The Tipster March 9, 2010 THE Australian dollar has been subdued, which is surprising since strong business confidence data earlier this week increases the chances of more interest rate hikes from the Reserve Bank of Australia. The Aussie dollar has traded on a weaker note since Monday after reaching AU$0.9150 against the greenback. Its weak performance in recent sessions can [...]
FOREX FLASH March 9, 2010 Goldman upbeat on sterling The pound has been in retreat since yesterday, after trade data for January suggested that a weaker pound is not yet helping British exports. But this could be short-lived. Goldman Sachs economist Erik Nielsen thinks that the UK economy should emerge from recession before the Eurozone. Nielsen made the comments during [...]
Banks weigh on the FTSE as Credit Suisse warns of future funding crisis March 9, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index closed a touch lower yesterday, as a weakening in banks after a cautious research note from Credit Suisse slightly outpaced buoyant oil issues and drugmakers. The FTSE 100 ended down 4.42 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 5,602.30, having closed up 0.1 per cent on Monday, its highest close since 2 [...]
Market sees strongest one-year rally since 1936 March 9, 2010 ONE year to the day after stocks fell to their worst close in more than 12 years, the US market spent most of yesterday spinning its wheels. Major US averages ended slightly higher as falling commodity prices pressured materials stocks, offsetting gains in the telecom and industrial sectors. But the weakest financial companies dominated market [...]
Watchdog’s bite is too harsh in new regulations March 9, 2010 JAMES BAGGE SENIOR CONSULTANT, NORTON ROSE LLP THIS week there has been a quantum shift in risk exposure for those who work in the financial services industry and perform controlled functions. With effect from 6 March, if anything goes wrong on their watch, there is a real risk of being faced with the prospect of [...]
Employers swap bonuses for tax-free pensions March 9, 2010 REMUNERATING high earning employees in a tax efficient way has always been difficult, and the recent interest in bonuses has made it even more tricky for employers. The introduction of the 50 per cent rate of taxation on those earning over £150,000 has also spurred many to look at ways to protect its high earners. [...]
Oil and minerals bolster FTSE index despite banking and drugmaker lows March 8, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index hit an 18-month closing high yesterday, led by oil stocks and miners, while drugmakers fell with AstraZeneca pressured after its cancer drug failed in trials. The FTSE 100 ended up 6.96 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 5,606.72, its highest close since 2 September 2008. The index gained 4.6 per cent [...]
Nasdaq boosted by rising tech share performance March 8, 2010 TECHNOLOGY shares pushed the Nasdaq higher yesterday on an otherwise flat day for US stocks. Cisco Systems, a Dow component, hit a 21-month high at $26.36 after JPMorgan Chase recommended the stock to investors. Research in Motion gained 5.6 per cent, leading the Nasdaq higher after an analyst’s upgrade. Sentiment also got a lift from [...]
Alternative exchanges give traders an edge March 8, 2010 ANOTHER shake-up of London’s trading landscape is underway after the London Stock Exchange (LSE) announced on Monday that it would sell 9 per cent of Turquoise, its European trading facility, to three investment banks. Barclays, JP Morgan Cazenove and Nomura each bought a 3 per cent stake of Turquoise for £1m. The multiple owners of [...]
VIX SUGGESTS TRADERS ARE NOT WORRIED March 8, 2010 DAVID MORRISON CFD MARKET STRATEGIST, GFT THE first week of March saw stock markets strengthen further, taking us back up through significant retracement levels for a number of major global indices. Investors cheered on a successful Greek bond auction, boosted by the country’s newly-proposed austerity measures. Concerns over sovereign risk contagion have been brushed aside [...]