22 February 2012, 4:33 pm
Disapointing PMI data suggests European economy struggling to grow in 1st Qtr
Drinks can maker, Rexam, at three year highs (increased profits of 15%)
Telecoms is worst performing sector
Yesterday, European markets once again slid back as this week’s earlier optimism has been tempered by disappointing PMI data out of the Eurozone core.
These PMI figures seemed to [...]
16 February 2012, 5:21 pm
CFD trading markets have traded with a much softer tone today as concerns about deteriorating relations between Greek and EU politicians fuel a suspicion that a Greece default is imminent.
Despite closing well off their intraday lows, concerns still remain that the continuing delays in wrapping up this running sore with talk of looking at [...]
15 February 2012, 12:12 pm
Over the past weeks the CFD trading markets have weathered disappointing news from the Euro-region including downgrades, missed deadlines for financial aid and slowing growth.
Despite all this, markets remained strong throughout the new year, indicating that the resolution of the European sovereign has already been priced in.
It remained to be seen if the [...]
9 February 2012, 1:42 pm
The Bank of England today kept rates on hold and announced an increase to the scale of asset purchases under a second phase of quantitative easing by £50bn, as expected.
The CFD trading market had long been expecting an increase of £50bn and the Bank of England delivered on that expectation.
However, as much of the increase [...]
8 February 2012, 5:05 pm
European equity markets have traded in a holding pattern with all eyes fixed on Athens with a slightly negative bias into the close as the uncertainty surrounding a possible Greek deal keeps investors on the side-lines.
With meetings between Greek political leaders, currently taking place as we head into the close, the potential for a [...]
7 February 2012, 5:17 pm
Equity markets continue to trade cautiously mixed, despite speculation that a Greek loan deal is close.
This is likely to be a case of ‘once bitten, thrice shy’ with respect to talk of imminent deals out of Greece, hence the markets reticence to get ahead of itself given that we have been disappointed so many [...]
2 February 2012, 5:15 pm
European Markets
European markets were mixed as sentiment see-sawed on poor earnings and a surging mining sector.
The basic resource sector led from the front as Xstrata Plc. confirmed media speculation regarding a merger approach from Glencore International Plc.
Unilever languished at the bottom following a profit warning and worse than expected profits in Q4.
Drug maker AstraZeneca [...]
31 January 2012, 9:59 am
A combination of some encouraging data out of the Eurozone and a dovish Fed policy has been driving the markets in the previous week.
Listless and lacklustre action left the FTSE 100 to slog along in undecided territory, while the German DAX logged a fourth consecutive week of gains.
Gold prices jumped on Thursday after [...]
26 January 2012, 4:27 pm
European markets have enjoyed good gains today, hitting their highest levels since early August last year, after yesterday’s surprise decision by the Fed to pre-commit to a lower rate policy until late 2014, well beyond market expectations.
Talk that Greece’s creditors were ready to accept a lower coupon rate of less than 4% also leant [...]
25 January 2012, 4:48 pm
European markets opened marginally higher with sentiment boosted by the outstanding quarterly results from Apple.
Sentiment subsided as the financial sector declined following suggestions from European Finance ministers that Private Sector involvement with regards to Greek debt would have to be ramped up.
UK Q4 GDP surprised to the downside falling 0.2% from the third [...]