Blog
Finance

Canada Interest Rate Rise

The Bank of Canada has raised its interest rate to 0.75% for the first in almost seven years. The economy is performing well and less stimulus is needed to maintain momentum.

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Finance

Hyperloop One – transportation future?

Elon Musk’s imaginative vision continues… The Hyperloop One transportation system tested successfully on May 12th 2017. A futuristic transportation system that will allow passengers or cargo to be propelled at near-supersonic speeds inside a vacuum tube has declared its first successful test moving the idea one step closer to reality. …

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Finance

Hong Kong High

I notice the Hong Kong Hang Seng index reached a two-year high today (12/07/17) pushing past the 26,000 mark – joining the DOW, DAX & FTSE100 in recently reaching new highs.

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Finance

Premier oil discovery

I notice today (12/07/17) Premier Oil PLC (PMO) shares jump 30%. The company announced a significant oil find off the coast of Mexico. It is being suggested this oil field could produce 1 billion barrels of oil. Share price moving up from around £0.46 to ££0.60

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Finance

Does Brexit mean brexit?

On Thursday 23rd June 2016 the UK voted to leave the European Union. Some 30 million people voted in the referendum to leave the EU with a high turnout of nearly 72% with 51.9% voting to leave and 48.1% to remain. I was confused then by the result, and now, …

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Finance

Time to Improve UK productivity

Are we really 20% less productive per hour for every hour we spend at work than Germany? I’ll just repeat that – one fifth – 20% less productive!! If this is the case, isn’t it the responsibility of the company bosses to get control of this and improve productivity. Better …

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Finance

FTSE 250 Compaines goining Ex Div this week

FTSE 250 Companies going ex dividend this week. 10th July 2017 – 14th July 2017 W H Smith PLC (SMWH) – Ex date: 13/07/17 – Record date: 14/07/17 Safestore Holding PLC (SAFE) – Ex date: 13/07/17 – Record date: 14/07/17 Halma PLC (HLMA) – Ex date: 13/07/17 – Record date: …

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Finance

Oil price still suppressed

Brent crude oil price today is stuck below $47.00 a barrel. As there are fewer company results out today – I’m guessing that with a slower news day, oil may have an effect on the FTSE 100. The continuing issue of over-production, US shale gas improvements, higher stock inventory all …

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Finance

Germany strong trade data reported for May

Exports continue the upward trend in Germany for May. Five months in a row now they have increased suggesting that the Global economy is improving still.

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Finance

Federeal Reserve Testimony

Janet Yellen, chair of the Federal Reserve, will be discussing policy and the economy in a Congressional testimony on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Interest rates will be top of the agenda no doubt, as usual – I assume it will be closely watched by the markets. It’s not so …

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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 …