A week full of stock results: what to watch October 10, 2011 TO say we live in interesting economic times would be an understatement. Confidence is low and money is tight. And retail stocks often show investor nerves more prominently than other markets. But it isn’t all bad news: volatility in the market can serve to make the life of the spread better more exciting. So with [...]
THE TIPSTER October 10, 2011 GOOGLE has been under some pressure recently from two other US powerhouses in the shape of Facebook and Apple. Facebook is becoming ever more competitive in the advertising sector, while Apple is still leading the way with its tablet and phone devices. However, the launch of its new social media venture, Google Plus, will be [...]
Markets focused on support for European banks October 9, 2011 DESPITE a positive surprise on the all-important non-farm payrolls number from the US on Friday, beating the vast majority of analysts’ estimates, American stock indices still closed with a negative bias on the day. The gains in hiring workers were still not enough to offset the unemployment rate, which remained high at 9.1 per cent. [...]
WALL STREET WEEK AHEAD October 9, 2011 INVESTORS tiring of the Eurozone’s debt crisis dragging the market all over the place are hoping to focus on something else this week – earnings. But will third-quarter results be enough to drive the S&P 500 higher? Or will Europe’s woes get in the way? The unofficial start of earnings season begins tomorrow, when Dow [...]
Stress tests failed to test banks October 9, 2011 THE downgrade of a dozen UK banks and eight Portuguese banks on Friday morning ended another tumultuous week in the European banking sector. The Greek farce has dragged on so long that it has fallen from the headlines, despite its potential to bring Europe crashing down around our ears. Instead, focus has shifted to the [...]
THE WEEK AHEAD October 9, 2011 COMPANY NEWS ● Burberry will make its second quarter trading statement on Wednesday. China has been driving demand for luxury European goods, but there have been signs that this demand is beginning to abate, which will not bode well for the UK brand. ● Hargreaves Lansdown will release an interim management statement on Thursday. Many [...]
THE TIPSTER October 9, 2011 THOUGH Premier Foods served up a healthy slice of humble pie for investors with the profits warning last week, can this mark a turning point for the company? With mounting debts and falling sales it is certainly in something of a pickle so pressure will build to move ahead with the disposal of peripheral brands [...]
The printing press is whirring again: What does it mean for spread betters October 9, 2011 KATHLEEN BROOKS | FOREX.COM THE major surprise from last week was not only that the Bank of England would pump another £75bn into the UK economy, but also the resilience of the pound. Sterling rallied against all of the major currencies last week and reversed its initial decline immediately after the announcement. So is the [...]
Legal industry shake up is a business opportunity October 9, 2011 THE Legal Services Act has just come into force and it threatens to decimate high street legal firms. For years, in legal seminars across England and Wales, high street lawyers have been crying out against it. The new law hopes to create competition, but many have warned it could squeeze out smaller firms who lack [...]
NO END IN SIGHT: SMALL BUSINESS BANKING WOES October 9, 2011 I RUN a small but fast-growing group of pubs called The Draft House. We’re known for selling a wide range of craft beer, simple food and – I hope – a warm welcome. In 2009, we were days away from opening our second site in Northcote Road, Clapham. We were managing our cash carefully but [...]
