Fears over economy and Saudi Arabia hit markets March 10, 2011 FEARS about the economy and unrest in Saudi Arabia darkened the outlook for equities yesterday, pushing major indexes below key technical levels. The Dow’s worst day in seven months came after reports that authorities in Saudi Arabia had opened fire on demonstrators, increasing anxiety about instability in major oil producing nations. All three major indexes [...]
The lady who took the lead March 10, 2011 NO, NO, no, I did not see myself as a feminist, in some ways the feminist movement did more harm than good,” says Debbie Moore, the first woman to float a company on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). “Having a female Prime Minister improved the atmosphere, but not just for women, for everyone with entrepreneurial [...]
GOVERNMENT WON’T DELIVER FOR BUSINESS March 10, 2011 FOUNDER OF THEBESTOF.CO.UK THIS week the headlines have been once again full of David Cameron’s grand gestures and pledges to support entrepreneurs and small businesses. In Cardiff he attacked the “enemies of enterprise” and talked up entrepreneurial individuals as the UK’s only growth strategy. Yet if you are an entrepreneur like myself then the chances [...]
Weak demand for commodity and bank shares drag on FTSE March 9, 2011 WEAK commodity and bank stocks dragged Britain’s leading shares index lower yesterday as oil prices climbed after intensified fighting in Libya. At the close, the FTSE 100 was down 37.46 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 5,937.30, having hit a low for the week at 5,922.66 in the afternoon before recovering. “Only a dyed-in-the-wool optimist [...]
Texas Instruments leads Wall St losses March 9, 2011 A weak outlook from Texas Instruments weighed on the Nasdaq yesterday and pushed an index of chip makers below a key technical level in a worrisome sign for the market’s six-month uptrend. The PHLX semiconductor index fell 3 per cent to close below its 50-day moving average, which represents medium-term momentum, for the first time [...]
Africa’s future looks bright to Renaissance March 9, 2011 EVEN in times of relative stability, media reports on Africa lead many investors to think they can find better places for their money. So with turmoil rolling across the north of the continent this impression has only intensified – the jubilation of Cairo’s Tahrir Square has been replaced by the brutality of Muammar al-Gaddafi. However, [...]
The glass is half full for ISA investors in stocks and shares March 9, 2011 WITH the end of tax year deadline swiftly approaching, investors should make sure that they take advantage of the generous £10,200 allowance for individual savings accounts (ISA). This can either be used in its entirety for stocks and shares or up to £5,100 can be put into a cash ISA with the remainder in stocks [...]
Pouring into the red liquid market offers tasty returns March 9, 2011 A COMPOUND annual growth rate of 15 per cent since 1999: sounds good, doesn’t it? It sounds even better when you find out that’s higher than US and UK equity markets and comparable only to property without, er, being property and suffering its recent fate. Surely it can’t get better than that? Well, actually, it [...]
When the boss is out you can shine March 9, 2011 IT’S a peculiar thing, but whenever David Cameron goes away on holiday or on overseas business, his deputy Nick Clegg fails to shine. Recently the deputy PM even said he had “forgotten” that he was running the country. For most people though, the boss being away is a good opportunity to make their mark. But [...]
Shaky times for Kiwi ahead of rates decision March 8, 2011 ON 22 February an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 hit the South Island of New Zealand, devastating persons and property in the city of Christchurch. In consequence, the Kiwi slid against the US dollar. Prior to the quake the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) was largely expected to sail a steady course, holding [...]
