Cashing in on Reverse Divergence March 27, 2011 My fellow trader, Dr. David Paul, came to me with a new setup he wanted to trade. We tested it extensively, and it fulfilled the criteria we were looking for: good risk to reward, good hit ratio, good Sharpe ratio and all the other boring stuff that makes most people eyes glaze over. In fact [...]
Retailers and mining stocks power rebound in the FTSE March 24, 2011 RETAILERS were among the top performers in a rally in Britain’s top share index yesterday that took the FTSE 100 back to levels last seen just before the earthquake in Japan. Results from Kingfisher and Next showed how some retailers can overcome tough trading conditions in the UK. Kingfisher, which hiked its dividend and reported [...]
Wall St advances on earnings hopes March 24, 2011 US stocks advanced yesterday as optimism about upcoming earnings and investor buying of the quarter’s top performers lifted the S&P 500 above a key technical level. The S&P 500 broke above its 50-day moving average at 1,305, leading investors to believe the market may have absorbed the worst of the pullback due to Japan’s earthquake [...]
Small players can beat even the biggest rivals March 23, 2011 AUTHOR AND CONSULTANT THE world of work can sometimes feel like you’re completely outgunned. If everyone around you seems better-qualified, more experienced and more likely to succeed, fear not: you’re in the same boat as most companies are when they launch. We live in a world where most of us – either as businesses or [...]
FTSE inches up despite Sainsbury’s glum update March 23, 2011 BRITAIN’S top shares edged up higher yesterday, on a budget day that brought a mixed outlook for UK corporates. J Sainsbury fell sharply after a downbeat trading update, while sector peers firmed after the budget, as did housebuilders which got a first-time property buyers boost, while North Sea-focused oil firms were hit by a tax [...]
Wall St rises as investors dismiss Middle East fears March 23, 2011 US stocks advanced yesterday as materials shares rose, but rising commodities prices due to turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa could keep rallies modest. The market’s favoured indicator of anxiety, the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index or VIX, shows investor worry over unsettled world situations has been tempered for the moment. But [...]
Becoming Chancellor of your own affairs March 23, 2011 A TENSE George Osborne stammered out an austere budget yesterday. While he might have offered a handful of business friendly measures, he didn’t have much to say for high earners. With inflation soaring and real income flat, everyone is feeling the squeeze. Now then might be the time to appoint yourself your own Chancellor and [...]
Look east for high ISA returns with a fund invested in Asia March 23, 2011 Despite interest rates that are no match for inflation, savers still fail to make full use of their ISA allowance. However, if they are saving for the long-term, and are prepared to deal with volatility in the short-term, they might be better off using their ISA allowance to invest in an Asian exposed fund instead. [...]
Facing the University Challenge: saving for your child’s education March 23, 2011 GEORGE Osborne made it clear yesterday that the Treasury’s pockets are empty. As such, parents hoping for tax breaks and contributions to their savings for their child’s education will likely be doing so in vain. At the same time, school fees are on the increase and the cap on university tuition fees rose last year [...]
FUNDS IN THE BUDGET March 23, 2011 BAD NEWS FOR OIL PRODUCERS Those who have exposure to North Sea oil and gas producers in their investment portfolios will be hit by one of the many new taxes introduced in yesterday’s budget. Dubbed the “fair fuel stabiliser”, it increased the taxes being levied on these companies from 20 per cent to 32 per [...]