US manufacturing contracts for the first time since 2012 – has it just scuppered Janet Yellen’s plans for an interest rate hike? December 1, 2015 Unnerving times for Fed-watchers, after figures published today showed US manufacturing contracted in November for the first time since 2012. The Institute for Supply Management's New Orders Index registered a score of 48.9 per cent in November, four percentage points lower than November's 52.9 per cent – and its weakest since June 2009. For those nervously [...]
The Fed will clear things up for Aberdeen and co. November 30, 2015 Aberdeen Asset Management boss Martin Gilbert was in a bullish mood yesterday, insisting that his firm posted "a great set of numbers considering emerging markets are so out of fashion”. Emerging markets did, indeed, fall out of fashion earlier in the year – largely accounting for the £12.7bn worth of outflows that Aberdeen racked up [...]
Wall St dips with health and retail falls – New York Report November 30, 2015 Declines in health and consumer shares yesterday weighed on the market as investors braced for policy news from central banks. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 78.57 points, or 0.44 per cent, to 17,719.92, the S&P 500 lost 9.65 points, or 0.46 per cent, to 2,080.46 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 18.86 points, or 0.37 [...]
China dominates sentiment in listless market – eToro Tips & Picks November 30, 2015 If there are no unexpected developments in the Middle East or any other major news events, the next few days are likely to be reasonably quiet for the US and European markets. Investors seem to be watching and waiting ahead of Friday’s US non-farm payrolls report and Janet Yellen’s speech. Even if the markets [...]
Aberdeen Asset Management’s chief executive Martin Gilbert wants a Fed rate rise in December to avoid emerging market sell-off November 30, 2015 We need the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in December, was the message from the chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management Martin Gilbert. He told City A.M. a Fed rate hike “won't cause problems in the emerging markets (Ems) because it's been so well signalled. “The problem is if the Fed doesn't raise rates, it [...]
Pound falls below $1.50 for the first time since April 2015 as euro falls to seven-month low against the dollar November 30, 2015 The value of the pound fell below $1.50 today for the first time since April, thanks to the ever-strengthening dollar – just as the euro dropped to $1.0577, its lowest since March this year and the second lowest since 2003. The pound fell as low as $1.4999 this morning as the dollar continued its rapid ascent. The dollar has gained [...]
Fed nears last hurdle for rise interest rates – New York Report November 29, 2015 Data due out on Friday is expected to show that US non-farm payrolls increased by 200,000 in November, keeping the jobless rate at a seven-year low of five per cent. But even if the figures disappointed somewhat, the Federal Reserve is still expected to hike rates at its meeting on 16 December given near full [...]
Gold falls to a near six-year low on strong dollar and expectations for a US interest rate rise in December November 27, 2015 Gold slipped to its lowest level in nearly six years today, as it headed for its sixth straight weekly decline. The precious metal has come under pressure from a strong dollar and heightened expectations that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade at its meeting in December. Spot [...]
Turkey shoots down Russian plane: Investors seek safety after Vladimir Putin’s strong remarks November 25, 2015 Vladimir Putin’s strong worded remarks following the downing of a Russian jet along the Turkish-Syrian border saw investors turn to safe havens and caused market jitters yesterday. The Russian President called Turkey’s actions a "stab in the back" and accused the country of being an "accomplice of terrorists". Putin, whose country has close economic ties [...]
Fed interest rate hike decision: Why I’m long the dollar – whatever history says November 23, 2015 With the US Federal Reserve expected to raise rates for the first time since 2004 next month, should every man and his dog be long dollar? Or is this a good example of a “buy the rumour, sell the news” rally? Looking at the statistics of the eight Fed rate hike cycles since 1971, [...]