MBA students go gaga over lessons from pop stars September 14, 2011 LOOK along the business books section in a bookshop and you will find many tomes that promise to teach you how to invest like Warren Buffett or to learn from Bill Gates how a start-up can turn you into a billionaire. But alongside those you will also find another sub-genre of books that promise to [...]
FOREX ANALYST PICKS September 13, 2011 FOREX STRATEGIST JOHN KICKLIGHTER My pick: Long dollar-yen above ¥77.75 Expertise: Fundamental analysis with risk management Average time frame of trades: 1 day to 1 week Conditions are not very favourable for intermediate swings for either euro or dollar-based pairs. For the euro, the progress of the region’s crisis is a constant battle between market [...]
OBAMA’S JOB PLAN BRINGS CALLS FOR QE3 September 12, 2011 AT THE end of last week, investors were digesting President Obama’s proposed $447bn jobs package. This was significantly bigger than the $300bn expected, and the hope is that it will encourage firms to start hiring again. But everything comes with a cost, and savings will have to be made elsewhere. The President has passed these [...]
THE TIPSTER September 11, 2011 LAST week’s intervention by the Swiss National Bank and some affirmative action to try to stimulate the economy by President Obama suggest that we’ll see more of this Keynesian approach to policy in the months ahead. The bottom line is if it’s translating into cheap money then expect equity markets to find cheer off the [...]
Obama urges new stimulus September 8, 2011 AMERICA looks set for yet another double-pronged dose of government stimulus, after President Barack Obama launched his “American Jobs Act” late last night, and Fed chief Ben Bernanke hinted at more monetary easing. Obama urged Congress to vote through his $447bn (£280bn) programme of tax cuts and government spending hikes, repeating the words “pass this [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 8, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES DEADLINE LOOMS TO OUT SECRET SUITORS Companies covertly circling UK acquisition targets are being warned by advisers that they risk the disclosure of their identities to the market in coming days if they pursue bid talks. On 19 September, the UK Takeover Panel, which regulations M&A of public companies, brings into force new rules [...]
Wall St slumps on Fed speech September 8, 2011 US stocks closed sharply lower yesterday after Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke gave no indications of new stimulus measures to boost the flagging economy in a keenly awaited speech. Investors have been looking to Bernanke, who gave his outlook on the US economy yesterday, and other policymakers to address a host of concerns from slowing [...]
America’s consumers perk up yet recovery is still slow and bumpy September 7, 2011 CONSUMER spending increased slightly in most US Federal Reserve Districts, according to the central bank’s latest Beige Book, published last night. Published eight times a year, yesterday’s edition highlighted the risks facing the US economy as activity slowed in several regions. Economic uncertainty is blamed for reduced forecasts across the country, and New York suffered [...]
German voters won’t bankroll peripheral profligacy forever September 6, 2011 WHILE Greece and Italy continue to take a hammering in the bond markets, traders are today shifting their gaze to Germany, as its constitutional court decides on whether the bailouts are legal. Under article 103 of the Maastricht Treaty, “neither the Community or any other member state is liable for or can assume the commitments [...]
Gold price hits new record over recession fears September 6, 2011 Spot gold has climbed more than 1.5 per cent to a record high above $1,920, as fears over the worsening eurozone debt crisis and stalled global growth have driven investors into safe havens. This is the 12th record high that spot gold has reached since the beginning of August, and the rally is expected to [...]