THE WEEK AHEAD April 10, 2011 COMPANY NEWS • Today, Alcoa reports its first quarter earnings. This will give traders indications to what extent higher commodity prices are feeding through into profits. Alcoa is the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of alumina. • Also today, beleaguered BP will host an EGM, while on Thursday it will have to face [...]
The art of controlling your emotions while you trade April 10, 2011 THE tortured artist Vincent van Gogh left a useful piece of advice for traders: “Let’s not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it.” Although unable to control his own emotions, van Gogh understood the importance they play in all our actions. To be [...]
FUNDAMENTAL FACTORS CAN’T BE FORGOTTEN April 10, 2011 SHAI HEFFETZ HEAD OF INTERTRADER.COM TECHNICAL analysis is by far the strongest tool in my trading belt, but my experience has taught me that it is not enough on its own. The real world, the one fundamental analysis is based on, should have an impact on the decision-making process of a trader. The validity of [...]
Latest Japan quake knocks FTSE despite banking gains April 7, 2011 BRITAIN’S top share index fell yesterday after a second large earthquake to strike Japan within a month knocked investor confidence, with traders wary of further losses once Asian markets open. The FTSE 100, which fell more than four per cent after the March earthquake in Japan, closed down 33.76 points or 0.6 per cent at [...]
Aftershock upsets Wall Street trading April 7, 2011 US STOCKS fell yesterday after a major aftershock hit Japan, which caused injuries and renewed concerns about industrial supply disruptions and nuclear power. Investors sought protection against further market declines, which sent the CBOE Volatility Index VIX up 2.2 per cent to 17.27. VIX futures also rose as investors bet the index could rise above [...]
FTSE nears seven-year high as M&S boosts retail sector April 6, 2011 BANKS helped drive Britain’s top shares to a near seven-week high yesterday following a Portuguese debt auction, while Marks & Spencer rose on better-than-expected sales, lifting sentiment in retailers. The FTSE 100 ended up 34.07 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 6,041.13, its highest closing level since 18 February. Lex van Dam, hedge fund manager [...]
Demand for tech stocks lifts Wall St April 6, 2011 THE S&P 500 index inched upward on relatively light volume yesterday, with investors adding to winning positions in technology stocks, but avoiding large bets ahead of corporate earnings due next week. After days of struggling, the broader market index broke above the closely watched 1,333 level. The next closely watched technical point is 1,344, the [...]
Forget the made-for-TV nonsense, the race is on to find real apprentices April 6, 2011 DAVID Willetts, the minister for universities and higher education, courted controversy when he suggested that graduates should consider starting a business if they were struggling to find work. But some of the City’s finest took this to heart and cooked up an idea to boost Britain’s entrepreneurial spirit and give the UK’s best and brightest [...]
Sun shines for the start of new tax year April 6, 2011 THE excitement of the end of tax year rush to fill up your tax free Individual Savings Account (Isa) may be over, but don’t fret. Yesterday’s sunshine and birdsong heralded the start of a new tax year and the chance to start investing in a new Isa. This tax-year also sees a rise in the [...]
Junior Isas to match adult savings funds April 6, 2011 IN LAST month’s budget, the chancellor announced the arrival of the Junior Isa scheme, which will become available in November of this year. The Junior Isa is a replacement for the Child Trust Fund (CTF), but will do away with the government contribution of the previous scheme (see the table below). The Junior Isa will [...]