FTSE flat as gloomy forecasts from Japan highlight worldwide slump August 28, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index ended flat yesterday, with the market stagnating as expectations for economic stimulus measures were countered by concerns over global growth, which was reinforced by gloomy forecasts from Japan. The government in Tokyo cut its economic assessment yesterday, citing the impact of a slowdown in the United States and China on top [...]
Trading light in US as investors wait on the Fed August 28, 2012 US stocks ended little changed in another day of scarce activity yesterday after mixed economic data gave investors little reason to shift their focus from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke’s speech on Friday. The Fed chief is scheduled to address a conference of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and could announce new measures to [...]
Aquantum launches its own fund management business August 27, 2012 AQUANTUM Group, a quantitative index provider led by a group of former scientists, yesterday announced plans to roll out its own fund management business. The firm, which has a UK office in Oxford in addition to bases in Munich, New York and Luxembourg, will start offering managed futures funds for high net worth individuals and [...]
London report August 27, 2012 MARKET watchers will be looking to tomorrow’s Nationwide house prices report and mortgage approvals on Thursday to gauge whether the UK’s economy is pulling out of its double dip. Recent data put the number of mortgage approvals at a 15-year low and last month house prices had fallen by 0.7 per cent and 2.6 per [...]
Apple on a high after court win August 27, 2012 US stocks were barely changed in light volume yesterday as investors waited for signs from central banks about stimulating the weak economy, though Apple’s shares hit a record high after a major court victory. Apple rose two per cent to $676.56 after the iPad maker won a $1bn judgment in a patent lawsuit against Samsung [...]
Central Bank elixir isn’t certain – but expect volatility August 27, 2012 THIS weekend’s economic symposium at Jackson Hole has the power to monumentally shake world markets, which is what voracious traders – subdued by the summer’s low trading volumes – will want to see. With both Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, and Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank (ECB), due to speak [...]
The glistening appeal of precious metals returns August 27, 2012 SENIOR MARKET STRATEGIST, GFT UP UNTIL last week, gold and silver – like a Parisian in August – appeared to have shut up shop for the summer. In contrast, equity markets had pushed higher in a low volume melt-up that brought the Dow and S&P 500 up to levels last seen in December 2007. Even [...]
Analyst picks for 28 August 2012 August 27, 2012 CURRENCY STRATEGIST CHRIS VECCHIO My pick: Short Aussie-dollar Expertise: Fundamental and technical analysis Average time frame of trades: A few hours to a few days Despite the rally that came after minutes of the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting were released, the Aussie-dollar has broken down to fresh lows for the month of August. Given this [...]
FTSE buoyed by hopes of global stimulus August 23, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index inched higher yesterday, steadying after sharp falls in the previous session, underpinned by a recovery among heavyweight miners on expectations of fresh global stimulus measures from central banks. Mining stocks tracked firmer copper prices, which were up over 1 per cent at a one-month high as the demand picture for metals [...]
US stocks drop on weak data August 23, 2012 US stocks fell yesterday as expectations for quick stimulus action from the Federal Reserve faded and Chinese and Eurozone data pointed to a stalling global economy. Each of the 10 major S&P sectors finished in negative territory, with the economically sensitive materials sector the worst performer, down 1.7 per cent. Minutes published from the latest [...]