Manufacturing data lifts New York January 4, 2010 US stocks climbed broadly yesterday after a report showed the manufacturing sector expanded for a fifth straight month, lifting confidence in the global economy as investors eye fourth quarter earnings. The rally, which marked the first trading day of 2010, drove both the Dow and the S&P 500 to their highest closes in 15 months, [...]
Mining and oil stocks drive London to a 16-month high January 4, 2010 Strength in commodity stocks and banks drove Britain’s leading share index to a 16-month closing high yesterday, the first session of 2010, outweighing falls from real estate firms and life insurers. The FTSE 100 closed up 87.46 points, or 1.6 per cent, at 5,500.34, its highest close since Sept. 2, 2008 – the month when [...]
UK and European markets start year in the red January 4, 2010 UK and European stock markets are set to start the year in the red, after ending 2009 close to their highs of the year. GFT is quoting the FTSE 100 index to open down as much as 39 points from Friday’s close, at a level of 5,373. The German DAX is also expected to start [...]
Six investment trends that will move markets in this decade January 3, 2010 YOU might say that trying to predict what will happen in the markets in the next 10 years is a mug’s game. A decade ago, the dotcom bubble was still inflating and Lehman Brothers was a flourishing investment bank. Nobody could have seen what the financial world would look like by the start of 2010. [...]
Commodities and banking stocks lead Santa Claus rally December 21, 2009 BRITAIN’S top share index closed sharply higher in thin pre-Christmas trading yesterday, buoyed by commodity stocks on firmer metals and crude prices and a rally in banking equities. The FTSE 100 index ended up 97.18 points, or 1.9 per cent, at 5,293.99, posting its biggest one-day percentage gain since 1 December, with trading volumes just [...]
Nasdaq high on US healthcare hopes December 21, 2009 US STOCKS rose yesterday, with the Nasdaq hitting a 15-month high after a healthcare reform bill advanced in the Senate and brokerages upgraded two Dow components on improving profit prospects. Healthcare stocks rose after a bill to overhaul the US healthcare system, which is perceived as less damaging to industry profits than expected, passed a [...]
Keep your eyes open for black swans in the coming year December 21, 2009 1 Israel takes out Iranian nuclear capacity, triggering a popular uprising, which causes the government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to be overthrown. Western businesses begin to look more positively on the less volatile Middle Eastern region, especially oil companies and other utilities providers which can now operate in a more stable environment. This is positive for [...]
Gold loses its shine as positive US data signals move away from safety December 21, 2009 NOW could be the time to go short on gold. After a stellar performance during 2010 when the precious metal reached a record high of more than $1,200, the positive trend could be about to come to an end. Investors sold off gold futures yesterday as markets await a spate of economic data releases from [...]
PREPARE FOR A BOOM IN SILVER PRICE December 21, 2009 THE US dollar’s reversal of fortune has been swift and violent. The sudden shift in sentiment since the beginning of the month has caught many investors by surprise. What began as a correction to the steady and seemingly relentless decline of the greenback against everything but the yen has become more akin to a rout. [...]
Improved GDP numbers will add to the growing confidence in sterling December 21, 2009 ALL the signs are pointing to an upward revision to UK GDP growth this morning. The consensus among City economists is for a smaller 0.1 percent fall in GDP in the third quarter. But there is a real possibility that growth was actually stronger and could even have been flat on the quarter. A 2 [...]