Opinion – Thursday 1 May 2014

The FOMC, as expected, announced a further $10 billion reduction of its QE Bond buying programme which is now down to $45 billion per month from $85 billion last November. It also indicated, in its post meeting statement, that economic activity had picked up recently...

Opinion – Wednesday 30 April 2014

Equity markets gained on both sides of the Atlantic yesterday despite the ongoing tensions in Ukraine. The EU widened sanctions against Russia targeting a further 18 individuals but markets were more focussed on US earnings reports and economic data. US equity markets...

Opinion – Tuesday 29 April 2014

Ukrainian tensions persisted yesterday as the US imposed more sanctions on 7 Russian officials and 17 companies. Even so, the market initially took its gaze off geopolitics to re-focus on the economy. Not that is was a huge day data-wise, although US Pending Home...

Opinion – Monday 28 April 2014

US and European stock markets closed lower on Friday despite better than expected economic data as Ukrainian tensions rose. Pro-Russian separatists continue to hold some OSCE European observers against their will. They have taken control of a regional Ukrainian TV...

Opinion – Friday 25 April 2014

In contrast to the previous two days when markets were extremely quiet, all changed yesterday as tensions in Ukraine escalated leading to extreme volatility in Equity and Commodity markets. US stock markets, having opened lower, ended the day higher with the S&P...

Opinion – Thursday 24 April 2014

The Euro whipsawed yesterday, losing some ground initially on a weaker French PMI report but then recovering as Germany’s Index was surprisingly higher. It then eased off on US Dollar strength with some safe haven flavour despite a very weak US New Home Sales...