21 Apr Armchair Trader Mike van Dulken commented – “A Macron (centrist) & Fillon (centre-right) win would likely be the most palatable for financial markets. A Le Pen (far right) & Mélenchon (far left) result would surely raise alarms. Markets look to be pricing in something between the two with Macron & Le Pen progressing…
Oil’s disproportionate influence on the UK’s flagship UK 100 , coupled with some fresh and unwelcome GBP strength overnight (bullish flag?), is holding the index back from a breakout and potential reversal from 2017 lows. This after oil prices plunged back close to April lows yesterday. The drop derives from official US Oil inventory data…
A snap UK general election was a surprise. The big question now is why, and why now? To make the most of Labour disarray and seal an even bigger parliamentary majority. For sure. However there are risks attached, and other likely reasons too; With many seeing the election as a Brexit proxy vote, bitter remainers…
Macro observations After a long Easter weekend, European markets have returned to an announcement from UK Prime Minister Theresa May that she is calling a snap UK general election for 8 June. This has come as a surprise for many political commentators, given that an election was not scheduled to take place until 2020 at the latest,…
13 Apr Financial Times “European equity markets are on the back foot heading into the long Easter weekend, with a plethora of bearish motives weighing on indices,” said Henry Croft of Accendo Markets. “The Trump-inspired US dollar sell-off continues to hurt the UK Index ’s foreign earning contingents.” https://www.ft.com/content/f0ad4a08-2033-11e7-a454-ab04428977f9 12 Apr Reuters UK “I am…
Heightened geopolitical risk following overnight US military intervention in Syria offers a timely reminder about trading and investing. It also provides us with a welcome positive takeaway that markets would appear to be overlooking into the weekend. One that could ultimately help reignite the Trump trade to record highs. Last night’s market reaction reminds us…