UK manufacturing does not need favours – but it deserves a better press March 11, 2012 BRITAIN’S greatness was built upon the brains and brawn of our industrial revolution. Excepting sporadic flourishes of genius, we hit our stride when great minds turned their energies to the tasks of extracting, designing, building and moving the world’s wants. Machines replaced the labour of men, so those born poor could work their family out [...]
ETF portfolios will transform investing March 11, 2012 THE inability of many active managers to beat their index over a year should shock investors. Their failure over a longer period of time should have them running for the hills. Through luck or judgement some outperform, but often not for long, and picking those that do is a lottery. Investors of the future may [...]
FTSE books biggest rise for a month as optimism increases March 8, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index recorded its biggest daily rise in over a month yesterday, boosted by optimism about the US economic outlook as well as the outcome of Greece’s debt negotiations, although charts indicated that momentum could falter. Cyclical stocks, which tend to perform in tandem with economic growth, rose as US jobless claims data [...]
Greece helps US regain week’s loss March 8, 2012 US stocks rose yesterday, recovering most of the week’s losses, after Greece moved closer to a bond swap with private creditors to avoid a messy default. Earlier in the week, the S&P 500 posted its first big loss for the year on fears of a disorderly default in Greece. Now it is down just 0.3 [...]
Miners, banks and positive US jobs data lift blue chip index March 7, 2012 R ECENTLY beaten down mining stocks and banks rallied yesterday to help haul Britain’s leading shares index higher, as above-forecast US private payrolls data provided a positive signal ahead of Friday’s key US February jobs report. The ADP National Employment Report said the US private sector added 216,000 jobs last month, topping economists’ expectations for [...]
US stocks reverse three day decline March 7, 2012 U S stocks broke a three-day losing streak yesterday, recovering some recent losses after a report showed the US private sector added more jobs than expected last month. After suffering their worst decline in three months on Tuesday, stocks received an early lift after payroll processor ADP said US private employers picked up the pace [...]
FTSE sees biggest fall since November over Greek drama March 6, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index ploughed down through support levels yesterday as slowing global growth and Greece’s dithering over its debt swap plan intensified pressure on riskier assets, prompting a flight to safety and sparking fears of a deeper sell-off. London’s blue chip index, which is heavily weighted towards riskier banking and commodity stocks, posted its [...]
Dow drops more than 200 points March 6, 2012 THE Dow dropped more than 200 points yesterday, handing Wall Street its worst day in almost three months on renewed fears of a disorderly default in Greece and concerns that China’s slowdown would hit global growth. Analysts have expected a pullback for weeks, citing an overstretched market. Despite the day’s decline, the S&P 500 is [...]
A firm fuelled by the same spirit as the Olympic and Paralympic Games March 6, 2012 COUNTDOWN TO THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES 142 DAYS TO GO Mike Sharrock is the man helping BP to bring twenty-first century energy to the London 2012 Games Q. WHAT WAS YOUR BRAND’S PRIMARY REASON FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH THE GAMES ? A. BP has had its home in London for over 100 years now, [...]