• FTSE to dip after bank holiday break
    Tuesday, 31st August 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    WITH the UK stock market closed yesterday for the bank holiday, a fairly weak start is forecast for the open this morning, following a negative cue from US shares yesterday. GFT is quoting the FTSE... [Read more]

  • Stocks set to stage a mild bounce
    Monday, 23rd August 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    THE FTSE 100 index closed at its lowest level since July 20 on Friday, but the early call from GFT is for bargain hunters to step in and lift the index back above the 5,200 level this morning.... [Read more]
  • Watch out for negative reaction to an MPC split
    Monday, 16th August 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    MARKETS are expected to open marginally lower this morning on a weak US lead from after the close on Friday, and amidst trepidation ahead of an active economic calendar for the coming week, as talk... [Read more]
  • European stocks will rebound after US jobs shock
    Monday, 9th August 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    THE closely-watched US non-farm payrolls figure was responsible for denting European stock markets on Friday, after the data pointed to a steeper than expected decline. Nevertheless, the Dow rallied... [Read more]

  • Dow strength set to bolster European markets
    Monday, 2nd August 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    A BOUNCE in US stocks after the European close on Friday is set to propel the FTSE higher on the open this morning. GFT is calling the FTSE 100 to open up 32 points at 5,290. The German DAX 40 is... [Read more]
  • Positive verdict expected on bank stress tests
    Monday, 26th July 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    RESULTS from the European bank stress tests came out on Friday but after the close of European markets. Fewer banks than expected failed the tests – just seven smaller ones – and we are likely to see... [Read more]
  • Nervy markets ahead of bank stress test results
    Monday, 19th July 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    EXPECT a lot of talk and even more nerves ahead of the European bank stress test results this week. For the market open this morning, that means erring to the downside. GFT is quoting the FTSE 100... [Read more]
  • US second quarter earnings steer shares upward
    Monday, 12th July 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    European stock markets are headed higher once again on the open this morning, continuing last week’s buying spree which gave us the biggest weekly rally in a year. GFT is quoting the FTSE 100 index... [Read more]
  • Markets nervy over US results and MPC meeting
    Monday, 5th July 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    A disappointing close on US markets on Friday and low volume from the Independence Day holiday which closes many US markets today is leaving the door open for renewed selling on UK and European... [Read more]
  • Banks headed higher as governments back BP
    Monday, 28th June 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    EUROPEAN markets are set to jump higher on the open this morning, with bank stocks most likely to rally following on from the agreement in the US over the details of the financial reform bill which... [Read more]
  • Yuan un-pegging to lift markets before Budget
    Monday, 21st June 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    News at the weekend that China is to ease the yuan’s peg to the US dollar will be a boost to stock markets everywhere this morning, in the expectation that the move would prove a major lift to... [Read more]
  • US-led losses likely to knock European markets
    Monday, 7th June 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    THE Dow suffered from its third-worst sell-off of the year on Friday following a disappointing jobs report, and the losses extended after European markets closed. The blue chip US index even closed... [Read more]
  • Shares seen higher but the age of austerity looms
    Monday, 24th May 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    AFTER last week’s jitters and ensuing sell-off which resulted in 200 points being shed from the FTSE, all eyes are on the UK market to see if it will hold up above 5,000 today after testing the... [Read more]
  • Eurozone volatility will keep unsettling investors
    Monday, 17th May 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    IT’S A DIFFICULT one to call this morning; after hitting a two-week closing high on Thursday, the FTSE promptly dumped 171 points on Friday. Both moves were attributable to the Eurozone, and that... [Read more]
  • Political limbo puts market in decline for five days
    Monday, 10th May 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    A FIFTH straight day of declines is on the cards today for the FTSE, with UK shares expected to open down this morning, as the uncertainty surrounding an in limbo-government takes a further toll on... [Read more]
  • Relief rally to continue after Greek lifeline activation
    Monday, 26th April 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    UK AND EUROPEAN shares are headed higher on the open this morning, on continued “show me the money”-style relief that Greece has finally pressed the button for the IMF/EU aid package. GFT is quoting... [Read more]
  • Goldman Sachs shares sell-off was overdone
