S&P reaches its highest level for five years January 17, 2013 STRONGER-than-expected data on US housing starts and jobless claims lit a fire under stocks yesterday, pushing the S&P 500 to a five-year high and its third day of gains. Shares of chipmaker Intel rose in extended-hours trading after the company forecast better-than-expected first-quarter gross margins. Intel gained 1.85 per cent after closing up 2.6 per [...]
Downbeat World Bank forecast and mining shares drag FTSE 100 lower January 16, 2013 A downbeat growth forecast from the World Bank together with weak mining stocks helped tip Britain’s top shares into negative territory yesterday, with Anglo American among the biggest losers after worker unrest at its platinum mines. The World Bank cut its global growth outlook for 2013, citing, a slower-than-expected recovery in developed nations. In its [...]
Goldman and JP Morgan help boost Wall St January 16, 2013 THE S&P 500 ended nearly flat yesterday as solid earnings from two major banks and a bounceback in Apple shares offset concerns about a lower forecast for global growth in 2013 (see UK report). Shares of Goldman Sachs hit their highest since May 2011 as earnings nearly tripled on increased revenue from dealmaking and lower [...]
The benefits and limitations of furthering your education January 16, 2013 TAKING a masters in finance or management can be tempting for many graduates, especially given the need for a competitive edge in today’s tough City jobs market. The data lends some support to this view. At Imperial College Business School, a respective 87 and 88 per cent of 2011 masters in finance and management graduates [...]
FTSE edges up despite fears over US debt ceiling and Europe’s GDP January 15, 2013 BRITISH blue-chip stocks edged up yesterday after a choppy day as the index managed to consolidate above 6,100 despite testing support with concerns weighing over the US debt ceiling and growth in Europe. The FTSE 100 twice dipped below the 6,100 level, but recovered on both occasions following weakness in early and midday trade. The [...]
Apple drags on market despite retail data hike January 15, 2013 The Dow and S&P 500 edged higher yesterday after stronger-than-expected retail data, though tech heavyweight Apple dragged on the market for a third straight day. Apple was the biggest weight on both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 after reports on Monday of cuts to orders for iPhone parts. Shares declined 3.2 per cent to [...]
The weaker yen isn’t a panacea for Japan’s ails January 15, 2013 JAPAN’S new government has wasted little time in trying to free the country from deflation, economic stagnation and a strong currency. It intends to act aggressively. It has “three-arrows” within its arsenal: bold monetary policy, flexible fiscal policy, and a growth agenda. The yen’s recent slide suggests that the market currently has faith that these [...]
Europe will dominate audit in 2013 January 15, 2013 Involvement with the EU on legislation and regulation is crucial THE Mayans’ reputation as expert astrologers and doomsday forecasters recently took a knock when 21 December 2012 came – and safely went. You could argue that we shouldn’t have paid so much attention to this forecast, given that the Mayans spectacularly failed to predict there [...]
FTSE falls from four-year high as analysts warn on energy shares January 14, 2013 BRITAIN’S leading shares fell yesterday after touching a 4-1/2 year high early in the session, with technical analysts noting the index could be set for a minor correction. Energy stocks, among Friday’s biggest gainers, were the main drag on blue-chip sentiment as Nomura warned that the sector was inexpensive for a reason and attractive price-to-earnings [...]
Apple stocks take a bite out of US markets January 14, 2013 THE S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended lower yesterday as worries over demand for Apple products drove down its shares and as investors braced for earnings disappointments. But Dell’s stock jumped 13 per cent to about a five-month high at $12.29, offsetting some of the tech-sector weakness, after Bloomberg reported the number three personal computer maker [...]