July 28, 2005
In London on Thursday, the FTSE 100 gained 1 percent to 5,270.30 and the FTSE 250 was up 0.3 percent to 5,270.30 on a volume 0f 2.9 billion shares traded. Engine maker Rolls Royce gained 9.6 percent to 342p on record orders and plans to raise its dividend for the first time since 2001, as well as on a number of upgrades by analysts. Elsewhere in the aerospace ...
FTSE 100 continues to make gains
by Brian TurnerIn London on Thursday, the FTSE 100 gained 1 percent to 5,270.30 and the FTSE 250 was up 0.3 percent to 5,270.30 on a volume 0f 2.9 billion shares traded. Engine maker Rolls Royce gained 9.6 percent to 342p on record orders and plans to raise its dividend for the first time since 2001, as well as on a number of upgrades by analysts. Elsewhere in the aerospace ...
Chile’s IPSA index makes record gains
by Brian TurnerIn Chile on Thursday, the IPSA blue-chip index gained 1.01 percent to achieve a new record high of 2,177.52. The broader IGPA also set a new record, gaining 0.39 percent to close at 9,923.66. Analysts attributed the gains to better than expected quarterly reports already announced and anticipation of more good results yet to be revealed. Specialty fertilizer Soquimich (SQM) was up 2.74 percent on the day ...
Quiet trading as bond investors wait for economic news
by Brian TurnerAt late morning on Thursday, prices were up on US Treasury bonds on quiet trading in advance of Friday’s release of US economic growth figures. Analysts expect the annualized GDP rate for the quarter to have grown by 3.4 percent, down from the 3.8 percent of the two previous quarters. Reports were that investors were buying longer-dated bonds that are less sensitive to interest rates because they believe that ...
July 27, 2005
At least two airlines, Monarch Scheduled and easyJet have offered to fly home passengers stranded by the collapse of EUjet. The offer, called a “goodwill gesture” by an official of easyJet, will stand for the next seven days as Monarch said it would fly stranded passengers home for £25 plus taxes and easyJet said it would charge a flat fee of £25. EUjet is the latest low-cost airline ...
easyJet and Monarch offer alternatives after EUjet collapse
by Brian TurnerAt least two airlines, Monarch Scheduled and easyJet have offered to fly home passengers stranded by the collapse of EUjet. The offer, called a “goodwill gesture” by an official of easyJet, will stand for the next seven days as Monarch said it would fly stranded passengers home for £25 plus taxes and easyJet said it would charge a flat fee of £25. EUjet is the latest low-cost airline ...
UK government bonds increase in price
by Brian TurnerPrices rose on UK and eurozone government bonds on Wednesday as investors looked forward to data on durable goods orders out of the United States. Additionallym, markets noted how at least one member of the monetary policy committee of the Bank of England worried that a decline in the housing market in the UK could impact negatively on consumer spending. The 10-year gilt lost 1.9 basis points to yield 4.288 ...
July 26, 2005
Crude oil prices were down early but ended up higher on Monday. West Texas Intermediate for September delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange gained 35 cents by the end of trading to $59.00 per barrel, but it had trades as low as $57.65 per barrel earlier in the day. Brent crude September contracts were up 28 cents in London to $57.86, while it was up 45 cents ...
Oil prices make slight rebound, but demand figures lower
by Brian TurnerCrude oil prices were down early but ended up higher on Monday. West Texas Intermediate for September delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange gained 35 cents by the end of trading to $59.00 per barrel, but it had trades as low as $57.65 per barrel earlier in the day. Brent crude September contracts were up 28 cents in London to $57.86, while it was up 45 cents ...
Real continue to fall as scandal increases
by Brian TurnerThe Brazilian real dropped in value again on Tuesday as the political scandal there continues to exert an influence over the financial markets. Investors fear that more government officials will be pulled into the money-for-votes scandal that is currently being investigated by the Brazilian legislature through public hearings. Especially worrying is the possibility that the reputation of Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva might be impacted by ...
July 25, 2005
After closing at a record high in Friday, the IPC index in Mexico lost 183.23 points to close at 14,135.24 on Monday. Key to the loss was cellphone operator American Movil. The company, the most heavily weighted on the IPC index, lost 2.56 percent to close at 11.06 pesos, while its American Depositary Receipt (ADR) lost 2.81 percent to $20.74. Analysts called the loss profit taking from ...
