HSBC leads banking shares down despite bumper profit February 27, 2012 BRITAIN’S leading share index ended lower yesterday, pressured by weakness in banking issues after international leaders said more money was needed from Europe to help ease the region’s debt crisis, and with heavyweight HSBC falling after its results. Eurozone countries pledged at a meeting of finance leaders of G20 economic powers on Sunday to reassess [...]
S&P at its highest since mid-2008 February 27, 2012 THE benchmark S&P 500 closed at its highest level since mid-2008 yesterday, extending gains for a third session as oil prices retreated after a recent rally and data showed further improvement in the US housing market. The S&P and the Nasdaq both eked out gains, while the Dow closed barely lower. An industry group reported [...]
Don’t blame the Depression on the gold standard – but don’t expect it back either February 27, 2012 TWO of America’s Republican candidates – Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul – have dared to toy with the idea of bringing back the gold standard. Their remarks have in turn triggered a fusillade of indignant replies, from pundits and professional economists alike, the general theme of which is that no one fit to be America’s [...]
Universities can be powerhouses of UK innovation February 27, 2012 THE government is aiming high with the publication of the Wilson Review today – a comprehensive report with the aim of making the UK the best place in the world for businesses and universities to work together. In the shadow of recommendations of how the sector can best do this, familiar voices will undoubtedly emerge [...]
Better squeezed than baffled by tax breaks February 27, 2012 WHEN my wife was pregnant last summer we received a £100 voucher from the government to ensure she was eating enough fruit and vegetables. She already was eating enough fruit and vegetables, but the money came in handy for other things. This is just one small example of how a well-intentioned policy is a waste [...]
RAPID RESPONSES February 27, 2012 Smart and simple [Re: The energy policy paradox: cheap tariffs for the savvy mean higher bills for most, yesterday] Will Straw is right to highlight the unfair impact of predatory pricing on all energy bill payers. Ofgem clearly needs to look at this issue, particularly as the most vulnerable members of society are likely to pay [...]
Trade the month end balancing act February 27, 2012 AS February draws to its inevitable conclusion, what impact does the passing of another month have on the markets? Though Treasuries or corporate bonds show no significant end-of-month effects, there is a noticeable and measurable effect in equity and in forex markets. THE FIX IS IN Month-end fixings relate to the moves that portfolio managers [...]
DOLLAR-YEN PAIR BENEFITS FROM US RECOVERY THEME AS OIL CASTS ITS SHADOW February 27, 2012 DESPITE the generally positive tone of recent global economic data, analysts remain concerned about the prospect of sustained growth in 2012. At the moment, their chief source of worry is the surging price of oil. In the US, West Texas Intermediate has risen to nearly $110 a barrel, while in Europe the price of Brent [...]
Tech giants provide data boosts for all February 27, 2012 THE last week has seen two important developments for those seeking market data, albeit on opposite ends of the spectrum. Yesterday saw the launch of Bloomberg Next. Bloomberg is constantly tuning and tweaking its terminals, but it decided that the latest changes were large enough to warrant a launch event. “The complexity and interconnectedness of [...]
THE TIPSTER February 27, 2012 IT seems National Express is not the most popular company around at the moment, as it takes advantage of increased passenger numbers due to the high cost of fuel, by jacking up its fares. Traders were shorting it ahead of itsresults on Wednesday, even though it is expected to show a 13 per cent rise [...]
