CREDIT REPORT June 8, 2009 SOVEREIGN debt markets dominated headlines yesterday after recession-torn Ireland saw its issuance downgraded by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) for the second time in under three months. The ratings agency cut Irish bonds to “AA” from “AA+”, after removing its top “AAA” rating in March, on fears the Eurozone nation may be unable to meet the [...]
Picking the right provider is vital for spread betters June 7, 2009 WITH volatility sitting comfortably at just below the 30 level on the Vix – a far cry from the high eighties reached post-Lehman – and the FTSE 100 range bound since early May, spread betters can no longer rely on massive swings in shares prices for their profits. This means it is increasingly important to [...]
THE TIPSTER June 7, 2009 THE political chaos that is Westminster is dominating the headlines at the moment: Gordon Brown is clinging to the premiership by a thread while cabinet ministers jump ship and call for his resignation. Whether he’ll go sooner or later, it’s worth taking a punt on how many seats the main parties are likely to win [...]
THE LONDON REPORT June 7, 2009 CORPORATE data due out this week could help to steer the market, particularly with regards to retailer and consumer stocks, while investors in Independent News & Media will be hoping for an update on the future of the ailing publisher at its annual meeting on Wednesday. Today’s 17-week trading statement from JD Sports Fashion is [...]
UK FUTURE IS NOT AS BLEAK AS ELSEWHERE June 7, 2009 JANE FOLEYRESEARCH DIRECTOR, FOREX.COMNOW that the panic that followed the collapse of Lehman last September has subsided, the demands on policymakers have altered. What was needed at the height of the financial crisis was a quick and heavy-handed response to prevent the world economy sliding into depression. Now that economic data is suggesting that the [...]
Gain an insight into the FX markets over breakfast June 7, 2009 FOREIGN exchange trading is growing in popularity, particularly among the private investing community, who are taking advantage of the liquidity of the asset class. To give an exclusive insight into the currency markets, CityAM and foreign exchange provider Alpari (UK) have joined forces to put on two free forex breakfast seminars, focusing on the [...]
Optimists start to look towards cyclical equities June 7, 2009 SPREAD betting on individual equities or sectors is a tricky task, especially at the moment when the timing of an economic recovery is still not entirely certain. Overall sentiment is picking up but companies are still downbeat about their future prospects – so how can spread betters try to make sense of the equity markets [...]
MARTIN ON THE MARKETS June 7, 2009 THE markets will have to digest a constant barrage of rumours and supposition over the future of Gordon Brown as well as the incumbent government this week, with any continued uncertainty likely to weigh on the UK markets. UK industrial and manufacturing production numbers will be watched for signs of improvement on Wednesday after the [...]
Large cap index flat as lack of direction stalls progress June 4, 2009 Gains in energy stocks, pharmaceuticals and banks outweighed losses in miners yesterday, leaving the FTSE 100 0.1 per cent, or 3.52 points, higher at 4,386.94. “The market’s evenly balanced. It’s discounting good news so although it may go higher over the next few weeks, it is slightly overvalued,” said Graham Secker, equity strategist at Morgan [...]
Dow rallies as oil keeps on climbing June 4, 2009 US MARKETS booked gains yesterday as the financial sector rebounded and energy and materials stocks became the subject of renewed buying activity. Oil prices were a major contributor, with crude futures closing up $2.69 at $68.81 per barrel – a seven-month closing high helped by Goldman Sach’s decision to boost its target price for the [...]