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 [...]
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 [...]
It’s time to start re-thinking your attitude to trading the oil market July 12, 2009 WHAT a difference a year makes. With crude oil sinking below $60 a barrel on Friday for the first time since mid-May, it seems incredible that it was only 12 months ago that oil hit a record high of $147 a barrel, fuelling speculation among industry players that it could reach $250. Oil prices had [...]
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 [...]
First gains of the week as Alcoa boosts the markets July 9, 2009 THE FTSE 100 closed 0.5 per cent higher yesterday, ending a three-day losing streak on the back of gains in miners after reassuring earnings from Alcoa. The index closed 18.43 points firmer at 4,158.66, having fallen 1.1 per cent the previous session to its lowest closing level in more than two months. However trading was [...]
Results season off to a positive start July 9, 2009 US stocks edged higher yesterday as investors snapped up battered technology and commodity shares, while a positive broker comment on Goldman Sachs boosted the financial sector. Trading was choppy in light volumes for most of the day as investors remained cautious ahead of more corporate earnings reports in the coming weeks. Alcoa set a positive [...]
Women team up to beat the recession July 8, 2009 MORE women work in the City than they used to, but it’s still hard to get on. Only 13 women hold executive directorships on the board of FTSE 100 companies (that’s 3.6 per cent) and there are just 110 woman non-executive directors, 14.5 per cent of the total. During the recession, the situation for women has [...]