Trading in food, glorious food June 16, 2010 IF THERE is one investment theme that is likely to gather pace in the coming years it is food. A growing population will require more of it than ever. This is good news for agricultural products, which also proved resilient during the recent bout of market volatility; for example, the Dow Jones Industrial index dropped [...]
Gain exposure to the yuan and the rupee June 16, 2010 THE high-profile battle between Washington and Beijing over China’s stubborn policy of pegging its currency to the US dollar has piqued retail traders’ interest in Asian currencies, and the Chinese yuan in particular. While investors have been able to trade currencies such as the yuan and the Indian rupee through offshore non-deliverable forward (NDF) contracts, [...]
THE TIPSTER June 16, 2010 COMPUTER games and consoles firm Game Group will update the market today and investors will be looking for news on a successor to Lisa Morgan, who left her position as chief executive in April. The firm’s share price has suffered since December following repeated profit warnings. Today’s statement could mark an end to the poor [...]
LISTED PRODUCT NEWS June 16, 2010 MAY RECORD ETF MONTH FOR BARCLAYS As the stock markets plummeted in May, ETF trading volumes picked up sharply, according to figures from Barclays Stockbrokers. Monthly trading volumes were at their highest on record – up 44 per cent on the previous month and up 52 per cent on May 2009. Barclays Stockbrokers said that [...]
FTSE 100 hits a one-month high boosted by strong performance of energy shares June 16, 2010 BRITAIN’S top shares extended their winning streak to a sixth straight day yesterday to a one-month closing high, driven higher by energy stocks. The FTSE 100 ended the day up 20.10 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 5,237.92, its highest closing level since May 18, notching up its longest winning run since September, having risen [...]
Wall Street ends flat as mixed data causes caution June 16, 2010 US stocks finished flat yesterday as cautious comments from FedEx and weak housing market data overshadowed a surge in industrial production. Investors were caught off guard after package company FedEx, deemed an economic bellwether because it serves a wide range of industries, said higher costs would constrain 2011 earnings. FedEx shares slid six per cent [...]
Accountants are vital for boosting economies right across the world June 16, 2010 IT’S clear we are living in unprecedented economic times. Indicators from various sources – including the latest quarterly survey of ACCA members, the largest of its kind in the world – suggest “cautious optimism”, and no more, is appropriate. In 2010, the financial services sector continues to dominate all levels of debate, from its willingness [...]
When process becomes more important than any one person June 16, 2010 FOR better of worse, some businesses become identified with their bosses. Look at Steve Jobs at Apple, whose share-price dropped when rumours about his health circulated last year. Or BP when it was run by Lord Browne, a man whose attitude towards the business he ran is often compared to that of Louis XIV’s towards [...]
Fading Eurozone fears push banks up while bid activity sends BSkyB higher June 15, 2010 A RALLY by banks, fuelled by demand in European bond auctions on easing debt concerns, helped Britain’s top share index higher yesterday, with BSkyB up after an approach by News Corp. The FTSE 100 closed up 15.69 points or 0.3 per cent at 5,217.82, the highest closing level since 15 May, and taking its winning [...]
Semiconductors lead the way for buoyant S&P 500 June 15, 2010 US stocks jumped yesterday as investors went on a buying binge. The S&P 500 turned positive for the year and rose above its 200-day moving average for the first time in a month, suggesting the recent downtrend may be ending. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 213.88 points, or 2.10 per cent, to 10,404.77. The [...]