Make sure you cash in on competing ISAs March 2, 2011 THIS year’s individual savings account (ISA) season is in full swing, as banks and building societies try to lure canny savers. The market for the tax-free savings accounts has been buzzing since the start of February, with 82 new launches or rate increases, according to Moneyfacts.co.uk. Patrick Connolly, at AWD Chase de Vere, the independent [...]
Don’t blindly follow the herds into the big cap funds March 2, 2011 DESPITE large-cap funds having underperformed against their small to mid-cap alternatives in recent years (see chart), figures would suggest that this year could see large-cap funds turn the tables. “We have certainly seen a lot more interest in equities, away from bonds and gilts,” said Andy Simpson at Schroders Asset Management, “though not as attractive [...]
How Egypt and Libya saw risk being redefined March 1, 2011 SPEND 10 years as a professional foreign currency trader, another four as a fixed income trader, then head up several global trading desks and you get a very close look at that rarest of forex animals: Speculatorus Supersuccessfulus. “Those who make the greatest gains,” says Dean Popplewell, “are always the most silent.” Popplewell himself is [...]
LABOUR DATA WILL BE KEY FOR DOLLAR March 1, 2011 DIRECTOR OF CURRENCY RESEARCH, GFT DESPITE continued turmoil in the Middle East, concerns over the Irish rescue deal and fears that rising commodity prices could snuff out the global economic recovery, the dollar can’t find a bid. Typically, in times of stress, the greenback rallies as investors seek safety and liquidity. So why is the [...]
THE TIPSTER STERLING ON A HIGH VS DOLLAR March 1, 2011 THE pound has broken through £1.6300 against the greenback for the first time in over a year, amidst signs of an upturn in the UK housing market. Strength here is going to make it that bit easier for the Bank of England to start hiking interest rates in the months ahead. Combined with renewed investor [...]
FOREX ANALYST PICKS March 1, 2011 FOREX STRATEGIST ILYA SPIVAK My pick: Short New Zealand dollar-US dollar Expertise: Global Macro Average time frame of trades: 1 week-6 months Last week, New Zealand dollar-US dollar broke through rising trend line support established from the lows in June 2010, suggesting a major bearish reversal is at hand. I will enter short from here [...]
Pulling dead weight through March 1, 2011 EUROPE’S strongest man is Lithuanian this year. But its strongest economy is clearly German. The two have more in common than you think. Both are breaking records and are familiar with lugging around dead weight. The German economy has been pumping out positive figures. Yesterday it announced that unemployment fell to a 19-year low and [...]
TRADING THE NEWS IN JUST FOUR STEPS March 1, 2011 CONSULTING ANALYST, INTERTRADER Formal education doesn’t help you become a good trader. My own mentor told me that “you only see what you have trained your eyes to see.” This short run-through is an insight into how I have trained my eyes to trade news-driven markets. Step 1: First duty every morning is to check [...]
Companies stuck in the Middle East mayhem must act swiftly March 1, 2011 WHILE the headlines from north Africa and the Middle East speak of the human toll and the fate of Britons, the threat to British companies who have contracts in the region which generate substantial revenue remain near the top of company agendas. Having spent 30 years working in Middle Eastern business and law, including in [...]
Lawyers on boards would benefit City March 1, 2011 THE corporate headlines last week focused on women being overlooked for board positions in FTSE companies. They’re not alone: other than as general counsel there’s a similar paucity of lawyers. Presumably female solicitors don’t have any chance at all. This is pretty curious given the many skills that lawyers can add, most notably a willingness [...]
