THE PESSIMIST May 25, 2009 WHILE the UK economy may have passed the absolute low point of this recession, any recovery is likely to be built on pretty fragile foundations. The key message from previous cycles is that, whatever their shape, full recoveries from UK recessions tend to take a long time. Even in the V-shaped downturn of the late [...]
EUROPEAN REPORT May 25, 2009 EUROPEAN shares closed higher yesterday with Sanofi Aventis leading pharmaceuticals higher after winning a US contract, and some analysts choosing to interpret a leading German economic survey positively. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares rose 0.3 per cent to a provisional close of 858.57 points, after two sessions of losses. But trade was [...]
MARTIN ON THE MARKETS May 25, 2009 THE FTSE 100 managed to finish positive last week, even after the threat that the UK’s S&P AAA credit rating may be removed. Nevertheless we can expect some mediocre profit-taking this morning. Later in the week we have a host of key US economic indicators such as durable goods and new home sales on Thursday [...]
Uncertainty over dividend payments could see defensive shares back on top May 25, 2009 MARKS & Spencer was hit by shareholder anger last week after it confirmed a widely flagged decision to slash its dividend payout to shareholders by one third. It saw its shares dive to the bottom of the FTSE 100, wiping 8 per cent off the share price in just one day. The price has continued [...]
US economic data in focus to pull US markets up May 25, 2009 WALL Street may feel more pressure this week unless a raft of economic data, including consumer confidence, home sales and gross domestic product (GDP), restores the optimism that had driven a two-month rally before fading last week. Investors cited the potential bankruptcy of General Motors as a concern, as further job losses could imperil the [...]
SPOTLIGHT ON SMALL CAPS May 25, 2009 THE greatest bugbear of the year for Aim investors, at least on the face of it, has been the exodus of companies from the junior market as more and more are forced to delist amid the economic turmoil. But as the number of firms on Aim continues to fall back, many small cap experts are [...]
Gloucs eye Aussie Clark May 21, 2009 CRICKET: Gloucestershire are hoping to sign Australian paceman Stuart Clark before the start of the Ashes series. The 33-year-old is being seen as short-term cover for New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin, who is on World Twenty20 duty in June.
O’Brien undecided on Yeats May 21, 2009 RACING: Trainer Aidan O’Brien admits he is still undecided whether to unleash Yeats on a fourth Gold Cup attempt at Royal Ascot. The eight-year-old was beaten into sixth on his return in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan last month, but O’Brien insists there’s more to come. He said: “We’ll just have to wait and [...]
Lowry turns professional May 21, 2009 GOLF: Ireland’s Shane Lowry has announced he is to turn professional after his Irish Open triumph last week. The 22-year-old, who missed out on a £500,000 first prize at Baltray last week, is set to make his pro debut in the European Open at the London GC, on 28 May. He said: “This decision will [...]
AN ABUNDANCE OF GLITTER FOR THE ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT May 21, 2009 LONDON’s most successful Asian ladies were out in force on Wednesday night for perhaps the sparkliest evening of the year, the Asian Women of Achievement Awards, in association with Lloyds TSB. The star-studded guest list included Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as well as BBC Dragon James Caan, MP Tessa Jowell, Lib Dem [...]
