Macro observations As we move headlong into August, a continuing theme has emerged in foreign exchange markets concerning the performance of the global reserve currency. Having traded at a 14-year high only two days into the new year, the US dollar has since fallen over 10% to its lowest level since May 2016. Investors will…
UK Index Tobacco shares are sharply lower (down 4% to 7%), weighing on the blue-chip index into the close (7.6% of index) as investors interpret any US regulatory efforts to dampen demand for cigarettes, by reducing nicotine to non-addictive levels, as a negative for the industry. This may be an overreaction, however. Firstly, this is…
Earnings season is always highlighted in a trader’s calendar. These few weeks are the most exciting and potentially profitable periods of the year for stock market watchers as shares that are traditionally quiet experience significant share price moves on a daily basis. And this season is no different. When shares rally, they typically see a…
AstraZeneca’s Mystic drug trial failure and 15% share price drop (biggest ever fall) has understandably hogged this week’s headlines. And this means that the performance of a key sector – a retail investor favourite – has slipped under the radar, despite rather impressive gains of 3-12%, easily outperforming the UK 100 index of blue-chips which…
Macro observations With the Euro on a tear against its Anglo-American counterparts, this week investors will be keeping an eye out for an all-important trend change. Against the US Dollar, the European single currency is trading at a 23-month high and threatening to break out of a significant trading range. The Euro hasn’t traded above…
The UK Index airlines sector has had a tough week, shares falling 1.5% to 13% to keep investors on their toes but also offer multiple trading opportunities. Our position at the market coalface has once again proved invaluable to clients, allowing us communicate on the many drivers in play, providing clients with an opportunity to…