Market short on inspiration September 6, 2009 IT’S A relatively quiet week for data, and although US equity markets are closed today for the Labor Day holiday, market activity often picks up after this date which traditionally signifies the end of summer vacations. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee monthly meeting results are on Thursday, and although no change in interest [...]
THE TIPSTER UPTICK PUTS MPC DECISION IN FOCUS September 6, 2009 FOLLOWING last week’s gloomy forecasts from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), spread betters will be watching the Bank of England’s policy decision on Thursday closely. While rates are expected to remain on hold at 0.5 per cent and quantitative easing at £175bn, investors will listen carefully to see what they’ll say about [...]
TAKE HEED OF CENTRAL BANK CAUTION September 6, 2009 JANE FOLEY RESEARCH DIRECTOR, FOREX.COMSeptember has begun under a cloud of apprehension, as investors worry that the rallies in the stock markets and also in commodities such as oil may have over-compensated for the improvement in global demand. It would be foolhardy to presume that risks to global economic growth have completely disappeared – they [...]
Flutter on football, and maybe make a mint on Murray September 6, 2009 FOR those who like a bit of spread betting to enliven their sport, the first big event is England’s World Cup qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday night, in which an England win will guarantee a journey to South Africa next year to see if Fabio Capello can succeed where countless others have failed. (The odds [...]
Dating gets personal September 6, 2009 I FEEL like I’ve stepped into a scene from Sex and the City, where Carrie is investigating a new dating technique. Indeed, right now I am the Carrie figure, here to observe how exactly a new matchmaking service does its business. The women I am meeting – all glossy and stylish in sharp designerwear – [...]
BESPOKE SERVICE BEATS NET DATING September 6, 2009 THE online dating experience tends to involve browsing endless pictures of strangers before plumping for someone based on a mutual interest in alcohol. This is not always a successful recipe. I’ve had one date spill an entire pint of beer over me, while another informed me very loudly that she’d slept with her previous date [...]
Greece is Europe’s top spot to soak up the September sun September 6, 2009 THE beauty of Greece is so extreme that even hordes of tourists can’t ruin it – in a lesser country, the likes of Mykonos, Corfu, Crete and Santorini would have become touristic hellholes by now. Though they remain gems, there’s no doubt that the Greek islands are crowded. For anyone seeking that rare thing, a [...]
OTHER TOP AUTUMN DESTINATIONS September 6, 2009 JordanMid-September is the start of the peak season in Jordan, as the weather starts to cool off. Voyage Jules Verne have a package that includes return flights from Gatwick, three nights at the Petra Palace, four nights in Aqaba and a tour of the Dead Sea. For an extra £65, they will also give you [...]
TRAVEL NOTES September 6, 2009 Ultimate Alpine luxury for the ski seasonIf you really want to do it in style this winter, look no further than VIP Chalets and its all-new Platinum Collection of super-chalets. Want your personal chef to agree bespoke menus before you go? Done. Personal Alpine chauffeur? No problem. Private cinema to go with your hot tub [...]
Strauss hits out as sloppy England toil September 6, 2009 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss lamented his side’s poor batting display as Australia opened up a 2-0 lead in the second one-dayer of the seven-match series at Lord’s. Chasing 250 to win, England looked comfortable at 74-0, only for four top order wickets to fall for just 23 runs. Paul Collingwood tried his best to recover [...]