Use options spread bets to capitalise on volatile markets February 28, 2010 JUST as we thought everything had calmed down and the recovery was back on track, the markets have spent the first two months of 2010 being buffeted by events in the Eurozone, weather disruption and political uncertainty. Such volatility is unlikely to abate – there are elections on the horizon in both the UK and [...]
Profits can be made from jobs data February 28, 2010 AT 1.30pm on the first Friday of every month a quiet hush descends of the City, as financiers, traders and analysts await US non farm payrolls data (NFP). This single piece of data, which measures the number of jobs created by the economy each month, is regarded as the most important economic indicator in the [...]
CITY INDEX February 28, 2010 Q.Dear Josh, small cap shares can be very volatile. If I want to trade small caps, is it better to do so within a wider portfolio? A.First, it is good that you mentioned trading small cap shares as part of a wider portfolio. Having a portfolio can be an important part of maintaining a longer [...]
THE TIPSTER February 28, 2010 Oil continues to struggle around the $80 mark, after weak economic data in the UK. If western economies stall then demand for crude oil will fall, which will lead to lower prices. Another factor that could weigh on the oil price is weak employment figures in the US. As we approach the summer driving season, [...]
Traders look to Bank for rates guidance February 28, 2010 It is going to be an exciting week in the financial markets with the Bank of England and the European Central Bank scheduled to make monetary policy announcements. Rate decisions are always a big deal for stocks, bonds and currencies but now more than ever the outlook for these instruments will hinge upon the outlook [...]
Economic Diary February 28, 2010 DATA on Friday showing Britain grew by 0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter dampened speculation that the Bank of England would change policy on Thursday. Purchasing managers’ indices (PMIs) out this week for the UK should also confirm the continued rebound in the UK economy in spite of the disruption caused by the cold [...]
London’s top shares tumble as oil and mining companies slip February 25, 2010 BRITAIN’S leading shares fell 1.2 per cent yesterday, sliding back in the afternoon in tandem with New York stocks, with miners and oils the main drag as commodity prices fell back pressured by a firmer US dollar. By the close, the FTSE 100 index was 64.69 points lower at 5,278.23, reversing again after Wednesday’s 0.5 [...]
Wall St rocked by weak labour data February 25, 2010 US stocks recovered most of their losses but ended lower yesterday after weak employment and durable goods data added to recent worries about the strength of the economic recovery. Trading started on a sour note, but rumors of a 4-for-1 stock split planned by Apple coincided with a late-day rebound in stocks. A spokesman said [...]
Fiscal tightening is a delicate matter February 25, 2010 TODAY we should get confirmation that Britain emerged from recession in the last quarter of 2009, when the expectation is that the previous figure will be revised higher. Not a single economist polled by Bloomberg thinks that fourth quarter GDP data will be revised lower – the majority see an upward revision to 0.2 per [...]
Doing God’s work in the City February 25, 2010 LLOYD Blankfein, the chief executive of Goldman Sachs, caused a stir when he said the bank was doing “God’s work”. Well, perhaps he should meet Mark Speeks, the managing partner and co-founder of Acuity Capital, a private equity firm based in the City, who is also an assistant priest at St Botolph’s church in Aldgate. [...]