Mexico IPC index loses to profit taking on American Movil
by Brian TurnerAfter closing at a record high in Friday, the IPC index in Mexico lost 183.23 points to close at 14,135.24 on Monday. Key to the loss was cellphone operator American Movil. The company, the most heavily weighted on the IPC index, lost 2.56 percent to close at 11.06 pesos, while its American Depositary Receipt (ADR) lost 2.81 percent to $20.74. Analysts called the loss profit taking from ...
PepsiCo halts Danone take-over rumours
by Brian TurnerPepsiCo has attempted to put a stop to rumors that it was preparing to mount a takeover bid for French foods group Danone by announcing that it will not attempt to acquire the sixth largest foods group in the world as figured by revenues. Speculation about such a bid has been making the rounds since early this month, raising the value of shares in Danone by 27 percent in ...
July 22, 2005
In the New York equities markets on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Nasdaq composite, and the S&P 500 all ended the day and the week in positive territory, although only just in some cases. The Dow was up 0.2 percent on the day to 10,651.26, with a fractional gain for the week, while the S&P gained 0.2 percent to 1,233.68 on the day and an 0.5 percent ...
New York equities markets end positive Friday
by Brian TurnerIn the New York equities markets on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Nasdaq composite, and the S&P 500 all ended the day and the week in positive territory, although only just in some cases. The Dow was up 0.2 percent on the day to 10,651.26, with a fractional gain for the week, while the S&P gained 0.2 percent to 1,233.68 on the day and an 0.5 percent ...
July 21, 2005
The price of crude oil fell again on Thursday. Brent crude September contracts on the International Petroleum Market in London lost 95 cents to $55.72 per barrel, following a 71 cent decline on Wednesday. September contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange was down 89 cents to $57.13 per barrel after having lost 74 cents on Wednesday. Heating oil lost 1.77 cents ...
Oil falls as revaluation helps copper pricing
by Brian TurnerThe price of crude oil fell again on Thursday. Brent crude September contracts on the International Petroleum Market in London lost 95 cents to $55.72 per barrel, following a 71 cent decline on Wednesday. September contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange was down 89 cents to $57.13 per barrel after having lost 74 cents on Wednesday. Heating oil lost 1.77 cents ...
Prices up on bonds after new bombing threat
by Brian TurnerPrices were up for government bonds in the UK and the eurozone on Thursday after reports of new bombings in London, having been initially down on the day. While there were few or no reports of casualties connected to the new incidents, prices rebounded although 2-year UK gilt prices remained lower than on Wednesday. The 2-year gilt was up 1.5 basis points to 4.120 percent, while the 10-year ...
July 20, 2005
In Tokyo on Wednesday, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.2 percent to 11,789.35 and the Topix index was up 0.4 percent to close at 1,196.33. The Nikkei’s closing figure was a 14-week high. Instrumental in the gains were good first-half figures from China on its gross domestic product, which helped overcome bad quarterly reports from Yahoo and Intel in the United States. The Yahoo and Intel news that ...
Nikkei closes at 14 week high
by Brian TurnerIn Tokyo on Wednesday, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.2 percent to 11,789.35 and the Topix index was up 0.4 percent to close at 1,196.33. The Nikkei’s closing figure was a 14-week high. Instrumental in the gains were good first-half figures from China on its gross domestic product, which helped overcome bad quarterly reports from Yahoo and Intel in the United States. The Yahoo and Intel news that ...
US bond prices down on Greenspan report
by Brian TurnerPrices were down and yields up on US Treasury bonds on Wednesday after Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan painted a rosy picture of the US economy in Congressional testimony. The 2-year bond gained 4.2 basis points to yield 3.902 percent, while the 10-year bond was up 4.5 basis points to 4.228 percent and the 30-year issue rose by 3.6 basis points to 4.461 percent. Mr. Greenspan’s comments had ...
