Bernanke may hint at more stimulus at Jackson Hole August 31, 2012 Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will likely acknowledge the US central bank is actively considering another round of monetary easing in his keynote Jackson Hole speech today. But the Fed chief could disappoint fidgety financial markets if he stops short of signalling another bond-buying program is imminent, which many analysts say is a strong possibility. [...]
Wall St treads water ahead of Jackson Hole August 30, 2012 US stocks fell yesterday after several days of muted trading as investors took a defensive posture before Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke’s much-awaited speech today. Bernanke, due to speak to central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, at 1400 GMT today, is expected to keep markets guessing about the timing of another round of bond purchases. [...]
US economy in slow recovery, report reveals August 29, 2012 THE US economy is slowly but steadily recovering, a tranche of releases from official bodies and industry groups said yesterday. Retail and car sales were driving a gradually growing economy, the Federal Reserve said in its Beige Book report of anecdotal evidence, but they also warned of a slowdown in manufacturing expansion. And the US [...]
Light trading in US ahead of Jackson Hole August 29, 2012 US stocks edged higher yesterday in the lightest trading of the year as investors waited for a key speech by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday. Daily volume this week has been very low, even for a seasonally slow period, with the market recording three of the four lowest volume full sessions of 2012. [...]
US consumers keep tight hold on their wallets August 28, 2012 US CONSUMER confidence collapsed in August, according to data released by the Conference Board, just as the Richmond Fed said decline in the manufacturing industry slowed down in the same month. Consumer confidence was at its worst level for nine months, the Conference Board’s index showed, dropping to 60.6, down from 65.4 in July and [...]
FTSE flat as gloomy forecasts from Japan highlight worldwide slump August 28, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index ended flat yesterday, with the market stagnating as expectations for economic stimulus measures were countered by concerns over global growth, which was reinforced by gloomy forecasts from Japan. The government in Tokyo cut its economic assessment yesterday, citing the impact of a slowdown in the United States and China on top [...]
Trading light in US as investors wait on the Fed August 28, 2012 US stocks ended little changed in another day of scarce activity yesterday after mixed economic data gave investors little reason to shift their focus from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke’s speech on Friday. The Fed chief is scheduled to address a conference of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and could announce new measures to [...]
Fed gave $46bn half-year profit to Washington August 27, 2012 THE FEDERAL Reserve gave a boost to the government’s balance sheet in the first half of the year, according to accounts released yesterday, whose unprecedented publication came after pressure to increase transparency following the credit crunch. The US central bank generated $47.5bn profit in the six months to June, of which it gave $46.4bn to [...]
Something for everyone in forecasting equity markets August 27, 2012 FOR such a highly paid group of professionals the great and the good of the financial markets have been behaving in somewhat lemming-like fashion once again. Rather than judging important allocation decisions based on economic and stock fundamentals, it’s been more about “will they or won’t they”. There we were, for example, in the early [...]
Apple on a high after court win August 27, 2012 US stocks were barely changed in light volume yesterday as investors waited for signs from central banks about stimulating the weak economy, though Apple’s shares hit a record high after a major court victory. Apple rose two per cent to $676.56 after the iPad maker won a $1bn judgment in a patent lawsuit against Samsung [...]