Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! AUD, AUD, AUD!

The value of the Aussie dollar (AUD) has been rising steadily since mid-March, yielding some long swing trading opportunities. The possible reasons for the strength in the currency could be due to the country’s relatively good response to the Coronavirus crisis or the perception that our economy is doing better than the US economy. It could also be down to the high positive correlation between AUD and gold, which has also been performing well.

17 Sep 2020

Reporting Season August 2020

Get the latest updates on the major stocks in ASX, reporting this August 2020. Companies will be publishing their earning reports for the year which will help traders and investors gauge their take away in terms of share prices.

31 Aug 2020

Japan 225 offers opportunities beyond the US Indices

To avoid the risk of sounding like a broken record, I’m not going to write another blog on the US indices. Those bullish trends continue, with the US NDAQ 100 continuing its reign above 11,000, and the SPX500 just now pushing above the previous all-time highs from February.

20 Aug 2020

Markets simmer on better data

Overnight data once again painted a stronger than forecast economic picture. The market reaction was complicated by the relationship between the stronger economic outlook and the diminishing potential for further central bank support measures. Bond sold off, as well as stocks, and the recent rotation away from tech shares and into cyclicals came to an abrupt halt.

14 Aug 2020

Data has a silver lining

A night of encouraging data saw sentiment swing back a pro-growth stance. Although UK GDP fell more than 20% for the quarter, an 8.7% bounce back in June eased concerns. Stronger than expected US inflation and a draw on US crude oil inventories over the week sparked buying in industrial commodities and shares.

13 Aug 2020

High flyers hit

Heavyweight tech stocks and gold tumbled in overnight trading. The trigger was comments from House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that the negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over an extension of Covid-19 support measures are at a “stalemate”. However bonds also sold off, on anticipation of large issuance to come.

12 Aug 2020

Growth flavoured rotation pressures techs

Simmering Sino/US tension and the inability of the US government to pass Covid-19 support legislation had little impact on market action overnight. Crude oil and base metals rose, and most European and US indices gained, as gold and bonds edged lower. Futures markets point to a mildly positive start to Asia Pacific trading.

11 Aug 2020

Sentiment slips, steady start

Asia Pacific markets are looking at a cautious day’s trading. Stronger than expected non-farm payrolls lifted stocks out of the red on Friday night, but ongoing concerns about Sino-US relations, and the lack of bi-partisan agreement on a US fiscal support package, are weighing on sentiment. The US company reporting season enters its final week tonight.

10 Aug 2020

Bonds, gold soar

Bonds and gold rallied again overnight, setting a new high-tide mark for the yellow metal just below $2,070. A softer US dollar supported commodity prices, although key industrial inputs copper, iron ore and crude oil edged lower. European stocks fell, but US indices managed gains on the back of a handful of tech stocks.

07 Aug 2020

“Eat Out to Help Out” set to boost UK retail sales

European markets underwent a disappointing session yesterday, largely as a result of concern about rising infection rates across Europe, a warning from the WHO about a serious situation in Europe

18 Sep 2020

Europe slides on virus concerns, as Bank of England leans to the dark side on rates

Markets in Europe have come under pressure today, though they are off their lows, as concerns about the economic outlook, and the timing of a vaccine

18 Sep 2020

Updated guidance boosts Next share price

After decent trading updates from H&M and Inditex earlier this week, expectations were high that Next would follow suit when they reported on their latest first-half numbers today.

17 Sep 2020

Fed outlines lower for longer, Bank of England up next

US markets finished rather mixed last night in the wake of last nights Fed rate meeting, with tech stocks once again standing out for all the wrong reasons.

17 Sep 2020

IPO fever fails to ignite European stocks, as Fed looms

It’s been a fairly lacklustre session for European stocks, with little in the way of news flow to pique the interest of investors, with the FTSE100 sliding back as the pound heads back towards the 1.3000

17 Sep 2020

Apple event: will an Apple a day keep the doctor away?

Last night's Apple event promised much, with Apple’s share price up fairly strongly in early trade as investors held out hope that the iPhone maker would decide to unveil a roadmap for the launch of the new 5G iPhone 12.

16 Sep 2020

Hut Group IPO launches at a premium

Today’s Hut Group IPO looks set to be a well-received one if early demand is any guide, with the shares opening sharply higher at 608p.

16 Sep 2020