US bull market to face further tests in March February 10, 2013 THE US stock market is no stranger to strong performances in January, only to see the lofty gains early in the year transition into months of grinding action that goes nowhere. That’s what happened in 2011 and 2012, and some analysts think 2013 could follow the same routine. Markets are higher this year in the [...]
Why sometimes it pays to return to square one February 10, 2013 JASON Goldberg and Bradford Shellhammer, founders of the overnight internet sensation Fab.com, were almost too busy for our conversation to take place. That may be an occupational hazard if you’ve made it your mission to “change the world”. Fab.com is the hugely successful flash-sale site, that sells design items as diverse as furniture and jewellery [...]
Chess players may be nerds but they sometimes pack a punch February 10, 2013 I THINK I closed my eyes as the other boy pounded my face, punch after punch. It seemed I had no defence. Trying to hit him back or to block him was just useless. The minister eventually broke us up, and it was only then that I burst out crying. “I didn’t come to church [...]
Buying an existing firm has its pluses February 10, 2013 ENTREPRENEURS found start-ups. Being entrepreneurial means starting a new company, with an original idea, or a more efficient process. Or so the old story goes. But does it need to be this way? Not according to professor Miguel Meulemann of Vlerick Business School in Belgium. Meuleman has launched a new initiative at the school – [...]
FTSE weighed by banks and luxury goods February 7, 2013 THE FTSE 100 fell sharply yesterday as traders took profits on an index that has outperformed Europe this year, with banks leading losses after comments by key policymakers. The FTSE 100 closed down 66.92 points, or 1.1 per cent, at 6,228.42, lagging major European peers. The index has been the stand-out performer in Europe since [...]
US stocks drop on fears over euro’s outlook February 7, 2013 US stocks declined yesterday, taking a step back from their recent advance, prompted by comments by the ECB president on the euro and Europe’s outlook. The euro currency dropped against the safe-haven dollar and yen, spurring a retreat from risky assets such as stocks, after European Central Bank president Mario Draghi said the exchange rate [...]
Fund managers help FTSE 100 edge up again February 6, 2013 THE FTSE 100 nudged into positive territory yesterday on a strong showing from asset managers following robust results from Hargreaves Lansdown, which outweighed declines in energy stocks. The FTSE 100 closed up 12.58 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 6,295.34, having risen 0.6 per cent the previous session after suffering its sharpest one-day percentage drop [...]
Transportation stocks weigh on Wall Street February 6, 2013 US stocks ended mostly flat yesterday, taking another pause in the recent rally that has driven the S&P 500 to five-year highs, as transportation and technology shares lost ground. Transportation stocks were among the worst performers. Shares of CH Robinson Worldwide fell 9.7 per cent to $60.50 and the stock was the biggest percentage loser [...]
FTSE flips back to rally mode after fresh data February 5, 2013 THE FTSE rebounded yesterday from a steep fall in the previous session, with investors encouraged by forecast-beating earnings and improving economic data from the Eurozone. The index closed 0.6 per cent, or 35.92 points, higher at 6,282.76, after suffering its biggest one-day in three months on Monday as political uncertainties in Spain and Italy and [...]
Recovery for US stocks on strong profits February 5, 2013 US stocks climbed yesterday, recovering a day after the market’s biggest sell-off since November, as stronger-than-expected earnings brightened the profit picture. Dell’s stock rose after the world’s No3 computer maker agreed to be taken private in a $24.4bn deal, the largest leveraged buyout since the 2008-2009 financial crisis. The stock gained 1.1 per cent to [...]