ber bears go bullish on bonds as deflation threat looms September 6, 2009 DURING the summer months global stock markets have rallied beyond what even die-hard bulls would have thought possible six months ago. Yet this is perhaps not the most surprising trend to have emerged out of the typically quiet August period. Strategists on both sides of the Atlantic have been trying to get their brains around [...]
Banks are back in favour with hedgies and the spread betters September 6, 2009 WHILE many market analysts are decrying the current stock rally as being overblown and fundamentally unjustified, not everybody agrees. Data last week from Thomson Reuters revealed that at least 20 top hedge funds boosted their positions in financial institutions during the second quarter. The group of 30 hedge funds in the analysis increased their exposure [...]
Market short on inspiration September 6, 2009 IT’S A relatively quiet week for data, and although US equity markets are closed today for the Labor Day holiday, market activity often picks up after this date which traditionally signifies the end of summer vacations. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee monthly meeting results are on Thursday, and although no change in interest [...]
THE TIPSTER UPTICK PUTS MPC DECISION IN FOCUS September 6, 2009 FOLLOWING last week’s gloomy forecasts from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), spread betters will be watching the Bank of England’s policy decision on Thursday closely. While rates are expected to remain on hold at 0.5 per cent and quantitative easing at £175bn, investors will listen carefully to see what they’ll say about [...]
Flutter on football, and maybe make a mint on Murray September 6, 2009 FOR those who like a bit of spread betting to enliven their sport, the first big event is England’s World Cup qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday night, in which an England win will guarantee a journey to South Africa next year to see if Fabio Capello can succeed where countless others have failed. (The odds [...]
London ends lower as all eyes turn to payroll data in the US September 3, 2009 THE FTSE 100 closed lower yesterday, weighed down by energy stocks, though with a rally from miners limited losses ahead of today’s key US non-farm payroll figures. The index closed the session down 20.80 points, or 0.4 percent, at 4,796.75, having traded lower on the first two days of September. But the recent powerful rally, [...]
Strong retail stats boost Wall Street September 3, 2009 US stocks rose yesterday, snapping a four-day losing streak, after stronger-than-expected retail sales data eased concerns about the economy before today’s important jobs data. After sharp falls this week, the broad S&P 500 index finished above 1,000 as retailers’ August sales were joined by a survey showing improvement in the US services sector. Financials and [...]
How using currency pairs can help you trade on your attitude to risk September 2, 2009 SINCE the start of the financial crisis, traders’ attitudes to risk have gone up and down almost as regularly and dramatically as their blood pressure. Uncertainty has been one of the major characteristics of the markets. As well as sending traders scuttling to their doctors, it has also meant that there has been an increased [...]
NEW YORK REPORT September 2, 2009 U S stocks fell yesterday as jitters about the economy prompted investors to unload shares for a fourth-straight day, despite a sharp drop in the previous session. Major indexes fluctuated between positive and negative territory throughout the day before closing in the red, with the S&P 500 index posting its worst losing streak since late [...]
Heavy-handed FSA ruffling recruiters September 2, 2009 WHEN the chairman of the Financial Services Authority’s chairman, Lord Turner, made comments about taxing bonuses, it was not the first time that the regulator had ruffled feathers in the City. Indeed, recruiters in the Square Mile have been feeling added pressure from the FSA for almost a year now. According to information obtained through [...]