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Markets

FTSE 100 close to record high

FTSE 100 close to record high The FTSE 100 index was just 5 points off its record high today (08/08/17) when it closed at: 7542. The FTSE 100 reached 7547 back at the beginning of June 2017. Are new records to be set this week?

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News

Internet security software

Internet security software There is absolutely no good reason not to protect your PC, laptop, netbook or mobile – and NO excuse will do! Internet security software is affordable. There are free programs out there that do a decent basic job or for just a few pounds you can buy a …

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News

Is retail sales growth slower?

Is retail sales growth slower? Are households reining in their spending as retailers see slower sales growth in July? New Look reported falling sales and profits citing the current market as ‘difficult’. Recently the retailer NEXT PLC reported a mixed bag of results saying high street shopping growth had slowed …

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News

Online security – what can I do to stay safe online?

Online security is important! Hacking and cyber-attacks have become part of our everyday online lives now and we need to take these threats very seriously. There is much we can do to protect ourselves online. Here are a few simple general steps we can all take to help keep our …

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News

Hack Attack!

Hack Attack! A warning from the government suggests businesses could face fines if they do not do more to protect themselves from cyber-attacks. In-light of the recent ransomware cyber attacks that left many companies woefully exposed to these threats, the government is forcing the issue by suggesting firms will be …

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Finance

DOW does it again!

DOW does it again! The DOW Jones Industrial Average has done it again today – reaching its ninth straight record high to close on Monday (07/08/17) at: 22118 The S&P 500 and NASDAQ also closed up as did the FTSE 100 & FTSE 250 The FTSE 100 is closing in …

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Finance

Economic news due this week

Economic news due this week Two pieces of economic news due this week (07/08/17) to look out for… UK manufacturing data due on Thursday: 10th August 2017 US inflation data due on Friday: 11th August 2017

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Finance

FTSE 100 Companies going Ex dividend this week

Ex Dividend FTSE 100 Companies going Ex dividend this week on: 10/08/17 – record date: 11/08/17 AAL – Anglo American PLC AZN – AstraZeneca PLC BARC – Barclays PLC BP. – BP PLC BT.A – BT Group PLC DGE – Diageo PLC DLG – Direct Line Insurance Group PLC FRES …

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Finance

Wall Street closes up

Wall Street closes up The DOW Jones Industrial Average on Friday (04/08/17) closed up again at: 22090 – that’s now 8 days of new highs! This new high came after the release of better than expected US jobs data.

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Finance

US Non-farm payroll figures due today

US Non-farm payroll figures due today US Non-Farm payroll data will be closely watched today. Could these figures slow the stock market rally?

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Markets
FTSE 100 companies going ex dividend this week

FTSE 100 companies going ex dividend this week on 28th September 2017… Worldpay Group PLC (WPG) Intertek Group PLC (ITRK) Smurfit Kappa Group PLC (SKG) Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets PLC Hargreaves Lansdown PLC  

Markets
Federal Reserve meeting update

Federal Reserve meeting update. The Federal Reserve on Wednesday (20/09/17) announced it will start reducing the size of its balance sheet. At something like $4.5 trillion it will now, after nine years finally start reducing the balance in October 2017 on a monthly basis. US interest rates were held at …

Markets
Dow Jones Industrial Average up again

Dow Jones Industrial Average up again I don’t know how many more times I will report on the rise of the Dow but it did it yet again yesterday (19/09/17). A new high was reached and at close the DJIA was: 22370 The outcome of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting …

Markets
Record breakers

Record breakers. The record breaking highs just keep on coming as the Dow Jones Industrial Average yet again sets another record high on 18/09/17. The Dow Jones closed up at: 22331 The S&P 500 closed up at: 2503 The NASDAQ closed up at: 6454 For how much longer can these …

Markets
Dow Jones flying high again

Dow Jones flying high again New record high set by the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The DJIA closed up at: 22268 – yet another new record high!

Markets
FTSE 100 companies going ex dividend this week

FTSE 100 companies going ex dividend this week on Thursday 21st September 2017 Old Mutual PLC (OML) Taylor Wimpey PLC (TW.    

Markets
Sterling continues upward march

Sterling continues upward march. The pound bashed through $1.36 against the dollar on Friday (am 15/09/17) as the FTSE 100 falls back. Will it hold on to these gains?  

Investing
J D Wetherspoon reports

J D Wetherspoon reports. End of year accounts from J D Wetherspoon report sales and profits up! Profit before tax is reported at: £102.8 million (up from £80.60 million in 2016). Sales up by: 4% (like-for-like). Where else can you get such good value? J D Wetherspoon PLC (JDW) is …

Markets
Asian stock markets end the week subdued

Asian stock markets end the week subdued Investors appear to largely shrug off the latest provocation from North Korea as another missile is fired over Japan. Japan’s NIKKEI index closed up to end the week at: 19909 and South Korea’s KOSPI index closed up at: 2386. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng …