US stocks up as Apple’s shares lift the market December 11, 2012 US stocks rose yesterday, led by gains in technology companies, helping the S&P 500 end at its highest level since Election Day. A 2.2 per cent gain to $541.39 in Apple’s stock lifted the Nasdaq, as the largest US company by market value rebounded from a week in which investors took profits before a possible [...]
Investors expect end-of-year rally for FTSE despite Eurozone worries December 10, 2012 BRITAIN’S benchmark share index rose to its highest closing level in nearly nine months yesterday, with many traders betting that worries over Italy would fail to halt a traditional year-end equities rally. The FTSE 100 closed up 0.1 per cent, or 7.23 points higher, at 5,921.63 points – its highest close since finishing at 5,961.11 [...]
US markets up on McDonald’s and tech stock December 10, 2012 US stocks edged higher yesterday Monday, helped by gains in McDonald’s after the fast-food giant posted strong sales results, and a move up in technology shares. Technology stocks were the S&P 500’s best-performing sector as Hewlett-Packard climbed 2.9 per cent to $14.20 on rumours that activist investor Carl Icahn is building a stake in the [...]
Central banks inflate a new asset price bubble December 10, 2012 THE Bank of International Settlements (BIS) has warned that global asset prices are rising to levels not seen since before the 2008 crisis. This is despite the ongoing European sovereign debt crisis and the inability of the US to control its government spending and address its deficit woes. It comes at the same time as [...]
FTSE looks set to drop as global trends accelerate December 10, 2012 IT’S pretty much the same routine every December. The Christmas decorations go up, office parties are in full swing and market analysts are asked to pontificate on where they think the FTSE will finish at the end of next year. The problem is that the FTSE 100 is such a broad-based index that it can [...]
Concrete Returns? December 10, 2012 CONCRETE returns are expected from Travis Perkins when it updates shareholders tomorrow. The builders merchant recently joined forces with Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd to supply materials for 6,300 new homes. Shares are just off their five-year highs, and a positive update may encourage traders to dig in and lift prices to a level not seen since [...]
Brace yourself for Euro recession December 10, 2012 YOU may as well enjoy the Christmas party season because I don’t see much festive spirit lasting into January. We knew things weren’t going to look pretty in Europe next year, but last week it was confirmed. Twice – just to make sure we’re convinced. At his last European Central Bank (ECB) meeting of the [...]
Analyst picks for 11 December 2012 December 10, 2012 CURRENCY STRATEGIST CHRIS VECCHIO My pick: Long dollar-yen, and long gold Expertise: Fundamental and technical analysis Average time frame of trades: A few hours to a few days With the Fed expected to announce a extension to QE3 or a new QE4 (similar to QE2), the US dollar could be under pressure soon. I’ve moved [...]
UK employment figures likely to show a rise in claimants last month December 9, 2012 UK employment figures are this week predicted to remain steady, in line with the weak economic background. “We forecast the October unemployment rate unchanged at 7.8 per cent and the November claimant count to increase by 6,400,” said Blerina Uruci from Barclays. Investors will this week be looking to America, where the Federal Reserve is [...]
Fear of higher tax sparks end of year sell-off December 9, 2012 INVESTORS typically sell stocks to cut their losses at year end. But worries about the fiscal cliff – and the possibility of higher taxes in 2013 – may act as the greatest incentive to sell both winners and losers by 31 December. The $600bn (£374bn) of automatic tax increases and spending cuts scheduled for the [...]