Looking at the divergence of the Shanghai Composite index and the Dow Industrials over the last 3 years or so is staggering. In 2011 the Chinese index lost 20% of its value and it now sits at 2,106, down 17% in the last year and down 62% versus its peak of 5,589 in 2007 before…
The table below which depicts the number of failing retail business makes for shocking read. The situation on the high street is not just bad but downright dire. When chains collapse into administration, a good many of them emerge from the controversial “pre pack” administration arrangement in essentially the same format but importantly shorne of…
After seemingly being stuck at 77p-78p for weeks with warrants due to be exercised, Xcite Energy has suddenly perked up with a 6% rise to 85p. There’s been plenty of rumours of farm-in’s with BP, Statoil etc and precious little news out from the company on the extended well test in the Bentley Field for over…
It’s another beautiful day in the northern Greek city of Volos. The sun is shining in a perfectly clear sky, and in the main streets the bars are packed and the restaurants are busy. At first glance, you would never guess that the city is in the grip of an economic crisis. ‘I am tired…
As well as John Paulson’s troubles at his hedge funds, the wider hedge fund industry is also struggling to outperform their benchmark indices and gain a handle on where the market is heading in the remainder of 2012. For example, the U.S. focused RBC Capital Markets Hedge 250 index was up 2.7% this year to…
The commodity sector seems to have been beset by nothing but a long list troubles of late, not helped by plunging commodity prices. It seems that management of many of the major commodity plays has gotten complacement about prices after the meltdown of 2008. Belief in the commodity “super-cycle” is still alive and well after…
Monday, August 20, 2012 UK Reporting:- Amlin Plc, AML, (R), Amlin Plc, AML, e, (CC), Bovis Homes Group Plc, BVS, (R), Bovis Homes Group Plc, BVS, e, (CC) S&P 500 Reporting:- Lowe’s Cos Inc, Q2, 0.701, Urban Outfitters Inc, Q2, 0.327 S&P 500 Ex Dividends (gross):- Cummins Inc, CMI, (.50), Invesco Ltd, IVZ, (.1725), Microchip…
The stock markets have ground higher throughout the summer holiday period as the soothing perception of ever-lasting support from the Central Banks appears to have placed a floor under prices. Summer markets are traditionally slower – trading volumes diminish and tough decisions are put on the back burner as investors concentrate on family, holidays and…
In the midst of a so called “summer”, with volumes very low, it is often the case that the main stock market indices can move around in quite a volatile way. Not this year however with a slow grind higher being experienced week by week in total contrast to last summer where bad news on…
