American stocks soared on the news that United States employers had created 165 000 jobs in April.
The Fed and ECB’s open-ended stimulus programmes have lifted markets around the world, writes Matt Quigley. Will the rally continue?
This week’s purchasing managers’ index figures for 26 countries – including SA – are likely to point to a slowing global economy, writes Matt Quigley.
Amid weaker than expected data in the US and China, and a flare-up in Europe’s debt crisis, markets will be paying close attention to key statistics.
No image available
/ 18 October 2011
World stock markets have tumbled after China’s robust economic growth took a knock and German leaders warned that Europe’s debt crisis might linger.
No image available
/ 17 October 2011
Spurred by positive intent shown by European ministers to address the eurozone’s debt crisis, the JSE made early gains in morning trade.
No image available
/ 13 October 2011
The publisher of <i>Wall Street Journal Europe</i> was forced to resign over a scam by the paper to boost its circulation, British media reported.
World stocks rose after stability returned to markets after last week’s dizzying swings and data showed Japan’s economy shrank less than expected.
US stocks tumbled more than 4% as rumours about the health of French banks sparked concern that the eurozone’s debt crisis could claim new victims.
South African stocks remained lower at noon on Friday as the mining sector continued to take a pounding on weaker commodity prices. At 12.02pm, the all-share index was down 1,03%. Resources fell 2,15%, while the gold and platinum mining indices lost 1,37% and 0,65% respectively.
South African stocks were lower at midday on Tuesday, pressured by below-forecast gross domestic product (GDP) data, which showed that the quarterly economic growth rate slowed to 2,1%, traders said. At 12.02pm, the all-share index was down 0,71%. Resources fell 1,01%, while the gold- and platinum-mining indices were off 0,42% and 0,72% respectively.
The former Times editor Robert Thomson was named managing editor of the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday night as Rupert Murdoch tightened control of the world’s top selling business newspaper. Thomson’s new role is the top editorial position at the Journal.
South African stocks hit another fresh high on Friday morning, boosted by strong gains for resources. At 11.56am, the all-share index was up 0,82%, boosted by a 1,48% rise in resources and a 2,06% gain for the platinum-mining index. Banks were up 0,37% and financials were 0,61% better. Industrial were flat (-0,03%) and the gold-mining index eased 0,80%.
World markets were dampened by negative earnings reports from the United States on Monday, causing the JSE to pull back sharply. By midday, the JSE’s broader all-share index had fallen 1,48%. The banking index pulled back 2,51% and financials retreated 1,41%.
Oil prices were steady on Thursday after retreating from levels just cents below the record trading high established in the previous session on an unexpected drop in United States crude inventories. By afternoon in Europe, the contract was up 25 cents, fetching ,12 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Talk of China’s interest in a stake in BHP Billiton has sent the resources index northward and, in turn, helped the JSE advance further by midday on Wednesday. Dow Jones newswires said that the <i>Australian</i> reported in its Wednesday edition China is in the early stages of planning to buy a stake in miner BHP Billiton.
The JSE remained firm by midday on Tuesday as overnight gains in the United States triggered good buying interest among global equities. By noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index was up 2,22%. Banks gained 3,1% and financials lifted 3,06%.
Banks and financials helped the JSE advance further by midday on Wednesday as they cheered the move by the United States Federal Reserve to raise liquidity in financial markets. At noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index had gained 1,35%. Financials collected 1,94%, while banks were up 1,67%.
The JSE continued to be haunted by fears of a United States recession, which sent most heavyweight stocks on a selling spree by midday on Monday. Adding to the negative sentiment was a pull back among local resource heavyweight counters, traders said. By noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index had fallen 1,75%.
International credit woes causing losses among overseas equity markets continued to dampen the JSE by midday on Friday. The JSE’s broader all share index had shed 0,45% by noon, which was led by a 2,5% decline in the bank index. Financials were down 1,86% and industrials gave up 0,57%.
No image available
/ 28 January 2008
Wikia, a profit-oriented company set up by Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, is aiming for a public listing in the long term. ”For Wikipedia itself I think we will always be a charity … but for Wikia, my for-profit company, yes, absolutely,” Wales said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos last week.
South African stocks were sharply higher at noon on the first trading day of 2008, but volumes remained low as most traders are still on their festive-season break. By noon on the JSE, the all-share index was 1,05% higher. Resources added 1,24%, the platinum-mining index was up 1,88% but the gold-mining index was flat.
No image available
/ 13 November 2007
Oil prices dropped on Tuesday after a key Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) member left open the possibility the oil cartel will increase output to curb rising prices, and following the strengthening of the dollar overnight. Light, sweet crude for December delivery fell by six cents to ,56 a barrel.
No image available
/ 7 November 2007
Oil prices jumped to a new trading record above $98 a barrel on Wednesday amid expectations of declining United States supplies. The weak dollar and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’s apparent reluctance to pump more crude into the market also boosted prices.
No image available
/ 2 November 2007
Oil prices resumed their climb on Friday after a decline in the previous session prompted new buying amid expectations that crude futures would continue to test new records because of tight supplies. Light, sweet crude for December delivery rose by 41 cents to ,90 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
No image available
/ 20 September 2007
Oil prices kept rising on Thursday after reaching record highs in the previous session on United States refinery outages and declines in US oil inventories. A decline earlier in the day was reversed in part by worries over a potential tropical-storm threat to oil and gas installations in the Gulf of Mexico, analysts said.
No image available
/ 18 September 2007
The JSE’s all-share index came out of the morose state it was in earlier, edging up into positive territory by midday on Tuesday driven by the turnaround in the United Kingdom’s FTSE 100. Shortly before midday, the FTSE 100 was at 6 224,10 points, 0,67% better than Monday’s close as the Bank of England added liquidity to the United Kingdom market,
No image available
/ 12 September 2007
Oil prices slipped on Wednesday after finishing at a record close in the previous session on worries about tight supplies. Light, sweet crude for October delivery fell six cents to ,17 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by late afternoon in Singapore.
No image available
/ 5 September 2007
The JSE was in the red at midday on Wednesday after vacillating between positive and negative territory during early trade as investors took profits on stocks that have recovered from last month’s losses. The JSE’s all-share started in the red, but inched into positive territory within the first 15 minutes of trade, and by midday it had fallen back into the red.