FTSE edges up despite fears over US debt ceiling and Europe’s GDP January 15, 2013 BRITISH blue-chip stocks edged up yesterday after a choppy day as the index managed to consolidate above 6,100 despite testing support with concerns weighing over the US debt ceiling and growth in Europe. The FTSE 100 twice dipped below the 6,100 level, but recovered on both occasions following weakness in early and midday trade. The [...]
Apple drags on market despite retail data hike January 15, 2013 The Dow and S&P 500 edged higher yesterday after stronger-than-expected retail data, though tech heavyweight Apple dragged on the market for a third straight day. Apple was the biggest weight on both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 after reports on Monday of cuts to orders for iPhone parts. Shares declined 3.2 per cent to [...]
The weaker yen isn’t a panacea for Japan’s ails January 15, 2013 JAPAN’S new government has wasted little time in trying to free the country from deflation, economic stagnation and a strong currency. It intends to act aggressively. It has “three-arrows” within its arsenal: bold monetary policy, flexible fiscal policy, and a growth agenda. The yen’s recent slide suggests that the market currently has faith that these [...]
Europe will dominate audit in 2013 January 15, 2013 Involvement with the EU on legislation and regulation is crucial THE Mayans’ reputation as expert astrologers and doomsday forecasters recently took a knock when 21 December 2012 came – and safely went. You could argue that we shouldn’t have paid so much attention to this forecast, given that the Mayans spectacularly failed to predict there [...]
FTSE falls from four-year high as analysts warn on energy shares January 14, 2013 BRITAIN’S leading shares fell yesterday after touching a 4-1/2 year high early in the session, with technical analysts noting the index could be set for a minor correction. Energy stocks, among Friday’s biggest gainers, were the main drag on blue-chip sentiment as Nomura warned that the sector was inexpensive for a reason and attractive price-to-earnings [...]
Apple stocks take a bite out of US markets January 14, 2013 THE S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended lower yesterday as worries over demand for Apple products drove down its shares and as investors braced for earnings disappointments. But Dell’s stock jumped 13 per cent to about a five-month high at $12.29, offsetting some of the tech-sector weakness, after Bloomberg reported the number three personal computer maker [...]
Misplaced optimism in the European markets January 14, 2013 EUROPEAN equities yesterday took a knock, finishing the session at a near one week low. As reports of lackluster demand for Apple’s iPhone 5 triggered a sell-off in US markets, some investors on this side of the Atlantic followed suit and booked profits on the recent strong bull-run in the European market. Disappointing demand for [...]
The Tipster | Punch Drunk January 14, 2013 ALTHOUGH shares in J D Wetherspoon are up by 24 per cent over the last year, continued pressure on its margins, and no major sporting events in 2013, mean that it may not be a cheerful year for the pub chain. ETX Capital quotes a price of 516.22p-519.78p. Shares in ASOS more than doubled in 2012. [...]
Little Christmas cheer for retail January 14, 2013 Chief Market Strategist, Cantor Index THE official retail activity figures, which are posted monthly or at specific times like Christmas, are accurate but often indecipherable to the layman. The small print is where the message is. And the most recent figures suggest that Christmas was great for some, but brutal for others. The situation was [...]
Improved outlook rouses investors January 14, 2013 US housing revival could give boost to sales of associated products WE’RE off to a flying start. The first full week of trading in 2013 saw US equity funds attract $18.3bn (£11.4bn). This was, according to Thomson Reuters’s Lipper service, the fourth best-performing week for net inflows to equity funds since records began. For the [...]