    Monday, 19th April 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    UK AND EUROPEAN stock markets are expected to recover some of Friday’s Goldman Sachs-inspired losses on the open this morning. Whilst the markets are still digesting the implications of the SEC... [Read more]
  • Greek rescue deal will spur markets
    Monday, 12th April 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    UK and European stock markets are heading for a cautiously positive start to the week, spurred on by the news that a rescue package for Greece has been approved. GFT is quoting the FTSE 100 index to... [Read more]
  • Dow has 11,000 target in its sights
    Monday, 29th March 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    After hitting new 21-month and 18-month highs on the FTSE and DAX markets last week, European stock markets may take a breather on the open this morning, in a positive but sluggish start to the week... [Read more]
  • FTSE gains limited by the Budget
    Monday, 22nd March 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    EUROPEAN stock markets are headed for a positive start to the week, with the FTSE set to continue its current winning streak after closing at its highest level since June 2008 on Friday. However... [Read more]
  • Happy Monday for financials as US data lift big cap shares
    Tuesday, 2nd February 2010
    THE LONDON REPORT
    Britain's top share index closed 1.1 per cent higher yesterday, helped by upbeat US manufacturing data, with banks and commodity stocks topping the list of gainers. The FTSE 100 closed up 58.89... [Read more]
  • Bearish US sentiment likely to buffet Europe too
    Monday, 25th January 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    European stock markets are headed for a major tumble this morning, as a sell-off on US markets gathered steam on Friday evening. GFT is forecasting the UK’s FTSE 100 to open down a hefty 90 points... [Read more]
  • Bank earnings to give initial lift ahead of UK inflation data and MPC minutes
    Monday, 18th January 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    Stocks are expected to start the week higher this morning, supported by the prospect of an improvement in the US corporate earnings picture after last week’s disappointing numbers from JP Morgan. GFT... [Read more]
  • New Year has positive start with surge on stocks
    Monday, 11th January 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    Stocks have begun 2010 with a bullish surge, and even after Friday’s employment data from the US revealed a surprising drop for December, we should see a broad appetite for risk get us off to a... [Read more]
  • UK and European markets start year in the red
    Monday, 4th January 2010
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    Martin Slaney
    UK and European stock markets are set to start the year in the red, after ending 2009 close to their highs of the year. GFT is quoting the FTSE 100 index to open down as much as 39 points from Friday... [Read more]
  • Positive start to the week but a short trading session means no Santa Claus rally for markets
    Monday, 21st December 2009
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    Stocks are expected to start the week higher this morning, reversing a late dip on Friday when a late surge in the US dollar took its toll on mining stocks. GFT is forecasting the benchmark FTSE 100... [Read more]
  • End of the decade optimism is looking likely to lift global stocks after a flat start to the week
    Monday, 7th December 2009
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    UK and European stock markets are set to start the week little changed, but as we enter the second week of December, traders will not want to miss out on a possible end of decade rally. GFT is... [Read more]
  • Fall-out from Dubai shock to continue to hit world stocks
    Monday, 30th November 2009
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    UK and European stock markets are set to start the week lower, with the aftershock of last week’s Dubai shockwave likely to keep shares under pressure. GFT is quoting the FTSE 100 index to... [Read more]
  • Thanksgiving week will hit stocks despite higher start
    Monday, 23rd November 2009
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    UK and European stock markets are set to make a move higher this morning, following on from a rebound in Dow stocks late in the day on Friday off their lows. GFT is quoting the FTSE 100 index to open... [Read more]
  • US earnings rut could be at an end
    Monday, 12th October 2009
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    Though today is Columbus Day, a public holiday in the US, most of its markets are trading regular hours. This week is going to be defined by US corporate earnings. Tomorrow we have Intel and Johnson... [Read more]
  • Mood of markets is upbeat
    Monday, 21st September 2009
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    Although it’s widely expected that US interest rates will be kept on hold in the 0 per cent to 0.25 per cent range once more in the announcement from the Federal Open Market Committee scheduled... [Read more]
  • Beware green shoots: the bears will still beat the bulls
    Monday, 18th May 2009
    MARTIN ON THE MARKETS
    MARTIN SLANEY
    THE rally in global stock markets appears to have hit a lull, with the Dow falling over 3.5 per cent last week and the FTSE taking a hit on the week for the first time in a month, down nearly 100... [Read more]