Richard Hunter, Director of Private Equity of Abney Associates, will join the forthcoming European Retail Banking Summit 2013 (The Next Revolution in banking) which will be held in London on November 12, 2013.

Hong Kong -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/10/2013 -- The European Retail Banking Summit plans to assemble more than 150 influential personalities in the retail banking industry, which will include policymakers, regulators, investors and customers. These financial leaders will investigate how European retail banking is closely approaching the boundaries of a radical transformation. In the present economic environment, the main issue that needs to be tackled is this: What do institutions or organizations need to do to adjust in order to survive?

For the first time in two hundred years, retail banking faces its biggest revolution. The Summit aims to help participants and the organizations they represent prepare for this unprecedented development. A combination of regulatory reform and extraordinary political pressure is promoting an exceptional link between governments and key banks, which is expected to considerably change the former European banking structure. And not many can quite tell in what form it will take.

Abney Associates' participation in this Summit sets another opportunity for its professional and dynamic staff to discover creative solutions which are tailor-made for their clients' needs. The company has always stood on the principle of embracing the entrepreneurial spirit in dealing with the global economy. As such, they have developed the ability to make venture capital available for exceptional early-stage and start-up ventures. In meeting the challenges of an evolving world-wide retail banking industry, such capability and experience will serve to support and motivate further individuals and organizations in their investment programs.

Director Richard Hunter's presence in the Summit is expected to highlight and even expand Abney Associates' continuing drive to provide all the business essentials that not only to promote the kind of growth any business aims for, but also to contribute to the mutual success of investors.

About Abney Associates
Abney Associates has access to a wide network of business relationships providing the support for a new business and the capability to generate appropriate financial backing as needed. They are the leading providers of appropriate and thorough financial advice and of investment opportunities for their clients. Involving themselves in meaningful interaction among fellow finance experts in Europe and other regions, especially through such summits as this, helps the company expand its capability to help build successful enterprises.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Abney Associates advising investors on Applied Materials Inc. the California based supplier of chip making equipment as they are poised to buy Tokyo Electron Ltd. in a deal reportedly worth $9.39 billion.

Hong Kong -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/09/2013 -- As rising costs of research and development and the sheer scale of sophistication required for even low power operating devices, continues to rise at a breath-taking rate, the year has seen the contraction of the industry as a whole. This is being brought about primarily by mergers between chip makers and also in conjunction with the companies who manufacture the machinery and components for this industry.

The latest of these mergers is the buyout of 86% of Tokyo Electrons Ltd's shares by the American Equipment manufacturer Applied Materials Inc. in a stock deal valued at $9.39 billion. This makes this deal the largest buyout of a Japanese company by a foreign concern, since Citigroup Inc's purchase of Nikko Cordial Corp. in 2007 for $8 billion. The deal is expected to be fully realized by the middle of 2014.

"This is the latest in a series of such deals like the ASML, Cymer purchase and Lam Research and Novellus Systems merger. This deal is described as a merger of equals and this is in effect exactly what it is, something the market's reaction will attest to. This is really quite a smart arrangement on so many levels on both sides of the Pacific," said James Carter, Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at Abney Associates.

With the merger of the two companies, the combined concern is expected to have cost savings in place of $250 million a year, something that will be in aid of its stated desire to buy back $3 billion dollars' worth of shares. Shareholders in Tokyo Electron are to be compensated at the rate of 3.25 shares for each currently held share, with those holding Applied Material's receiving one for one. Shares in Applied Material Inc. traded up as high as $17.24, bringing its ROI for the year to 55.83%.

"This deal is one that has left everyone feeling good about the outcome; the companies are gaining streamlined research and development and decreased operating costs alongside increased production capacity. Both sets of shareholders have been well taken into consideration and with the proposed $3 billion buy back of outstanding shares; the market is more than happy. As a current level investment for the next 14 months, you would be hard pressed to find a more secure platform than this one," added James Carter, Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at Abney Associates.

Abney Associates are a Hong Kong based company that provides a range of financial services to individual clients, portfolio companies, corporate investors and entrepreneurs who wish to take unbiased financial advice.

About Abney Associates
Abney Associates are primarily a team of financial specialists who pride themselves on having a high level of expertise and vast experience for diligently monitoring any positive or negative developments to companies currently listed on exchanges globally, especially those that may affect client investment interests. This is done in order to ensure the financial advice given is factually correct and delivered in an effective way.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Abney Associates advising investors to place a portion of their holdings into the precious metal as the rally on bullion is continually driven by high demand for the physical product.

