City firms can fix the flexibility conundrum January 30, 2013 WORKING culture in the UK has seen a notable change in recent years. No longer are we focused on a prescriptive work mentality, where 9-5 hours and a career for life are the norm. Instead, it’s now about making the “how”, “when”, and “where” factors of our job work for us, rather than the other [...]
FTSE rally tops fresh peaks yet UK banks slip January 29, 2013 BRITAIN’S top share index hit new four and a half year peaks yesterday, with a strong rally in miners outweighing concerns about continuing problems in the banking sector. Data from the US offered fresh proof of improvement in the world’s biggest economy, with a strong pick-up in housing prices following above-forecast durable goods data the [...]
US investors buy defensive sectors’ stock January 29, 2013 US stocks advanced yesterday, led by defensive sectors, in a sign the cash piles recently moving into the market are being put to use by cautious investors to pick up more gains. S&P 500 is on track to post its best monthly performance since October 2011 and its best January since 1997 as investors poured [...]
Fed is ahead in the battle of the central banks January 29, 2013 ALTHOUGH the US has shown signs of rebounding, a scratch beneath the surface reveals that there are still issues dragging on the world’s largest economy. By historical standards, the pace of its current recovery is feeble. Research from Bank of America Merrill Lynch points out that the average annual growth rate of this recovery is [...]
Why the FTSE has rallied strongly in January January 29, 2013 THE FTSE 100 index has gained nearly 7 per cent since 2013 got underway, almost a month ago to the day. This is one of the most impressive starts to a year on record. Only two previous Januaries since the FTSE 100 was formed have beaten the current month (as of the time of writing). [...]
FTSE breaches the 6,300 mark but loses steam January 28, 2013 BRITAIN’S top share index breached the 6,300 level for the first time since May 2008 yesterday, driven by strength in banking and energy stocks, although that heady height failed to hold for the close. Global giant HSBC added the most points to the FTSE 100 index, with its 1.0 per cent advance alone, accounting for [...]
S&P 500 dips after its long winning streak January 28, 2013 THE S&P 500 eased slightly yesterday after an eight-day run of gains, while the Nasdaq edged higher as Apple shares rebounded. The index remained above 1,500, however, after closing above that level on Friday for the first time in more than five years. The S&P 500’s eight sessions of gains was its longest winning streak [...]
The UK equity explosion: Safer than it may appear January 28, 2013 THE FTSE posted another day of gains yesterday, continuing what has been a resiliently bullish trend. And while it is probable that we will see a plateauing of the stock rally this week, or even some retracement, the trend is likely to remain intact. This may not be a stock picker’s market, but the global [...]
Carney talks up growth policies January 28, 2013 Chief Market Strategist, Cantor Index LAST week’s desperately disappointing GDP data has attracted comment and consternation from government supporters and critics alike. The fact that GDP fell by 0.3 per cent in the last quarter of 2012 tells us that the UK economy flat-lined over the year. Clearly, the recovery process is teetering on the [...]
The Tipster | Astrazeneca takes its medicine January 28, 2013 INVESTORS are eagerly waiting to hear from AstraZeneca’s new chief executive, when the company reports on Thursday. The new boss has the challenge of reinvigorating the pharma giant after recent investor frustration, and has already shuffled the boardroom. As well as headline numbers, traders will be focusing on the company’s strategy to boost its pipeline [...]