Chinese torture is holding back the commodities rally January 16, 2011 CHINA was once famous for, among other things, an obscure torture method: reputedly a way to drive suspects insane by slowly dripping water onto their foreheads. Nowadays, however, many commodities traders must feel rather like victims of the technique. The Chinese government has been slowly drip-feeding the commodities markets with hints about monetary tightening. On [...]
UK stocks set to profit from strong US market January 16, 2011 AFTER a wobble on Friday brought on by concerns about China’s economy, UK stocks are set to bounce back this morning thanks to a strong close by US markets before the weekend. FTSE LIKELY TO OPEN STRONGER GFT is quoting the FTSE 100 index to open up 30 points from Friday’s close, at a level of 6,002. Elsewhere [...]
WALL STREET WEEK AHEAD January 16, 2011 US bank stocks are flying high, and this week’s earnings could give investors more reason to be optimistic about the sector. Strong results from JPMorgan Chase & Co on Friday bolstered expectations for top US banks, many of which are due to report in the coming week, including Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. Financials have been [...]
Snow losers for traders looking for volatility January 16, 2011 THE Christmas trading results branded companies as either winners or “snow losers” last week. Tesco shocked the market by offering figures that analysts felt paled in comparison to Sainsbury’s. Thanks to 12,000 tonnes of grit, the supermarket deserved to take the title of winner of the festive race. Toy, clothing and leisure retailers also offered [...]
THE WEEK AHEAD January 16, 2011 COMPANY NEWS ● Several large American technology companies will report their results after UK trading hours on Tuesday, including Apple, IBM and Western Digital. ● As will remaining British retailers, including the fashion group Burberry and Carphone Warehouse. ● The budget pub chain JD Wetherspoon will release a trading update on Wednesday, as will bookmaker William [...]
THE TIPSTER January 16, 2011 DISCOUNT pub group JD Wetherspoon has a trading update due out on Wednesday that should offer some insight as to the impact bad weather had on sales in the pre-Christmas period. A degree of this has presumably been priced in already although broker sentiment does seem to be building against the stock. IG Index is [...]
Intelligent luxury under a hot blue sky January 16, 2011 ABU Dhabi sounds like a heady jumble of car, construction and human. In the daytime, the air is thick with noise as it is thick with the pervading haze of dust blown in from the sandlands to the south and thrown up by the never-ending construction. It softens the otherwise relentless sunshine, rendering everything (including [...]
TRAVEL NOTES January 16, 2011 Dukan Diet’s idyll Let us hope the troubles in Tunisia are over soon. The year’s must-do diet has launched a residential programme in Tunisia at the idyllic Residence Tunis. The three-part plan will see you drop pounds through reducing carbohydrate and fat, gorging on 28 different vegetables and eventually, resuming your normal diet. One for [...]
Harry: United not invincible January 16, 2011 TOTTENHAM (0) vs MANCHESTER UTD (0) TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp believes it would take a “miracle” for Manchester United to go the whole Premier League season unbeaten. Ten-man United, who had full-back Rafael sent off for two bookable offences with 16 minutes remaining, went back to the summit on goal difference courtesy of the hard earned [...]
Spurs fans say no to Stratford move January 16, 2011 More than 500 angry Tottenham fans protested against the club’s proposed move to the Olympic site at Stratford ahead of yesterday’s match against Manchester United. Fans gathered on Bill Nicholson Way and vented their frustration, while a banner reading “Say No To Stratford” was passed around inside the stadium during the game. Spurs and West [...]