Alcoa gives stocks a good start in US October 8, 2009 US stocks rose yesterday as a surprising quarterly profit from Alcoa got third-quarter earnings off to a strong start. Alcoa gained 1.1 per cent to $14.35 and rose as high as $15.10, a day after the Dow component posted its first profit after three consecutive quarterly losses, on cost savings and higher aluminum prices. The [...]
Miners lead markets higher as gold price holds steady October 8, 2009 THE top share index ended 0.9 per cent higher yesterday, buoyed by the miners on firmer metals prices and optimism over demand prospects. The FTSE 100 closed 45.74 points higher at 5,154.64, after shedding 0.6 per cent on Wednesday. “There doesn’t seem to be the same degree of buying momentum returning to the market after [...]
Banks and oil lead the markets lower October 7, 2009 EUROPEAN shares closed lower yesterday with banking and oil stocks leading the fallers, as investors booked profits ahead of the US third-quarter corporate results season. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares was down 0.4 per cent at 988.76 points. The benchmark index is up 19 per cent this year and has surged 53 [...]
Strategic investors show thirst for world’s most liquid market: water October 7, 2009 IT MIGHT seem to be a fairly common substance, but fresh water’s growing scarcity means that it is quickly becoming known as blue gold in development and investment circles. While the amount of water in the world is finite – and fresh water only accounts for 1 per cent of the total – demand for [...]
EMERGING MARKETS ARE GROWTH PLAY October 7, 2009 NIZAM HAMIDHEAD OF SALES STRATEGY, iSHARES EUROPE AS THE global economy begins the slow path to recovery, investors are starting to take a view on economic growth. Oddly, perhaps, emerging markets have been ahead of advanced economies in exiting recession. Over the first half of 2009, equity markets around the world have restored part of [...]
CAREERS CLINIC October 7, 2009 LINDA JACKSONMANAGING DIRECOR, FAIRPLACE After three years in my current role, I want to start looking for my next job. I’m a bit worried that my experience looks light on my CV though. How can I make sure my CV is competitive? IF your experience is a bit light, you can still break down the [...]
Insurers fail to lift the FTSE as investors await US results October 7, 2009 BRITAIN’S leading shares closed lower yesterday as falls in oil majors and food retailers offset gains in insurers as investors waited for the start of the earnings seasons in the US to give a fresh direction. The FTSE 100 closed down 29.08 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 5,108.90, after ending 2.3 per cent higher [...]
Hike in interest rates boosts prospects for Aussie dollar October 6, 2009 THE hike in rates to 3.25 per cent yesterday by the central bank of Australia should have come as little surprise to most market participants. Over the past couple of months, there have been growing indications, not least from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) itself, that a rise in the cost of borrowing was [...]
SFO signals move to US-style tactics October 6, 2009 WHEN the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said last week that it intends to seek the Attorney General’s consent to prosecute BAE, this signalled a significant change in its modus operandi. It has never in the past publicised to this extent its intended actions in an ongoing investigation. In 2008, at about the same time that [...]
MYNERS PLAN BREACHES EURO RIGHTS October 6, 2009 AMBER MELVILLE-BROWNMEDIA COUNSEL, WITHERS LLP TREASURY Minister Lord Myners recently proposed that companies ought to be forced to publicise senior executives’ salaries. The idea has won much publicity, but could it happen? Perhaps not – it could be unlawful and even trigger costly privacy battles in the courts. Lord Myners envisages that such disclosures would [...]