Euro expected to stay painfully strong in run-up to Christmas November 10, 2009 AFTER only a few weeks of respite for European policymakers, the euro is once again edging back up to test the critical $1.50 level against the US dollar. So far, at least, momentum has been unable to carry the pair through this psychological resistance level for an extended period of time. Officials in the Eurozone [...]
Eco case raises philosophical questions November 10, 2009 ALL those people who designated their religion as “Jedi Knight” in the last census may have delighted at the case of the so-called “eco-employee” last week. The employee in question is Tim Nicholson, who formerly worked for residential landlord Grainger. Nicholson claims that he was made redundant because of his environmental beliefs, and has been [...]
THE TIPSTER WEAK DOLLAR OFFERS BUYING OPPORTUNITIES November 10, 2009 THE dominant theme in the currency markets at the moment is the question mark hanging over the value of the dollar and whether the greenback’s weakness will continue. The single currency is once again at the key $1.50 level as the weak dollar continues to drive euro-dollar higher. There is strong resistance between 1.5000 and [...]
Remember, remember, to buy in November November 9, 2009 NOVEMBER is often considered one of the worst months of the year: the days are getting shorter, the holidays are still at least six weeks away and it is markedly colder and wetter. In short, not a month to get that excited about. That is, unless you are an investor. Forget the dismal weather and [...]
THE LONDON REPORT November 9, 2009 BRITAIN’S top share index hit its highest closing level in more than two weeks yesterday as the G20’s pledge to keep stimulus in place bolstered investors’ risk appetite, with miners and oil stocks leading the charge. The FTSE 100 closed up 92.46 points, or 1.8 per cent, at 5,235.18, the highest close since 23 October, [...]
Banks are in the dock as litigation lawyers look for soft City targets November 9, 2009 LAUNCHING a lawsuit against a major bank has never been easy. As anyone who has been involved in heavyweight litigation knows, the process of bringing a claim of any kind is expensive, hazardous and distracting. Regardless of the merits, no bank is likely to roll over very easily when faced with legal action. In order [...]
DON’T TRUST YOUR FIRST INSTINCTS November 9, 2009 MARTIN SLANEYHEAD OF DERIVATIVES, GFT IN HIS latest book, Errornomics, journalist Joseph Hallinan has written about why we make errors and how we can stop them. When we take exams, he says, the perceived wisdom is to go with your first answer. Yet research from the past 80 years suggests the opposite – we should [...]
THE NEW YORK REPORT November 9, 2009 A broad US stocks rally sent the Dow industrials to a 13-month high last night, after the Group of 20 pledged to keep aid flowing to the world economy, strengthening investors’ desire for risk. The agreement by G20 finance ministers and central bankers over the weekend to keep stimulus in place boosted global stocks on [...]
Prem goal fest means punters who buy goals keep winning November 8, 2009 A FEW weeks ago, there was a story kicking about that the high street bookies were suffering because of the low number of draws that we have seen in the premier league so far this season. The high number of goals meant that there were fewer nils-nils and one-alls, and far more edge-of-the-seat, high-scoring thrillers. [...]
Christmas will be make or break for our retailers November 8, 2009 WHEN the Christmas lights on Regent Street were switched on last week, it marked the beginning of the most important period of the year for high-street retailers. Many can earn 60 per cent of their annual profits in the peak weeks of Christmas. After a dismal end to 2008 when it seemed like retail chains [...]