Corporate earnings boost Wall Street July 14, 2009 US stocks managed modest gains yesterday, as better-than-expected corporate profits overshadowed concerns about weak consumer demand. Positive surprises on the earnings front could boost markets again today as chip maker Intel reported results after the bell that surpassed expectations, driving stock index futures sharply higher. Intel also gave a forecast for current-quarter revenue that beat [...]
Miners, banks and oil groups emerge as stars of the index July 14, 2009 LONDON’S top share index closed up 0.9 per cent yesterday, led by miners, banks and oil producers as impressive corporate data from the United States outweighed mixed economic figures. The FTSE ended 35.55 points higher at 4,237.68, extending Monday’s 1.8 per cent gains. The index has risen more than 23 per cent since hitting a [...]
Japan offers the contrarian trader a wealth of opportunity July 13, 2009 GIVEN how badly export-oriented Japan has suffered from the financial crisis and the subsequent drop off in global demand, you might think that investing in Japanese equities would be one of the least successful trading strategies around right now. But in fact, a number of analysts have started turning bullish on the Japanese stock index [...]
Bullish comments boost US markets July 13, 2009 US stocks rallied more than 2 per cent yesterday as bullish comments on financial sector performance from analyst Meredith Whitney lifted hopes that banks’ quarterly results may be stronger than expected. Light volumes made it easier for stocks to post such a big move, analysts said. The Dow industrials and S&P 500 had their best [...]
SENTIMENT TAKES A NOSEDIVE, DAMPENS RECOVERY PROSPECT July 13, 2009 MARTIN SLANEYHEAD OF DERIVATIVES, GFTCONSUMER confidence is fundamental to market mood, and even more so when the prospect of economic recovery has been touted but not yet assured. Confidence is the building block of spending, which is critical to recovery. And right now confidence is taking a big dip. The bimonthly Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary [...]
Commodities and financials emerge as stars of the index July 13, 2009 THE FTSE 100 closed 1.8 per cent higher yesterday, boosted by stronger energy and mining stocks, while financial shares also provided support to the market which had fallen in five of last eight sessions. The index ended 74.96 points higher at 4,202.13, after falling 0.8 per cent on Friday to its lowest close since 28 [...]
Hot weather to prove thirsty work and give pubs a boost July 12, 2009 The City has good reason to focus on the pub this week, with numbers from JD Wetherspoon, Enterprise Inns and Mitchells & Butlers all likely to be high on the agenda. The recent hot weather should have provided some welcome business for the hard-hit pubcos. But investors will also look for firms to further defend [...]
SUMMER WILL BE CHOPPY FOR INVESTORS July 12, 2009 JANE FOLEY RESEARCH DIRECTOR, FOREX.COM THE FTSE 100 index and sterling have been trading in a similar pattern since the spring. Both the FTSE 100 and the Bank of England’s effective exchange rate – which measures movements in the pound against a basket of currencies weighted by their importance to UK trade flows – trended [...]
THE TIPSTER NEW SHARES PLACING LIFTS SAINSBURY’S July 12, 2009 SUPERMARKET chain Sainsbury’s had been doing well in the first months of 2009 despite consumers tightening their belts, and its share price reached a high of 347.25p in the middle of May. But its share price then slipped to around 309p and the stock has been trading broadly sideways since then. However, the announcement of [...]
US hard hitters to lead the markets July 12, 2009 This has all the makings of a highly volatile week for the markets, as second-quarter earnings numbers from the US really get into their stride. With the losing stretch for many stocks now reaching four straight weeks, these blue chip updates could prove pivotal in shaping market direction. The highlights to watch out for are [...]