Thanksgiving week will hit stocks despite higher start November 22, 2009 UK and European stock markets are set to make a move higher this morning, following on from a rebound in Dow stocks late in the day on Friday off their lows. GFT is quoting the FTSE 100 index to open up 24 points from Friday’s close, at a level of 5,275. The German DAX is [...]
Fickle spread betters value edge over loyalty November 22, 2009 ZZZSPREAD BETTING has been in the UK for more than a decade now and it has been growing rapidly in popularity among the private investor community. But just who is your typical spread better, why do they use spread betting and what exactly do they think of all the providers battling it out for market [...]
Technology firms drive USsell-off November 19, 2009 Technology stocks drove a broad-based US sell-off yesterday as a brokerage took a dim view of demand prospects for the semiconductor sector, while economic data underscored the fragility of the recovery. Bank of America-Merrill Lynch cut its 2010 growth outlook for the semiconductor industry on concerns about a rising inventory glut. It downgraded 10 stocks, [...]
Hike in commodity costs hits miners and energy stocks November 19, 2009 Britain’s top share index fell 1.4 per cent yesterday as sagging commodity prices dented miners and energy stocks, while reduced risk appetite hurt banks. The FTSE 100 ended down 74.43 points at 5267.70, its biggest daily fall for three weeks, after closing 0.1 per cent lower on Wednesday. Miners were the biggest drag on the [...]
CAREERS CLINIC November 18, 2009 I think my shyness is holding me back. I’m an analyst for a fund manger, and though I’m technically on the ball, I know I’m quieter than those around me and people don’t notice what I say, particularly at meetings and networking events, which I dread. How can I have more personal impact? A lot [...]
Poor building data halts Wall St gains November 18, 2009 US stocks broke three days of gains yesterday following worrisome outlooks from two major software makers and a surprising drop in home construction last month. But stocks sharply cut the session’s losses just before close as many investors pointed to a strong uptrend in equities that have pushed major indexes to 13-month highs in recent [...]
Why bonds are a boon for investors November 18, 2009 FOLLOWING his appointment as the CEO of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) this summer, Xavier Rolet announced plans to open a retail bond market here in the UK. He said: “There is a clear need, particularly in the SME sector, for a lot of companies to be able to tap the bond market, particularly for [...]
Boom-town Qatar is becoming the New York City of the Middle East November 18, 2009 WHEN chancellor Alistair Darling announced the introduction of a 50 per cent tax on all income over £150,000 from April 2010, there was immediately talk of a mass exodus from the City. High earners, said the chancellor’s critics, would look to preserve their wealth and firms try to attract the best talent. Some were expected [...]
Now there is a new way for traders to play forex markets November 18, 2009 WITH more than $3 trillion traded in the volatile foreign exchange markets every day, private investors have increasingly been angling for a slice of the action. And last week, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provider ETF Securities launched a new way for individuals to gain exposure to the world’s most liquid market. The ETF-provider has launched Europe’s [...]
M&S and ITV brighten up dull day of trading for FTSE November 18, 2009 THE UK’s main market ticked down slightly yesterday, as an unexpected drop in US housing figures spooked investors and weakness in food retailers and tobacco firms outpaced gains in miners and energy companies. The FTSE100 closed 0.1 per cent lower at 5,342.13 with Cable & Wireless, Unilever, Vodafone and HSBC going ex-dividend. Marks & Spencer [...]