Startup Britons: Pitch to Branson April 15, 2012 RESEARCH released to launch the Nectar Business Small Business Awards suggests that over a quarter (28 per cent) of Brits claim to have an idea for a completely new invention or service. Of course, every idea isn’t a winner, but for those that would like to see if they have what it takes there are [...]
Miners lead FTSE higher on hopes of strong economic growth in China April 12, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index hit a one-week closing high yesterday as mining stocks jumped on market talk that China, the world’s biggest metals consumer, could report strong economic growth numbers today. Economists polled by Reuters in March forecast that China’s GDP expanded 8.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2012 versus a year earlier. [...]
Second day of bounce back on Wall Street April 12, 2012 US stocks scored a second day of solid gains yesterday, led by materials and energy stocks, as investors set aside weak figures on the domestic labour market. Rumours about strong growth figures due overnight from China helped wash away some of the worries that hit stocks during a five-day streak of losses that ended with [...]
Banks lead FTSE to a rebound in spite of jitters over the Eurozone April 11, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index rebounded from a three-session slide yesterday as a rise in banking stocks following a positive broker comment and gains in mining shares boosted the index. The FTSE 100 index closed up 39.19 points, or 0.7 per cent at 5,634.74, reversing a downward spiral when the index surrendered almost all its remaining [...]
Good earnings help US shares bounce back April 11, 2012 AN encouraging start to earnings season helped US stocks rebound yesterday five days of losses that pushed the S&P 500 below a key technical level. Equities cut gains late in the session after the Federal Reserve said rising energy costs were a concern for economic growth. Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said the economy would [...]
FTSE loses almost all its 2012 gains on renewed fears for the Eurozone April 10, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index plunged yesterday to surrender almost all its remaining 2012 gains, led by falls in risk-sensitive miners, oils, and banking stocks after last Friday’s weak US jobs data undermined global economic expectations. The FTSE 100 index closed down 128.12 points, or 2.2 per cent, at 5,595.55, its second biggest percentage fall of [...]
Slide worsens across the US stock markets April 10, 2012 THE SELL-OFF in US stocks accelerated yesterday, as the Dow and S&P 500 dropped for a fifth day, with the pullback coming on the cusp of earnings season. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 213.66 points, or 1.65 per cent, to 12,715.93 at the close. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 23.61 points, or [...]
Sterling bulls shouldn’t charge before they look April 10, 2012 DESPITE last week’s stronger than expected UK macroeconomic data suggesting that the economy was in a better state heading into the second half of the year, the outlook remains mixed for the pound against its dollar and euro pairs. While a position against the common currency remains the best way for sterling bulls to profit, [...]
Looking out for a sign of further quantitative easing April 10, 2012 VOLATILITY has returned to the forex market on the back of last week’s US macroeconomic news, adding to uncertainty about the US recovery. The Federal Reserve says it does not see the need for further quantitative easing (QE3) at this time, with the Fed’s shift to a more hawkish bias due to a string of [...]