What you need to know before the open April 17, 2014 European markets are expected to open flat this morning as poorer than expected results from both Google and IBM offset the well-received dovish comments of Federal Reserve chair Jane Yellen. Google shares dipped as much as five per cent in after hours trading last night, after it reported revenues for the first quarter of the [...]
Asian markets rise as Yellen reaffirms commitment to low rates April 17, 2014 Asian markets have seen minor gains after the US posted better than expected industrial production figures, and the chair of the Federal Reserve Janet Yellen reaffirmed the Fed's commitment to supporting the recovery. Investors were reassured by Yellen's remarks to the Economic Club of New York that the US would "likely require low real interest [...]
Fed regions see growth after weather shock April 17, 2014 YESTERDAY’S Federal Reserve analysis noted an improvement in business conditions since the end of severe weather earlier this year. According to the Fed’s beige book, most regions reported that the economic climate improved between February and early April. Fed chair Janet Yellen reinforced the message that policy would remain loose in a speech yesterday, saying [...]
New York Report: Yellen’s pledge to keep rates low lifts Wall St April 16, 2014 US stocks rose one per cent yesterday, advancing for a third straight session as Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to keeping interest rates low and Yahoo rallied. Data showing Chinese economic growth exceeded expectations and US industrial production rose for a second straight month also improved sentiment, though Bank of [...]
The British productivity disease: How to cure it April 16, 2014 THIS week has brought more bright economic news – with falling inflation and unemployment paving the way for rising real wages. Yet while the UK is now the fastest growing developed economy, the productivity of its workforce languishes a fifth below the G7 average. What can be done to cure this British disease? US economist [...]
What you need to know before the US open April 16, 2014 US stock futures suggest a higher open for US markets, following European counterparts and after Yahoo’s reporting of earnings that beat estimates. The S&P 500 rose 0.7 per cent yesterday, with earnings from Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson outweighing fears around the Ukraine crisis. On the data front, housing starts rose 2.8 per cent last [...]
What you need to know before the open April 16, 2014 European bourses are expected to open higher today. After a very choppy day yesterday, US markets closed up, despite Russian claims that Ukraine’s “close to civil war”. Weak GDP data from China – growth slowed to 7.4 per cent in the first quarter – could add jitters to markets, though, but there's also UK unemployment [...]
What you need to know before the US open April 15, 2014 US stock futures have edged slightly lower on the back of inflation and manufacturing data. US inflation inched up in March by 0.2 per cent, meaning an annual rate of 1.5 per cent. But the New York Empire State Manufacturing index showed business conditions in the city to be disappointing in April. The index came [...]
What you need to know before the open April 15, 2014 European markets are expected flat to mixed this morning, following yesterday’s turnaround on the back of a strong retail sales reading from the US, which quelled fears over the situation in Ukraine. The concern is, though, that investors have over-valued the retail sector. And meanwhile, there are worries that the EU’s somewhat muddled response to [...]
This week’s 4 must-see charts April 11, 2014 The Fed’s pointless rate projections, encouraging signs in the Eurozone, emerging market stocks, and subdued UK mergers and acquisitions (M&A). We bring you some of our favourite analysts’ picks of the most important graphs this week, as well as a few choices of our own. Jeremy Cook, chief economist at World First Pay no attention [...]