FTSE 100 is dragged down by banks despite healthy UK economic recovery March 30, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index ended 0.7 per cent lower yesterday, dragged down by banks, which extended the previous session’s losses, in thin trading ahead of the Easter break. The FTSE 100 index ended down 38.34 points at 5,672.32, having closed above 5,700 for the last three sessions. The index hit a 21-month intra-day peak at [...]
Report of a new Apple iPhone boosts US stocks March 30, 2010 US stocks rose in a slow session yesterday on data showing more stabilisation in the economy, while Apple rallied on a report that it was developing a new iPhone. With the S&P 500 now up 73.4 per cent from the March 2009 bottom and on track for a fourth straight quarterly gain, investors chose to [...]
Take a global view for the best returns on your ISA March 30, 2010 IF you want to make the most of your ISA allocation, then you had better get your skates on: tomorrow is your last chance this year. Of course, the principles of picking a fund are the same as any fund-picking. As ever, diversification is the key when it comes to long-term investment planning, so it [...]
Calvert verdict convinces City FSA has teeth March 30, 2010 THE recent conviction of Malcolm Calvert was the third successful criminal prosecution of insider dealing brought by the FSA and two further such prosecutions are ongoing. Significantly, the first FSA insider dealing criminal prosecution was not until 2008 and it is evident they the regulator is now intent on ramping up criminal prosecutions and have [...]
Brokers should learn caution from Tullett case March 30, 2010 TULLETT Prebon’s recent victory over BGC in the High Court was hailed by Tullett as a triumph for the “framework of law” over disrespect for contractual obligations. But is the decision really that black and white? And does it indicate a greater willingness by the courts to intervene to protect employers when employees depart for [...]
Miners and Vodafone help FTSE 100 book gains as Carphone goes it alone March 29, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index ended 0.1 per cent higher yesterday as gains in miners on the back of firmer metals prices and a stronger Vodafone outpaced falls in banking stocks. The FTSE 100 closed 7.64 points higher at 5,710.66 after falling 0.4 per cent on Friday. The index has gained more than 12 per cent [...]
Commodities lift Wall Street ahead of Easter March 29, 2010 US stocks rose yesterday as miners and energy companies advanced on dollar weakness as the quarter’s end approached. Exxon Mobil Corp was up 1.1 per cent to $67.30 and the S&P energy index rose 1.8 per cent. Boeing, up 2.1 per cent and Caterpillar up 1.7 per cent. They were both the Dow’s top boosts. [...]
Weaker dollar is behind the mining sector rally March 29, 2010 IT IS a sign of the optimism flooding the mining sector at the moment that Rio Tinto’s share price was able to rise yesterday even as a Chinese court jailed four of its staff for between seven and 14 years for taking bribes and stealing commercial secrets. The heavyweight miner was able to shrug off [...]
DEVIL IN THE DETAIL OF NON FARM DATA March 29, 2010 WITH Good Friday marking the start of the Easter holiday, investors could be forgiven for expecting the shortened week to lead to traders’ indifference and an “end-of-term” atmosphere. Yet this could be a crucial period for markets. The first quarter comes to an end on Wednesday, and with it the Fed’s $1.25 trillion mortgage-backed securities [...]
Despite market worries US insurers are in rude health after Obama bill March 29, 2010 PRESIDENT Barack Obama had his moment in the sun last week when his healthcare reform bill was signed into law. The crux of the reform is the requirement for all Americans to have health insurance by 2014, which will affect more than 30m people who are currently uninsured. The response to the bill in the [...]