The Fed’s new wave of easing could help the Vix rise higher October 17, 2010 SHARP drop-offs in the volatility or “fear” index of the S&P 500 sparked a flurry of commentary last week as the indicator fell 11.5 per cent over one week to hit a six month low. The index (known as the Vix) is calculated by the Chicago Board Options Exchange using data from a range of [...]
More QE will support the FTSE 100 October 17, 2010 SINCE traders returned to work at the start of September, the FTSE 100 index has been climbing steadily higher. Having fallen to as low as 4,805 in early July, the blue-chip index is now trading around the 5,700 mark and there is every expectation among market participants that equities could continue to gain ground. However, [...]
THE TIPSTER October 17, 2010 GOLD showed signs of a top last Friday when it first broke a four-day uptrend support, but it then shot higher when Ben Bernanke spoke about the economy. However, it failed to take out Thursday’s record high of $1,387 and promptly dropped $15 to $1,370. Spread Co offers a four-point spread on spot gold of [...]
SPREAD BET GURU October 17, 2010 MARKET STRATEGIST josh@cityindex.com Q. Dear Josh, what exactly are these currency wars? A. The recent currency wars are essentially a result of key governments attempting to manipulate the strength of their own currencies to suit their economic needs. The move by Japan last month to sell a reported ¥2 trillion was a prime example of [...]
FTSE weighed down by talk of more banking rights issues October 14, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index closed lower yesterday, dragged down by banks on worries about rights issues in the sector, while mobile phone heavyweight Vodafone rose following an upgrade from Nomura. The FTSE 100 ended down 20.14 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 5,727.21, after gaining 1.5 per cent on Wednesday to its highest closing level [...]
Wall Street dips on mortgage worries October 14, 2010 BANKS led US stocks lower yesterday as investors fretted a widening foreclosure crisis could undermine the market’s strength over the last five weeks. The S&P 500 has rallied 11.9 per cent since 1 September and volume has picked up from anaemic levels. But the rally could weaken as an index of bank stocks fell nearly [...]
Be tax savvy with investing October 14, 2010 HOLDING all your money in cash when inflation is running at 3 per cent or more and interest rates are a meagre 0.5 per cent is probably not a good idea. And when the best cash ISAs are offering a rate of 2.8 per cent, the real value of your money is being eroded. So [...]
LIGHTNING OF 2009 STRIKES BACK IN 2010 October 14, 2010 MD & FOUNDER OF FINE WINE MERCHANT BORDEAUX INDEX IT SEEMS a little precipitate to mention Bordeaux 2010 when we’ve only just said farewell to the all-consuming jamboree that was Bordeaux 2009. But such is the rhythm of nature that, as the new harvest approaches completion, initial reports are starting to appear on the latest [...]
PERSONAL FINANCE NEWS October 14, 2010 THIRD OF ADULTS WITHOUT SAFETY NET Almost a third of adults have less than £249 set aside as a financial safety net and 19 per cent have no savings at all to fall back on, according to new research from HSBC. This is equivalent to just five days average take home pay while the recommended [...]
Working out her unfair advantage October 14, 2010 SHE claims she is tired after a long overdue catch-up with a friend the night before, but Julie Meyer looks glamorous and speaks sharper and faster during our interview than most people do on their best day. With this sort of energy, it is little surprise that Meyer is simultaneously an entrepreneur, investor, business adviser [...]
