US stocks rise in volatile market with low volume December 7, 2011 US stocks edged up yesterday and the euro held steady against the dollar on hopes an EU summit can ease Europe’s debt crisis. At the same time, US Treasuries rose as some investors remained pessimistic about the summit, buying into safe-haven bonds. Commodities saw a clearer risk-off trade, with oil, metals and grains prices falling [...]
Only fools rush in where angels fear to invest December 7, 2011 THE government is offering a 50 per cent tax incentive to try to get high rollers to throw their money behind Britain’s most risky businesses. But even those earning enough to benefit from the tax break will mostly conclude that the threat of losing it all would be too great to take. The Seed Enterprise [...]
Getting the biggest bang for your buck December 7, 2011 AS THE best execution requirements of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Mifid) review begin to take a more solid form, it is important to take a look at what best execution means for institutional and retail clients – not just in terms of regulatory compliance, but also as a means to get ahead in [...]
FTSE ends flat as S&P eyes Eurozone rating downgrades December 6, 2011 THE UK’s top share index ended flat yesterday, with banks and retailers falling and sentiment hurt as credit agency Standard & Poor’s warned of a possible downgrade to most Eurozone countries. At the close, the FTSE 100 index was up 0.76 points or 0.01 per cent at 5,568.72 following a see-saw session, having closed at [...]
US stock lift shows hope for debt plan December 6, 2011 US stocks rose yesterday as investors bet European leaders would take strong steps this week to end the region’s debt crisis, including bolstering its financial rescue fund. The latest source of optimism came from a Financial Times report that European leaders will discuss boosting the firepower of the Eurozone’s rescue fund at the summit. The [...]
With a glass and a half full of pride, Cadbury is looking to raise its game December 6, 2011 COUNTDOWN TO THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES 233 DAYS TO GO One of the nation’s favourite brands has new owners but it is still the official treat provider for 2012 Q. What was your brand’s primary reason for being involved with the Games? A. I was brought in after the decision had been taken, but [...]
S&P move would make EU stability history December 6, 2011 WITH member states coming to the grim realisation that if the Eurozone situation gets any worse they are going to be inflicted with Bob Geldof staging a charity concert for it, the S&P ratings agency drew that nightmare one step closer. I DON’T LIKE MONDAYS On Monday, the ratings agency put the bulk of the [...]
THE MULTIPLE SCHEMES TO DEFEND EURO December 6, 2011 AS THE European leaders meet for their summit tomorrow, currency traders will have only one question on their mind – can the Eurozone move towards greater fiscal integration? The European sovereign debt markets have become nothing more than a game of chipping away at the weakest link. As soon as officials cobble together a bailout [...]
THE TIPSTER December 6, 2011 THE rebound in Aussie dollar-dollar from the lows of the end of November has seen it rally over 600 pips, but has ran in to resistance at $1.0300. Support though is being offered by the former support/resistance lines going back over 12 months through $1.0200 so it is now trading in a very tight range, [...]
FOREX ANALYST PICKS December 6, 2011 FOREX STRATEGIST JOHN KICKLIGHTER My pick: Long dollar-Canadian dollar and dollar-Swiss franc. Expertise: Fundamental analysis with risk management Average time frame of trades: 1 day to 1 week A coordinated liquidity pump by the world’s six largest central banks was enough to trip attractive short-risk setups from last week – but not generate a definitive [...]