FTSE falls as debt turmoil intensifies November 17, 2011 BRITAIN’S top share index retreated yesterday, with nervous investors ditching riskier assets such as banks and retailers, as corporates showed signs of stress in the face of the intensifying debt contagion in Europe. London’s blue chip index shed 85.88 points, or 1.6 per cent to 5,423.14, with the FTSE volatility index, up 10.2 per cent [...]
Choppy day for Wall St November 17, 2011 TRIGGER-HAPPY investors dumped US stocks yesterday, scared by the market’s sudden fall through a key technical level brought on by more worries about Europe’s debt troubles. The S&P 500 steadily slipped through the morning until it broke through 1,225, when selling picked up in both the futures and cash markets. Investors have been increasingly focused [...]
Fears for UK economy knock FTSE lower in volatile trading November 16, 2011 AFTER yet another rollercoaster session, Britain’s top share index ended a touch lower yesterday, as upbeat US economic data proved a welcome distraction for investors gripped by concern over the UK economy and Europe’s debt crisis. The UK benchmark closed down 8.42 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 5,509.02, after a session in which it [...]
Eurozone dangers prompt a sell-off November 16, 2011 US stocks fell yesterday, with selling accelerating late in the session on more warnings about the potential impact of the Eurozone’s debt crisis on the global economy and the banking system. Worries about growth weighed on sensitive sectors like financials and materials. Losses deepened after ratings agency Fitch said even though the outlook on the [...]
The City’s young and politically active November 16, 2011 CV | SOPHIE FERNANDES, AGE 29 Work: I’m an account manager for an independent communications agency. I look after a mixture of private sector corporate, trade association and public sector clients. Previously, I worked for the Institute of Directors in the Policy Unit. Became common councilman because:I wanted to be directly involved in local democracy [...]
Build a portfolio career November 16, 2011 FOUNDER OF WILD SEARCH MY first advice would be that you can hardly prepare too soon for a fulfilling and rewarding life beyond partnership or an executive leadership role. Taking on a trustee or non-executive role while remaining in your executive career is widespread and makes sense – to both your employer (by bringing wider [...]
Asset allocation requires a regular rebalancing act November 16, 2011 ALLOCATING assets is a complicated science or skilled art with debated influence on actual returns, but it remains the best place to start. Modern portfolio theory is rooted in the 1952 work of Nobel Prize winner Harry Markowitz. His work heralded a revolution in investing. Morningstar’s quantitative research director Paul D. Kaplan and Stanford University’s [...]
MASTER THE MARKETS November 16, 2011 THE Paris-based financial services company Societe Generale (SG) kicked off its fantasy trading challenge, SG Market Master, this month. Up until 5 December, there are weekly competitions in which contestants build a portfolio using a virtual £100,000 to invest in a variety of SG leveraged products, from covered warrants and turbos to super10s. The top [...]
Managing an accidental FX exposure November 16, 2011 EVERY investment in an international asset requires an equal investment in foreign currency that is often overlooked. What is unappreciated is that movements in foreign exchange markets can nullify gains or amplify losses on the underlying portfolio of international assets. The forte of the currency overlay manager is to safeguard the portfolio’s value against undesirable [...]
Blue-chips remain level after mixed day of economic news November 15, 2011 BRITAIN’S top shares were flat after a roller-coaster session yesterday, with weaker banks and integrated oils just countering a rally by miners as growth and debt crisis worries in the Eurozone offset positive signs on the US economy late in the day. At the close, the FTSE 100 index was down 1.60 points or 0.03 [...]