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The VIX index and clues to the stock markets direction
If you’re not familiar with the CBOE Market Volatility Index the so called VIX, it’s often referred to as the “fear index” because of its tendency to rise when the market falls. What it actually does is use prices on the S&P 500 Index options to measure the market’s expected volatility over the next 30…
trading trends end of week post
Technical Analysts say that repetitive patterns are the corner stone to all charting systems and so this week I have been looking for some patterns that I can incorporate into my strategies. I already look for what are called “Inside and Outside Bars” for clues when to get into and out of trades. Having watched…
The Premier Oil and Rockhopper deal – some lessons for private investors
On Thursday, North Falklands Island oil explorer Rockhopper Exploration announced a $1 billion farm-out deal with Premier Oil in exchange for a 60 per cent stake in Rockhopper’s licences in the Islands. The deal makes Premier operator of the Sea Lion discovery with Rockhopper being the sub-surface lead as well as Premier also gaining access to…
What an (X)citing week!
What an Xciting week! Rarely do you see a share have such an up and down week on AIM when there is no real newsflow to drive it. Xcite (Yes, hands up , I own a few thousand shares, and like many other holders am slightly in the red) is one of just a…
S&P 500 technical overview
It’s been a difficult market to gauge for traders so far this year, after a stellar start to the year which saw the S&P 500 rise by 164 points or 13% to peak at 1422 on 2nd April. Technical reversal patterns then set the next stage to a low of 1266 on 4th June, which…
Chinese data soothes. for now…
After the major disappointment to investors of the FOMC minutes released this Wednesday, everyone was concerned with what could come from China overnight in terms of GDP data. If you were one of those brave souls (or just an insomniac!) waiting up until 2 am before going to bed, then you may have had a…
see no evil hear no evil
Overnight market action reflected the mixed data investors are getting on the state of the global economy. European markets ended firmly in negative territory while the DOW, after being down 112 points at one stage, rebounded to finish off 0.25%. Certainly there was some cause for renewed investor optimism withUS weekly jobless claims coming in lower than…
EURUSD continues slide
This week may have seen light news flow from Europe but it did not prevent a 1.4% loss in EURUSD in the last 4 days so far, hitting fresh 2-week lows. The core of the losses over the past 24 hours has been attributed to something we long warned about-The realization that Operation Twist from…
Morning roundup courtesy of cantor capital
UK Corporate Announcements Experian announces total revenue growth of 14% at constant FX and sees high single digit organic growth in H1 Eros announces full year revenues of $206.5m from $164.6m up 25.5% and states that it remains well positioned Invensys holds its AGM today, which has been brought forward two weeks to avoid conflicting with the Olympics…