, which was once among the world’s leaders, is also inferior to the United States, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and India. Last year, it also passed France, but due to the difficult political situation in the neighboring country, the UK regained its status as Europe’s largest equity market earlier this year.
Over the past decade, Canadian companies have increased their capitalization by about $1 trillion, while British companies have lost about the same amount.
Brian Madden, head of First Avenue Investment Counsel, attributes this mixed performance to the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. In addition, the tech sector has an extremely small share in the main British stock index, the FTSE 100, at only 1% compared to 8.4% in Canada. In the US stock index S&P 500, high-tech companies have a share of about 30%.
Bloomberg notes that since 2022, there has not been a single IPO in Canada. However, during the same period, the Toronto Stock Exchange lured 51 companies from competing trading platforms.
Meanwhile, London still ranks second in the ranking of the world’s largest financial centers, second only to New York. Toronto ranks 23rd on the list. In addition, 11% of all global assets are managed from the UK.
Almost every Ukrainian employer recognizes the importance of employees’ mental health, but not all of them act systematically to support their teams. A new survey conducted by the Ukrainian Psychotherapeutic League in cooperation with HURMA System and the European Business Association covered more than 120 companies of various sizes and industries to find out how they support the psychological well-being of their employees.
The survey was conducted using questionnaires and in-depth interviews with HR professionals and managers of organizations ranging from NGOs and consulting companies to pharmaceutical production and retailers. This approach made it possible to see the situation from two polar sides – from the side of change initiators and key decision makers.
The results are thought-provoking:
98% of employers are aware of the importance of mental health, but only 68% of them are implementing appropriate measures.
The main barriers to systematic care for the psycho-emotional state of teams in every fifth company are budget shortages and lack of support from owners.
The most popular tools are educational events, professional psychological assistance, creating a supportive atmosphere, and measures to maintain work-life balance.
In 51% of companies, employees can get psychological help from both internal psychologists and external specialists.
About 70% of organizations have adapted their support programs since the outbreak of war, focusing on stress resistance, burnout and the development of self-regulation skills.
“The survey has shown that most Ukrainian companies understand the importance of caring for the well-being of employees and are ready to invest in this process. But so far, they are implementing tools and measures on a spotty, ad hoc basis, and therefore cannot fully assess their effectiveness. In order to increase productivity and have a motivated team, comprehensive actions are needed: monitoring the emotional state of employees, preventive and edutainment measures, formalizing procedures and implementing them in all business processes. And only then – psychological counseling,” explains Khrystyna Kudriavtseva, the initiator of the survey, vice president of the Ukrainian Psychotherapeutic League, founder of the mental health service Mozhna.space.
This survey shows the real picture of how Ukrainian businesses are responding to new challenges in the area of mental health of their teams.
Companies still have a long way to go to create a healthy work environment and implement comprehensive policies, but they are already taking the first steps in the right direction.
More details and detailed findings of the survey can be found in the full version of the report.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has lowered its forecast for corn exports from Ukraine this marketing year by 1 million tons to 23 million tons due to a 1 million ton decrease in the harvest estimate to 26.2 million tons.
The USDA has also downgraded its estimate of global corn production to 1 billion 217.19 million tons (-1.38 million tons compared to the September forecast) and global corn exports to 190.50 million tons (-0.87 million tons).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has raised its forecast for wheat exports from Ukraine in the 2024/2025 marketing year (MY, July 2024/June 2025) by another 1 million tons to 16.0 million tons.
As stated in the October USDA report on Friday evening, such revision was made due to an increase in the crop estimate from 22.3 million tons to 22.9 million tons, as well as a decrease in the estimate of domestic consumption from 7.0 million tons to 6.7 million tons and transitional residues from 1.09 million tons to 0.99 million tons.
The U.S. agency recalls that last MY the wheat harvest in Ukraine amounted to 23.0 million tons, exports – 18.58 million tons, while corn – 32.5 million tons and 29.6 million tons, respectively.
USDA forecasts world wheat production in the 2024/2025 season at 794.08 (-2.8 million tons to September forecast) and world exports at 215.82 million tons (-0.69 million tons).
The estimate of both world corn production to 1 billion 217.19 (-1.38 million tons to the September forecast) and world exports to 190.50 million tons (-0.87 million tons) has also been downgraded.
Ukraine defeated Georgia 1-0 and secured their first win in the Nations League soccer draw, Suspilnoe Sport reported on Friday night.
Despite the first victory, Ukraine continues to go in last place in the Nations League group, behind Albania in head-to-head meetings: 1. Georgia – 6 points (3 matches), 5:2 (goal difference); 2. Czech Republic – 6 points (3), 6:6; 3. Albania – 3 (3), 2:4; 4. Ukraine – 3 (3), 4:5.
It is reported that the next match Ukraine will play against the Czech Republic on Monday, October 14.
The USAID Economic Support for Ukraine Project (USAID Project) has announced the launch of a grant program to compensate at least 20 Ukrainian agricultural logistics companies for 30% of the cost of grain handling equipment from Kobzarenko Plant LLC, the project’s press service reports on Facebook.
According to the report, the USAID support program for Ukrainian agricultural companies provides that the company buys equipment from the manufacturer for 70% of its cost, and 30% is compensated by the USAID Project. Such business support is expected to increase grain export and transshipment capacity by 2.5 million tons per year.
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises with annual revenues not exceeding the equivalent of EUR40 million can purchase the equipment at a 30% discount.
This program is not available to agricultural holdings and companies that have already received assistance from USAID or will receive it in the near future, the donor organization added.
As part of the support program, companies can purchase equipment that will help improve the efficiency of grain handling processes at all key nodes of the export route, namely: mobile wagon unloader RVM-180, ground reloading bunker BNP-12 “Ark”, belt loader SN-25 in electric version.
The USAID project has expressed its readiness to compensate 30% of the cost of 51 units of equipment from Kobzarenko Plant.
