Commodities spur FTSE 100 gains as banks bounce bank January 10, 2012 COMMODITY stocks led the FTSE 100 top share index higher yesterday, after Alcoa kicked off the US earnings season with an upbeat outlook and data from China lifted sentiment, while retailers rallied after some encouraging updates. London’s blue chip index rose 84.44 points, or 1.5 per cent to 5,696.70, making up for the 1.5 pe [...]
Keeping venues and the brand safe in 2012: A blend of risk and reward January 10, 2012 COUNTDOWN TO THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES 198 DAYS TO GO Mark Hamilton gives an insight into G4S’s decision to become the official security provider to the Games Q. What was your brand’s primary reason for being involved with the Games? A. As the world’s largest international security solutions provider, and as we’re based in [...]
Testing time for franc after Hildebrand quits January 10, 2012 MANY market watchers are questioning whether the eventual successor to Philipp Hildebrand will continue where he left off – aggressively defending the Swiss franc – or whether this will be used as an opportunity to allow the SFr1.200 floor put in place in September to expire. The supervisory council of the Swiss National Bank (SNB) [...]
WHY EURO IS NOT ABOUT TO FALL JUST YET January 10, 2012 ITALIAN yields on benchmark 10-year bonds are once again above 7 per cent and Ireland may be the new sovereign debt hot spot in the Eurozone – Citibank economist and former BoE member William Butler suggests that the Emerald Isle is need of a second bailout. Yet, despite the turmoil, euro-dollar has rallied as the [...]
The man gunning for Sky in the battle to be king of the movies January 9, 2012 IT’S a brave man who takes on BSkyB. The UK’s undisputed champion of subscription TV continues to go from strength to strength, seemingly impervious to the problems facing its biggest shareholder. But there is a new kid in town who wants to muscle in on the action. Netflix launched its video streaming service in the [...]
Financials under pressure as Greek default fears rekindled January 9, 2012 BRITAIN’S FTSE 100 closed down yesterday with financials under pressure after a warning by German Chancellor Angela Merkel reignited fears of a Greek default, while GlaxoSmithKline fell on worries over its key lung drug Relovair. London’s blue chip index closed down 37.42 points or 0.7 per cent at 5,612.26, with volumes just 88 per cent [...]
US stocks up amid cautious investing January 9, 2012 US stocks ended slightly higher yesterday in a light-volume session as investors stayed cautious ahead of corporate earnings and key auctions for European debt this week. Alcoa advanced 0.8 per cent to $9.50 in extended trading after the largest US aluminium producer reported fourth-quarter revenue that beat Wall Street expectations, though a plunge in aluminium [...]
A slippery time ahead for oil prices January 9, 2012 CONTINUED geopolitical issues in Iran and its stand-off in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed up oil prices over fears of a threat to supply, but will global economic weakness be enough to take the edge off these rises in the long term? SHORT TERM FEARS “Crude traders were of course spooked by the escalating [...]
THE TIPSTER January 9, 2012 THE retail festive sales reports are in full swing but today sees not just an ordinary update – this is a Marks and Spencer update. Expectations are for good food sales and based on a strong performance from fellow high street staple Next last week, the clothing side is expected to be none too shabby [...]
Analyst picks for 10 January 2012 January 9, 2012 QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIST DAVID RODRIGUEZ My pick: Sell euro rallies into $1.3000 Expertise: System trading Average time frame of trades: 2 to 10 weeks Market sentiment is incredibly one-sided, as non-commercial futures traders are their most net-short euro-dollar on record. Yet the trend is down until it isn’t, and I like selling euro strength as long [...]
