FTSE 100 gains as furlough scheme extended Large cap London-listed stocks enjoyed a positive day yesterday, with the UK market closing before the US sell-off began. Helping sentiment was the news that the Treasury’s furlough scheme, which is currently funding millions of workers to stay at home, is being extended to October. The Bank of…
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OIL Investors are betting on a V-shaped recovery for economies and a similar scenario on oil demand. Moreover, they are seemingly confident that there will be space in Cushing’s oil tanks at the expiries of the contracts in the coming months. All this sounds a bit too optimistic but what we have seen is that…
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UK stocks flat after lockdown guideline confusion Both large cap and mid cap London-listed stocks posted a near flat day on Monday, after a confusing day in which the Prime Minister was forced to put out a substantial clarification about the advice he provided on the lifting of lockdown measures over the weekend. His statement…
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EUROPEAN SHARES Despite a mixed trading session in Asia, EU share markets ticked higher on Monday as investors digested reassuring virus updates from Italy, France and the UK. Investors who were already betting on the recovery were pleased to see these three European countries registering their lowest death rates since March, ahead of lockdown easing…
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FTSE climbs despite Bank of England warning UK markets were closed on Friday for a public holiday, but the FTSE 100 gained more than 3% between Monday and Thursday, while the FTSE 250 had a positive but more pedestrian week. The shortened week ended on a high, with the FTSE 100 gaining 1.4% on Thursday…
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EUROPEAN SHARES European equities edged higher on Friday, extending the significant advance registered yesterday amid rising investor appetite for riskier assets. Market sentiment has been given a fresh boost by a reportedly “constructive” phone call between the US and China yesterday and investors were relieved to hear the two blocs were moving on with the…
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Education publisher Pearson was the biggest loser in the FTSE 100 for the day, closing 8.2% down. Again, insurers featured heavily among the biggest winners in the FTSE 250 on Wednesday, with Hiscox jumping 9.6%, and Direct Line 4.5%. FTSE 100: +0.1% Wednesday, -22.4% YTD FTSE 250: +0.7% Wednesday, -27% YTD What to watch Bristol-Myers…
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GOLD The gold price is slightly suffering against the renewed strength of the greenback. The spot price dropped below $1,700 once again, but the decline has been modest so far and it’s not changing the main trend, which remains supportive for bullion. It will be crucial for the spot price to hold above $1,670, as…
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EUROPEAN SHARES Uncertainty reigns on risky assets in the middle of the week as investors around the world are now torn between contrasting drivers. On the one hand traders know that the peak of the virus is likely to have passed and the end of the crisis may be in sight, paving the way for…
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UK car sales lowest since 1946 London-listed stocks rose on Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 closing 1.7% higher, despite disastrous figures on UK car sales and negative economic data. New car registrations fell 97% in April versus the same month last year, with only 4,321 cars registered, according to a trade body. That figure is…
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