GOLD Volatility on gold remains modest with the spot price continuing a slow dance just above the threshold of $1,700 while traders await fresh directional input. Despite European stocks in red this morning, investors are not rushing to buy gold, meaning that they don’t see this correction on stock markets as a reaction to April's…
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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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Key data points Bold indicates the most important releases for this symbol. Tuesday 12 May, 1.30 GMT: Chinese annual inflation (April) - consensus 3.7%, previous 4.3% Tuesday 12 May, 12.30 GMT: American annual core inflation (April) - consensus 1.7%, previous 2.1% Tuesday 12 May, 12.30 GMT: American annual inflation (April) - consensus 0.4%, previous 1.5%…
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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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ASIC reported an increase in retail activity across the securities market during the Covid-19 period. The Commission’s market analysis shows the turbulent environment of the market increases the risk of loses, especially for retail investors. ASIC has found that some retail investors engage in short term trading strategies unsuccessfully attempting to time price trends. When choosing…
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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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