What you need to know before the open April 9, 2014 Something of a mixed open expected for European markets today, with the Fed’s open market committee minutes out later on. They could shed some more light on the decision to lose the 6.5 per cent guidance threshold on unemployment. The US saw a positive session yesterday, but there's still worry over how things will pan [...]
US banks forced to hold $68bn in extra capital April 8, 2014 THE BIGGEST banks in America are to be forced to hold billions of dollars of extra capital, after regulators introduced a tough new leverage ratio last night. The Federal Reserve has issued new rules which dictate the banks must lift the percentage of equity to total assets they hold to five per cent, higher than [...]
Mix it up: Take some time to consider the ryes and the wherefores April 8, 2014 @philip_salter WE LIVE in an age obsessed with what we eat. We want to know it all – down to whether the dead animal on our plate had an emotionally fulfilling life; if her parents were of good stock; and whether she suffered from dandruff. Yet many of us throw back alcohol without even knowing [...]
What you need to know before the US open April 8, 2014 US stocks futures suggest a lower open for markets today, following the sharp sell-off seen yesterday and other global equities trading in the red today. The S&P 500 has been in negative territory for three days in a row; today would be the fourth. It’s also the start of earnings season in the US, with [...]
What you need to know before the open April 8, 2014 A lower open for European markets this morning, as they continue the sell-off seen yesterday. With first quarter earnings season beginning in the US, stocks have seen some sharp declines. Although some European companies have been affected, markets will remain safely above their recent range lows. Having said that, ongoing tension over Ukraine remains in [...]
How QE has harmed the economy April 7, 2014 LET ME begin with a confession. I admire former Fed chair Ben Bernanke for undertaking quantitative easing (QE) back in 2008. It was a brave decision, which involved taking a bold step across an unknown monetary horizon. It was also the right decision for the time, as it prevented the money supply from collapsing – [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 08 April 2014 April 7, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES EU bank failures deal risks unravelling A landmark EU agreement on a common rulebook for handling bank failures is in danger of unravelling over the fine print restricting when a state can intervene to rescue a struggling bank. Britain is facing objections from several other member states as it scrambles to revise a [...]
How QE has harmed the economy April 7, 2014 LET ME begin with a confession. I admire former Fed chair Ben Bernanke for undertaking quantitative easing (QE) back in 2008. It was a brave decision, which involved taking a bold step across an unknown monetary horizon. It was also the right decision for the time, as it prevented the money supply from collapsing – [...]
What you need to know before the US open April 7, 2014 Last week was rounded off with a late selloff on US markets, following the latest, and disappointing, jobs report. Fed chair Janet Yellen has been trying to persuade investors that the central bank intends to keep interest rates low, taking into account a jobs market that’s “not back to normal health”. Be that as it may, [...]
What you need to know before the US open April 2, 2014 Yesterday, the S&P 500 closed at a record high of 1,885, but futures suggest a flat to slightly lower open for stocks today. There’s some noteable economic data for investors to take in, with factory orders for February later on. Private employers added 191,000 workers in March – marginally below the 195,000 forecast and suggesting [...]