Why small caps can help you profit when big business can’t June 29, 2009 WITH so many blue-chip stocks’ share prices plunging to penny stock levels, it is small wonder that the FTSE 100 companies are no longer the relatively safe trading bets that they once were. And these sprawling multinational companies have found it difficult to become leaner operations in the face of declining global demand. It is [...]
Oils and banks lift the large caps but defensives slide June 29, 2009 THE FTSE 100 gained 1.3 per cent yesterday, boosted by strength in oil majors and banks, and reflecting early gains on Wall Street. The index closed 53.02 points higher at 4,294.03, recovering most of last week’s 1.5 per cent decline. “What is most impressive about today’s rally is the breadth of the buying. Most sectors [...]
PREDICTIONS OF A RECOVERY ARE FAR FROM CERTAIN June 29, 2009 DAVID MORRISONCFD MARKET STRATEGIST, GFT IN these pages yesterday, CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick warned about unemployment ahead of this Thursday’s Non-Farm Payroll number. He pointed out that many economists dismiss jobs data as an irrelevant, “lagging” indicator. But as he pointed out, when consumers account for 70 per cent of US GDP, then unemployment becomes a [...]
Window dressing boosts US stocks June 29, 2009 US STOCKS rose yesterday as higher oil prices lifted shares of energy companies and fund managers snapped up this quarter’s winners to embellish their portfolios. Energy shares were a strong performer in the quarter, and a 3.4 per cent jump in the price of oil lifted them even further. Exxon Mobil was the Dow’s top [...]
Investors hope for further optimism June 28, 2009 THERE has been a noticeable air of optimism about the markets lately, and investors will be looking for signs to validate their cheer. Premier Foods, kicking the week off today with its first half trading statement, should not disappoint. Analysts at Royal Bank of Scotland anticipate that Premier will reiterate good sales growth, costs under [...]
This week’s key numbers will signal if recovery is sustained June 28, 2009 IT’S A mixed call for the opening of the stock markets this morning, with GFT calling the FTSE 100 and French CAC 40 to open virtually unchanged at 4,243 and 3,137 respectively. The German DAX on the other hand is expected to start the week on a more positive note, up 20 points at 4,796. [...]
Murray’s form is a boon for betters June 28, 2009 WITH Andy Murray looking strong and opponents unable to put up much of a fight, this could be an interesting week for British tennis. Looking at the Wimbledon draw, there seems to be nobody except Federer to challenge the Scottish baseliner, unless Lleyton Hewitt can pull off something spectacular. That Murray has started calling him [...]
THE TIPSTER OIL PRESSURE COULD DRIVE PRICES UP June 28, 2009 OIL stocks have been finding their way into many portfolios recently, with US crude back above $70 per barrel and the threat of further disruption in Nigeria helping to support prices. New problems at Gazprom and in the Ukraine could mean further unease in the energy sector, and prices could rise further as we move [...]
YES, RECOVERY WILL BE LONG AND HARD June 28, 2009 JANE FOLEYRESEARCH DIRECTOR, FOREX.COM HAVING rallied between March and early June on the expectation that the global economic downturn could be in the process of bottoming, the market is displaying a reluctance to extend risk. The reason is clear – economic data may have improved, but they are not yet sufficiently strong to confirm that [...]
NEW YORK REPORT June 25, 2009 US stocks rallied yesterday as investors were relieved that Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke withstood congressional questioning without problems. Retailers and home builders led stocks higher for much of the session, helped by a suprising profit increase from retailer Bed Bath & Beyond. Stocks extended gains shortly before midday as investors took Bernanke’s hearing in [...]