Hong Kong -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/05/2013 -- Gold bullion's rally continues with many analysts now hinting that it may continue well through December and into the New Year. Asian markets in particular have seen demand for gold bullion surge as investors scramble for the commodity. In the second quarter, this year China and India have led the rush with demand soaring 87 percent and 71 percent for both countries respectively.

It has been a turbulent year for Gold as mostly American speculators rushed to offload ETPs on the commodity causing prices to drop nearly 19 percent in the first half. The largest of these selloffs by John Paulson & Co., reduced their stake in SPDR Gold trust by 11.6 million shares or just over 50 percent of their total holdings. This move seems more and more a rash decision by the Billionaire.

"The demand for physical gold has not diminished throughout the year with investors need to hold the precious metal increasing and this doesn't come as surprise to anyone who has been paying attention to markets sale volume. The only upset to the market was in relation to the removal of the Fed stimulus program and as investors within the United States bet on the strength of the U.S dollar against Exchange Traded Products contrary to every piece of market data available. The demand for gold bullion has far surpassed that expected throughout U.S, Europe and Asia," opined James Carter, Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at Abney Associates.

Abney Associates analysts are predicting the commodity will continue its rise reaching a moderate price matching inflation towards the end of the year as gold output continues fall short in meeting the growing demand. With buying by many central banks expected around October, some argue that this value will prove to be conservative. Turkey's central bank, which uses bullion in trade for oil and gas with Iran, entered the market early with a record bullion purchase in May.

Abney Associates' Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions James Carter said, "We are seeing reports that mirror our predictions with many market analysts saying that within no other commodity market do you hear hysterical predictions of doom as you do with Gold. It is proving to be an exciting period for many as movements in markets around the world that now interconnect in unexpected ways are creating new ways to place investors onto solid footing for advancement in today's marketplace. The reality is that circumstances are always changing so it's wise to hedge your concerns and that for our clients is the same as nearly every practical investor worldwide, Gold."

About Abney Associates
Abney Associates is a Hong Kong based company that provides a range of financial services to individual clients, portfolio companies, corporate investors and entrepreneurs who wish to take unbiased financial advice.

Abney Associates are primarily a team of financial specialists who pride themselves on having a high level of expertise and vast experience for diligently monitoring any positive or negative developments to companies currently listed on exchanges globally, especially those that may affect client investment interests. This is done in order to ensure the financial advice given is factually correct and delivered in an effective way.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Abney Associates an outlook of Asian stocks as they head for their largest gain in nine months.

Hong Kong -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/18/2013 -- Stock prices in Asia gained their biggest advance since September 2012 amid signs the Japanese and U.S. economies are improving following this week's statement that reassured investors that the stimulus efforts by the Federal Reserve will remain in place for some time.

Japanese exporters led gains as weaker yen boost the value of overseas income at carmakers and electronics manufacturers when repatriated. Toyota the world's biggest carmaker gained 1.5 percent. Honda Motor Co rose 2.2 percent. Panasonic Corp, Japan's second-biggest television maker, jumped 6.7 percent. Japanese lenders gained momentum after the nation's industrial output beat expectations, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, Japan's No. 1 lender led the way with 4.1 percent gains, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc the number 2 lender followed with 2.9 percent gains.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 1.9 percent, Japan's Topix index rose 3.2 percent and the benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average jumped 3.5 percent extending gains for a second week, South Korea's Kospi index gained 1.6 percent and Taiwan's Taiex index added 2.3 percent. Singapore's Straits Times Index increased 1.1 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advanced 1.2 percent. China's Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.7 percent, New Zealand's NZX 50 Index rose 0.5 percent, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index lost 0.2 percent.

"The Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe is determined in his path to strengthen the economy with factory output rising the most since December 2011, we anticipate a low interest rate policy for the foreseeable future in the U.S. until unemployment figures drop reinstalling confidence in the Asian markets," said Michael Pringle the Head of Investment Analysis from Abney Associates.

Abney Associates are a Hong Kong based company that provides a range of financial services to individual clients, portfolio companies, corporate investors and entrepreneurs who wish to take unbiased financial advice.

About Abney Associates
Abney Associates are primarily a team of financial specialists who pride themselves on having a high level of expertise and vast experience for diligently monitoring any positive or negative developments to companies currently listed on exchanges globally, especially those that may affect client investment interests. This is done in order to ensure the financial advice given is factually correct and delivered in an effective way.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm