… but our writer disagrees. Algos mean no harm October 6, 2011 THE avarice and greed of traders leading themselves and others to ruin. The creation of powerful computer-driven algo systems that nobody understands. Another creation by grasping bankers trying to churn and burn viable publicly listed businesses as fast as they can. Whipping up uncontrollable market volatility. Exacerbating terrifying sounding “flash crashes.” All happening in the [...]
Greek progress lends a hand to FTSE despite retail worries October 5, 2011 RALLIES by hard-pressed banks, insurers and commodity stocks led a bounce back by Britain’s top shares yesterday as support for debt-laden Greece revived investor appetite for riskier assets. Financial issues were boosted after the International Monetary Fund said it “definitely participate” in a second bailout package for Greece if the Washington-based lender was happy about [...]
Wall Street gains again on tech talk October 5, 2011 US stocks rallied for a second day yesterday, as investors bid up materials and energy shares on rising commodity prices and poured into beaten-down tech names after days of selling. Stocks continued to recover from a decline that briefly took the S&P 500 into bear-market territory. That turned abruptly on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 [...]
Giving ninety per cent of its tickets away is P&G’s winning 2012 strategy October 5, 2011 COUNTDOWN TO THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES 295 DAYS TO GO Irwin Lee explains why being the Proud Sponsor of Mums makes business sense for Procter & Gamble Q.WHAT WAS YOUR BRAND’S PRIMARY REASON FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH THE GAMES? A.Our first involvement with the Olympics came in Vancouver with the 2010 Winter Games. We [...]
Not Spooks, but still exciting October 5, 2011 THE BBC’s Spooks is not a realistic depiction of working life at MI5, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that working for the UK’s national security intelligence agency would be cool. If you’ve ever longed to know state secrets or work on The Grid, now could be your chance. The Security Service is recruiting [...]
A day on M15’s digital forensic specialist team October 5, 2011 AFTER graduating from university with a degree in IT, I spent eighteen months working in the finance sector. I enjoyed the work, which had good prospects, but I realised that I wanted to do something that offered me the chance to put my IT skills to use while making a real, tangible difference. When I [...]
Dangers of trying to catch a falling knife October 5, 2011 LONG term investors are understandably nervous about the weeks and months ahead in the financial markets and for the safety of their hard earned savings. At some point, the music is going to stop – Greece is facing an imminent default, and many will have seen Dexia’s trials earlier this week as the first of [...]
Mistakes to avoid if you move abroad October 5, 2011 MANY people choose to leave the UK to escape, temporarily or permanently, the gloomy weather and the even gloomier tax regime. Sadly, there is a mountain of bureaucracy to wade through before setting sail for warmer climes. “It is important to differentiate between moving overseas for a short period of time and expatriating indefinitely,” says [...]
Things can only get beta for currency October 5, 2011 INVESTORS have for many years tested their investment mettle in the traditional asset classes of bonds, equities and commodities. While this troika might seem broad enough in which to try to earn superior returns, it may surprise some that a simple currency strategy can outperform these asset classes. Many investors are familiar with carry trades [...]
Another low for the FTSE as banks and miners take a hit October 4, 2011 BRITAIN’S top share index hit a 15-month closing low yesterday, with banks and commodity stocks leading a broad-based sell-off, as growing doubts over Greece’s ability to stave off a debt default triggered fears of financial turmoil. The UK benchmark ended down 131.06 points, or 2.6 per cent, at 4,944.44, its lowest close since 5 July [...]