FTSE 100 closes up as the market is boosted by rising mining companies April 26, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index closed higher yesterday, boosted by miners as metals rose and overcoming wariness about the outcome of Greece’s debt problem. The FTSE 100 closed up 30.20 points, or 0.5 per cent, at 5,753.85, extending Friday’s one per cent rally, but below yesterday’s intra-day peak of 5,800.66. Antofagasta, Eurasian Natural Resources and Kazakhmys [...]
Dow climbs despite fears over finance reform bill April 26, 2010 US STOCKS edged lower yesterday as bank shares fell on fears that financial reform making its way through Congress will curb profits, while Caterpillar’s strong results buoyed the Dow. A proposal to overhaul financial regulation that could restrict lucrative derivatives trading was expected to face a crucial Senate test vote yesterday and weighed on financial [...]
Relief rally to continue after Greek lifeline activation April 25, 2010 UK AND EUROPEAN shares are headed higher on the open this morning, on continued “show me the money”-style relief that Greece has finally pressed the button for the IMF/EU aid package. GFT is quoting the FTSE 100 index to open up 36 points from Friday’s close, at a level of 5,759. The German DAX is also expected to start higher, up 40 [...]
Buybacks are back in vogue and stocks will feel the effect April 25, 2010 ONE of the few miracles of this recession is just how well corporate balance sheets have held up. While economic growth has chugged back to life, firms have paid down debt and boosted their cash reserves. So the question is, what will companies do with all of this extra cash? Well, they have already increased [...]
Cleggmania may soon fade, so now is the time to place election bets April 25, 2010 THE televised debates have caused a seismic shift in British politics and we are likely to be spending a good part of election night on the edge of our seats. On Friday, after the second televised debate, the average of all five post-debate polls showed that Nick Clegg and David Cameron were neck and neck [...]
THE TIPSTER April 25, 2010 IMPERIAL Tobacco has been resilient in the past year as it is a very defensive stock but recently it has been correcting to the downside. Tuesday’s interim numbers might provide support and the stock could head back above £20. Capital Spreads’ quote for Imperial Tobacco is 1,959.0p-1,962.0p. Oil and gas firm BG Group has seen [...]
SPREAD BET GURU April 25, 2010 MARKET STRATEGIST josh@cityindex.com Q. Dear Josh, are the investigations into Goldman Sachs by the FSA and the SEC likely to have an impact on bank regulation? A. The main activity in the markets last week up until Friday’s relief rally was to sell the banks. This was despite Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup all [...]
FTSE 100 hits one-month low as Greek deficit fears weigh April 22, 2010 The London Report FTSE 100 hits one-month low as Greek deficit fears weigh BRITAIN’S top shares fell to a one-month closing low yesterday after news that Greece’s deficit widened more than expected hit investor sentiment, sending commodity and bank stocks into reverse. A downgrade of Greece’s debt rating from Moody’s Investors Service added to investor [...]
Solid results boost Wall Street stocks April 22, 2010 US stocks staged a late-day comeback yesterday as strong quarterly profits from consumer bellwethers like Starbucks outweighed worries about Greece’s shaky finances. First quarter earnings are on track to set a record for the percentage of companies beating estimates. Eighty-five per cent of the 98 S&P 500 companies that have reported so far have beaten [...]
Volcanic ash shows need to pick the right travel policy April 22, 2010 AEROPLANES might be returning to the skies once again, but for many business travellers and holidaymakers who have been stranded abroad or had their plans disrupted, the fallout is only just beginning as they start the process of claiming back their money. While the volcanic eruption was an unprecedented event, it has brought home the [...]