Energy stocks rally but RBS leads the FTSE downwards February 24, 2011 UNREST in the Middle East and North Africa hit Britain’s top shares again yesterday, though rising crude prices and upbeat comment from oil major BP on its Indian activities lifted energy stocks. The FTSE 100 closed down 3.55 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 5,919.98, pinned just below a seven-month technical support level of 5,920. [...]
Wall St falls again on Libya concerns February 24, 2011 US stocks fell for a third day yesterday as US crude oil prices hovered near $100 (£61.73) a barrel on violence in Libya. Oil’s sharp rise this week has fuelled worries about the effect of energy costs on consumers and business. US crude oil futures were at their highest since late August 2008, as the [...]
The entrepreneur who has found just the ticket February 24, 2011 IAM worried about the Olympics.” Joe Cohen, the founder and CEO of Seatwave, leans forward to explain. “They are capping the cost of all the tickets at face value, which is a stupid idea. It’s simple economics that whenever you have a situation where demand exceeds supply and you have a price cap, a black [...]
UK GRADS ARE NOT MOTIVATED FOR REAL WORK February 24, 2011 FOUNDER AND CEO OF LINKDEX WE’RE on the receiving end of a tidal wave of bad news about the economy. From government debt, to the jobs shortage and rising fuel prices. This, however, doesn’t worry me. What worries me – no, terrifies me – is the way we have, in the last 12 years, managed [...]
FTSE 100 sinks again over fears of Middle East unrest February 23, 2011 POLITICAL turmoil in Libya and the threat of contagion across the Middle East and North Africa sent Britain’s leading shares lower yesterday, testing seven-month technical support levels. The FTSE 100 index was 73.23 points, or 1.2 per cent, lower at 5,923.53, extending its declines to more than 2.5 per cent on the week. London’s blue [...]
US stocks drop on volatile oil prices February 23, 2011 US stocks dropped for a second straight session yesterday as Libya’s violence sent oil prices up briefly to $100 (£61.69) a barrel and tech shares sank, adding credence to calls for a market correction. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 107.01 points, or 0.88 per cent, at 12,105.78. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost [...]
Choppier waters sailed in quest for high returns February 23, 2011 WITH the UK equity income sector underperforming over recent times, equity funds have struggled to attract the same interest as fixed income funds. However, with the base rate so low, investors are increasingly leaving the safe waters of bond based fixed income funds in favour of the choppier waters of equity income funds, lured by [...]
Six things to check before setting up the family’s financial safety net February 23, 2011 PERSONAL insurance premiums are set to rise this year, as the market vies to boost profitability. That was the prediction last week from Axa, after it unveiled a drop in 2010 underlying earnings to £131m from £235m in 2009. So what better time to make sure you’re covered? While hunting down a competitive deal is [...]
PERSONAL FINANCE NEWS February 23, 2011 YOUNG FEMALE DRIVERS WILL PAY MORE The EU gender directive ruling, which is expected on 1 March this year, will decide whether or not it is legal for insurers to charge different premiums based on gender. Under the current rules, young female drivers pay less for their insurance than young men, based on the fact [...]
Be liked to be more successful February 23, 2011 PEOPLE are more likely to want to do business with you if they like you. But are there things that you can do to foster that chemistry? Yes, says American business writer, entrepreneur and investor Guy Kawasaki, in his new book Enchantment. Enchantment, he says, is “the process of delighting people with a product, service, [...]