July 19, 2005
In New York on Tuesday, the equities markets were up on the day as the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.68 percent to 10,646.56, the Nasdaq composite was up 1.32 percent to 2,173.18, and the S&P 500 rose by 0.67 percent to 1,229.35. Technology stocks rallied on IBM’s better-than-expected quarterly report. The results were helped by a restructuring, the sale of IBM’s troubled personal computer division, and sales ...
Dow Jones and Nasdaq gain in US equities markets
by Brian TurnerIn New York on Tuesday, the equities markets were up on the day as the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.68 percent to 10,646.56, the Nasdaq composite was up 1.32 percent to 2,173.18, and the S&P 500 rose by 0.67 percent to 1,229.35. Technology stocks rallied on IBM’s better-than-expected quarterly report. The results were helped by a restructuring, the sale of IBM’s troubled personal computer division, and sales ...
July 18, 2005
Equities markets in the United States fell on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average off 0.62 percent to 10,574.99, the Nasdaq composite down 0.55 percent to 2,144.87, and the S&P 500 losing 0.55 percent to 1,221.13. In the banking sector, Citigroup lost 2.5 percent to $45.26 on the announcement that it had under performed in the second quarter due to rising interest rates and negative circumstances surrounding fixed-income ...
Slight fall in US equities markets.
by Brian TurnerEquities markets in the United States fell on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average off 0.62 percent to 10,574.99, the Nasdaq composite down 0.55 percent to 2,144.87, and the S&P 500 losing 0.55 percent to 1,221.13. In the banking sector, Citigroup lost 2.5 percent to $45.26 on the announcement that it had under performed in the second quarter due to rising interest rates and negative circumstances surrounding fixed-income ...
Wesfarmers strong for Dyno Nobel deal
by Brian TurnerAustralian hardware and energy group Wesfarmers has emerged as a top contender in the effort to purchase Norwegian explosives manufacturer Dyno Nobel. Four other private equity firms have also made it to the final round of the bidding: Permira, Apollo Management, Bain Capital, and Blackstone Partners. Bain and Blackstone both have prior experience in the sector. Wesfarmres, however, is seen as a strong contender in the bidding ...
July 15, 2005
Equities markets in Europe closed up on Friday although the FTSE Eurofirst 300 was down 0.2 percent to 1,163.57 on the day. The FTSE was up 1.1 percent on the week. In Paris, the CAC-40 closed at 4,373.77, a 38-month high. The Xetra Dax in Frankfurt also ended the week at a 38-month high when it closed at 4,712.90. The biggest individual gainer was French telecommunications ...
Eurofirst closes up on weeks trading
by Brian TurnerEquities markets in Europe closed up on Friday although the FTSE Eurofirst 300 was down 0.2 percent to 1,163.57 on the day. The FTSE was up 1.1 percent on the week. In Paris, the CAC-40 closed at 4,373.77, a 38-month high. The Xetra Dax in Frankfurt also ended the week at a 38-month high when it closed at 4,712.90. The biggest individual gainer was French telecommunications ...
Little movement in Asia equities
by Brian TurnerThere was little change in the equities markets in Tokyo on Friday as money just seemed to be shuffled between sectors. Technology stocks continued to climb on good US earnings reports in the sector, but heavily domestic sectors such as real estate, retailing, and wholesaling saw declines. Sharp was up 1.2 percent to ¥1,746 on its introduction of an innovative new LCD television screen that allows different channels ...
July 14, 2005
Apple Computer helped the S&P 500 to a 4-year high on its announcement that third-quarter profits had increased fivefold on sales of its iPods. Shares in Apple were up 6.26 percent to $40.75. Other technology stocks that were helped by the news included Microsoft, which added 1.2 percent to $25.97, Hewlett-Packard with a gain of 0.8 percent to $24.62, and IBM with an advance of 1.2 percent to ...
Apple helps S7P 500 to 4 year high
by Brian TurnerApple Computer helped the S&P 500 to a 4-year high on its announcement that third-quarter profits had increased fivefold on sales of its iPods. Shares in Apple were up 6.26 percent to $40.75. Other technology stocks that were helped by the news included Microsoft, which added 1.2 percent to $25.97, Hewlett-Packard with a gain of 0.8 percent to $24.62, and IBM with an advance of 1.2 percent to ...