US data reduces chance of early rate rise
US data reduces chance of early rate rise Recent data released from the Commerce Department shows US consumer spending rose less than expected in July. Inflation increased at its slowest rate since 2015. Investors expectations are that the Federal Reserve may delay raising interest rates until December 2017. Will they, …
Voice activated shopping partnership between Amazon and Ocado
Voice activated shopping partnership between Amazon and Ocado Hot on the heels of Google and Walmart voice activated shopping partnership, Amazon and Ocado also announce their partnership. Ocado has launched an app using the artificial-intelligent Alexa voice assistant. Ocado is the first UK supermarket to partner with Amazon to offer …
Trumps tax reform agenda
Donald Trumps tax reform agenda is back in the limelight. He wants to reform the US tax system by reducing its complexity. The headline catcher is his renewed pledge to cut the US business tax (corporate rate) from 35% to 15%. Apparently no new tax plan was offered. His ‘America …
Wall Street lifts on GDP uplift
Wall Street lifts on GDP uplift Wall Street got a surprise boost yesterday (30/08/17) when Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures were revised up. US annual growth rate for the second quarter was revised to 3% citing higher consumer spending and strong business investment as the reasons. The Dow Jones Industrial …
Warren Buffett bargain hunt
Warren Buffett bargain hunt The billionaire investor said that he is finding it harder now to get a stock market bargain. The share price rally has made stocks less attractive. Is this comment from Warren Buffett a significant sign that prices are now too high? As the worlds greatest investor …
UK consumer credit
UK consumer credit Latest figures from the Bank of England (BoE) show UK consumer credit rose by 9.8% and is now at £201.5 billion. This figure excludes mortgage lending. That’s high, even though it was the lowest since April 2016. Debt in the UK and globally is unsustainably high! Is …
Pound vs Euro
Pound vs Euro. This week (Tuesday) we saw the pound fall to an eleven month low. Could the pound hit parity against the Euro? BREXIT indecision, slow growth, sluggish GDP, low interest rates and party political naval gazing are adding to UK woes! Will £1.00 = 1.00 euro ?? If …
Asian stocks recover as markets appear oblivious to risk
Asian Markets. Asian stocks recover as markets appear oblivious to risk. Underlying tensions remain but markets seem unaffected by the North Korean missile launch over Japan. After falls on Tuesday, we saw a rebound on Wednesday. Japan’s NIKKEI index recovered from a four month low. South Korea KOSPI index headed …
Markets react to North Korean actions
Markets under pressure. Markets react to North Korean actions today (29/08/17) European markets go red after North Korea fires a long range missile over Japan in defiance of the joint US and South Korean military exercises. UK – The FTSE 100 closed down at: 7337 Germany – The DAX fell …
FTSE 100 companies going ex dividend on 31/08/17
FTSE 100 companies going ex dividend on 31/08/17… G4S PLC (GFS) Croda International PLC InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) Hammerson PLC (HMSO) St James’s Place PLC (STJ)