Commodity currencies on the turn July 7, 2009 OVER the past fortnight, risk aversion has returned with a vengeance as a string of data – including US unemployment figures and a downward revision to UK first quarter GDP – disappointed the markets. Foreign exchange markets have reacted predictably with both the US dollar and the Japanese yen strengthening markedly against the commodity currencies. [...]
Commodity currencies on the turn July 7, 2009 OVER the past fortnight, risk aversion has returned with a vengeance as a string of data – including US unemployment figures and a downward revision to UK first quarter GDP – disappointed the markets. Foreign exchange markets have reacted predictably with both the US dollar and the Japanese yen strengthening markedly against the commodity currencies. [...]
EUROPEAN REPORT May 18, 2009 EUROPEAN equities closed higher yesterday as financial stocks climbed on hopes a recession in top global economies was abating, while energy shares tracked higher crude oil prices. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 2.4 per cent higher at 859.88 points after falling as low as 827.32. The index, which slumped 45 per [...]
EUROPEAN REPORT May 18, 2009 EUROPEAN equities closed higher yesterday as financial stocks climbed on hopes a recession in top global economies was abating, while energy shares tracked higher crude oil prices. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 2.4 per cent higher at 859.88 points after falling as low as 827.32. The index, which slumped 45 per [...]
High volatility will add sizzle to your summer trading July 19, 2009 DURING the summer months, the stock markets, like everything else, quieten down in July and August as people head off on holiday and companies scale back their activity. The result is noticeably lighter trading volumes and relative illiquidity in the markets. As a spread better, you might therefore be inclined to take a break like [...]
High volatility will add sizzle to your summer trading July 19, 2009 DURING the summer months, the stock markets, like everything else, quieten down in July and August as people head off on holiday and companies scale back their activity. The result is noticeably lighter trading volumes and relative illiquidity in the markets. As a spread better, you might therefore be inclined to take a break like [...]
Final salary schemes on the way out June 4, 2009 PENSIONS analysts sounded the death knell for final salary pension schemes yesterday, after supermarket chain WM Morrison became the third major company in a week to end its scheme. The retailer’s decision to bring the curtain down on the scheme follows similar moves by Barclays, which transferred 18,000 staff to a hybrid scheme and energy [...]
Blank’s exit won’t end Lloyds’ troubles May 17, 2009 IT was always Sir Victor Blank, one of the Labour Party’s favourite businessmen, who was most likely to be Lloyds Banking Group’s sacrificial lamb. It was he, after all, who was the main driver of Lloyds TSB’s ill-fated takeover of HBOS; he first discussed the idea of the deal with Gordon Brown over drinks in [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS June 9, 2009 DawsonsThe law firm has hired Stephen Morrall as a new partner to its expanding corporate commercial team. Morrall joins from Middleton Potts, where he worked for over 20 years. He has a particular interest in cross-border M&A, joint ventures, banking and cross border security, international trade and employment law. Morrall will also help the firm [...]
Confidence wavers but the drug makers have the cure June 17, 2009 RECENT confidence of a quick global economic recovery wavered yesterday, with commodity stocks down on weaker raw material prices but pharmaceuticals and telecoms gaining. “The bulls have lost their swagger and after a week long stalemate, the bears appear to be winning the recovery debate. Financial markets have now broken out of last week’s unusually [...]