Market expert

• 2012-04-04 10:35

  Oil Heading Higher?

  At the start of October 2011 West Test Intermediate crude (WTI) was trading at $76.25. By 1 March 2012 the price of oil had reached a peak of $110.55, a rise of nearly 45%.

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• 2012-03-27 15:20

  Germany signals Willingness to increase firewall

  Finance ministers from the 17 nations will meet in Copenhagen on March 30. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave her first indication yesterday that she is prepared to allow an increase in the debt crisis firewall.

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• 2012-03-26 12:08

  China Plans for Soft landing, where does copper stand?

  Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Monti warned that Spain could reignite the European debt crisis as Euro Area ministers this week prepare a deal to strengthen the region’s financial firewall. Monti pointed to Spain’s struggle to control its finances ahead of a finance ministers meeting in Copenhagen starting on March 30, where officials will seek agreement to raise a 500 billion Euro ceiling on bailout funding.

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• 2012-03-23 10:42

  Copper weak on the back of slowdown in China but where is it going?

  Asian stocks fell, extending the biggest weekly decline of the year, as a surprise drop in profits at China’s third largest bank renewed concern about growth slowing in the world’s second largest economy. Metals rebounded, led by zinc amid tightening supplies.

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• 2012-03-22 11:55

  Chinese data disappoints

  European stocks fell for a fourth day as a report showed Chinese manufacturing may contract further this month. U.S. index futures declined while Asian shares advanced. 

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• 2012-03-15 11:31

  After Greece, is Portugal the next one in line?

  Delaying Greece’s debt restructuring by more than a year reduced potential losses as firms trimmed their holdings and most of the risk shifted to European taxpayers. When Greece was first rescued by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund in May 2010, lenders in other EU nations held $68 billion of its sovereign debt. If Greece had defaulted, banks would have lost $51 billion at a 25% recovery rate.

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• 2012-03-14 11:12

  Federal Reserve sees light at the end of the tunnel.

  European stocks rose yesterday, extending the biggest gain in six weeks. The US dollar also rose after the Federal Reserve strengthened confidence in the U.S. banking system and raised its economic assessment. A gauge of inflation expectations based on Treasury yields climbed to a seven month high ahead of U.S. import prices data due out this afternoon.

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• 2012-03-13 14:16

  Investors Turn to news from the U.S.

  European stocks advanced as investors turned their attention to a Federal Reserve policy meeting and a report on American retail sales after euro area finance ministers signed off on a second bailout for Greece.

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• 2012-03-12 10:52

  Is Euro going to get back on its feet?

  Strategists at Bank of America and Morgan Stanley elevated their estimates for the euro this month. In a note published on the 29^th February Bank of America has also increased its June 30 call to $1.30 from a previous estimate of $1.25.

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• 2012-03-09 15:59

  Is The Yen Heading For Trouble?

  Since the start of 2008 the Japanese Yen has risen considerably against the currencies of its key trading partners, a
  situation which has hampered activity within its export-led economy. In response the Japanese central bank has
  renewed its efforts to drive down the value of the yen and revive its flagging economy. This central bank
  intervention coupled with Japan’s precarious debt dynamic could present an opportunity for further currency
  fluctuation.

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