The markets are still a swing voter October 22, 2012 DOES the stock market vote Republican or Democrat? The US presidential elections are now only two weeks away. And as with any major event, there is no shortage of people who think that it will have an effect on the markets one way or another – usually in line with their own political bent. Traditionally, [...]
Analyst picks for Tuesday 23 October 2012 October 22, 2012 CURRENCY STRATEGIST CHRIS VECCHIO My pick: Long euro-dollar and New Zealand dollar-dollar Expertise: Fundamental and technical analysis Average time frame of trades: A few hours to a few days Two weeks ago I explained that I had taken a new long New Zealand dollar-dollar position at $0.8175. Alongside stimulus measures expected from China as its [...]
UK set to celebrate the official end of the recession after Games boost October 21, 2012 THE UK is this week expected to officially exit recession, with news from the Office of National Statistics set to confirm the double dip is over. The ONS will publish its first estimate of third quarter GDP, with analysts predicting impressive growth, due in part to the Olympics. Howard Archer, of IHS Global Insight, said: [...]
Jittery market awaits deluge of Q3 earnings October 21, 2012 US earnings started the quarter on the wrong foot, and things have only got worse. Expectations for the third quarter were dismal, with forecasts for a decline in profits from a year ago. But a recent flurry of high-profile reports has investors scowling at the weak revenue numbers, adding to worries about the state of [...]
Diversifying your holdings will protect you from blips October 21, 2012 IT IS an apt time for investors to revisit how they are managing risk within their portfolio; not only because of last week’s twenty-fifth anniversary of Black Monday, but also because of current risks, like the Eurozone crisis. Risk isn’t inherently bad. The more risk you take, the more return you might get. Of course, [...]
What Black Monday taught me about stock valuation October 21, 2012 TEN days after Black Monday a colleague returned from a holiday in central Africa, oblivious to what had been going on. He saw the ashen faces around him and exclaimed “at these valuations, why the hell aren’t you all buying?” He was right. The market crash had been a wonderful buying opportunity and the UK [...]
Cutting your energy bills is simpler than you think October 21, 2012 INCREASED strain is being put on household budgets after four of the “big six” energy providers announced plans to hike their prices in the upcoming months. Two weeks ago, British Gas said it plans to raise gas and electricity prices by an average of 6 per cent. A few hours later, Npower announced that its [...]
Indifference will leave you out of pocket October 21, 2012 THE Citizens Advice Bureau found that, in spite of widespread concern among homeowners over energy bills, a pitiful 25 per cent took action to see whether their supplier was providing them with the best deal. That is why the founder of MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis has said that “there is a massive fine for apathy. If [...]
Making Mr Nice: Don’t cry all the way to the bank October 21, 2012 THE girl was clearly nervous as her job interview got underway. I asked her why Australia had such a high inflation rate and I was incredulous at her answer: “I believe it is mostly ‘imported inflation’”. I pulled a face. “Imported inflation? How could that be possible when our biggest trading partner, Japan, has a [...]
Positive Chinese data sees the FTSE grow to highest level since March October 18, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index rose to a seven-month closing high ysterday, bolstered by mining stocks on a reassuring economic outlook from top metals consumer China. Chinese economic growth slowed to 7.4 per cent year-on-year during the third quarter, as expected, but industrial output and retail sales data for September beat forecasts, paving the way for [...]