The UK general election on Thursday 12 December may lead to uncertainty in the markets. As a result, spread betting, CFD and forex brokers may be required temporarily to increase some of their margin requirements around the election date. What does this mean? Uncertainty around the election result, and its [...]
The recent economic data from the U.S. undoubtedly indicates that the world's biggest economy is presently inching closer in attaining self-sustaining growth. The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) Manufacturing Index is continuing to show expansion with its recent reading at 53.5 despite the fractionally down result from last month. The [...]
Gold was able to rise last week rebounding above a six-week low following minutes from the Federal Reserve's recent meeting which revealed policymakers concerned about increasing its interest rates much too soon. Minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee's recent January meeting expressed concerns that the raising interest rates much [...]
The euro took a dive in Asia last week, buffeted by a bombardment of conflicting headlines that left investors with no clear explanation whether Greece may nonetheless secure a new debt agreement with the European lenders. The common currency eased 2o 135.95 yen, which earlier scaled a three-week peak of [...]
European stocks plunged last week but were still able to remain on track to post their best monthly performance in over three years, lifted by high hopes that the European Central Bank's quantitative easing programme will be revitalise the region's economic growth and corporate earnings. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of [...]
Currency investors commenced their own efforts to protect themselves against the risk to sterling posed by the most undecided British election for decades, having learned a rather difficult lesson in the run up to Scotland's independence referendum. Sterling fell sharply and the surge of volatility in the preceding days of [...]
The price of gold latched on to majority of its recent gains, trading close to a three-week high reached during the previous session. Speculation ahead of last week's release of minutes from the Fed's recent meeting resulted to the offset safe haven demand for precious metals and other commodities. Gold [...]
The Japanese yen was able to increase its value last week as investors sought refuge to a safe haven in the wake following the weak crude oil prices in the U.S. dollar which was pulled lower after a rather disappointing economic data. The surmounting fears of deflation in the Eurozone, [...]
In its latest submission to the ongoing Australian Senate inquiry, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) came into a final decision that bitcoin and similar other cryptocurrencies are not financial products. ASIC, which maintains Australian organisations, financial markets and services, and finance sector professionals have made a conclusion that [...]
Business roughly welcomed the U.K. government's Autumn Statement, but banks only gave a complacent response in limiting the amount of losses made by the banks in the financial crisis which can be offset against the taxable amounts on profits. According to the Centre for Policy Studies, think tank. The credibility [...]