| May 16, 2008
Excerpt from: Spread Betting North American Financial Markets | | Spread betting on the US stock market | Spread bets and CFDs on US stocks should consider that earnings news from banks and retailers are bringing down the US stock market this morning.
US stock futures had originally pointed to a higher open, but things have gotten a bit ugly, and the US stock market is struggling as oil prices rise and other economic information is released.
| | |
| May 16, 2008
Excerpt from: Individual Equities CFDs and Spread Bets | | Spread betting and contracts for differences on individual equities | Spread bets and CFDs regarding Yahoo (YHOO) should consider that the drama continues. Carl Icahn, a billionaire investor who owns a large portion of YHOO shares, is threatening to stage a takeover of the Yahoo board in the aftermath of the failed deal with Microsoft (MSFT).
Icahn is upset that Yahoo didn't agree to what he sees as a generous offer from Microsoft -- one that would have benefitted shareholders. MarketWatch reports on Icahn's move:
Icahn said he got involved after a number of shareholders asked him to
lead a proxy fight to take over the board of Sunnyvale, Calif.-based
Yahoo, and replace it with directors who would attempt to negotiate a
deal with Microsoft. | | |
| May 16, 2008
Excerpt from: Spread Betting European Stocks | | Spread bets and CFDs on the European stock market | Spread betting and contracts for differences on European stocks should consider that they are on the rise today. Earnings are expected to be positive, and takeover rumours are rampant. Bloomberg reports on the European stock market:
``Earnings are better than expected, and mergers and
acquisitions are still taking place,'' said Matthieu Bordeaux-
Groult, a fund manager at Richelieu Finance in Paris, which
oversees $6.2 billion. ``The environment remains positive and the
stock market is offering opportunities.'' | | |
| May 16, 2008
Excerpt from: Futures and Commodity News | | Oil futures gain on market | In commodities trading, oil prices are continuing to reach new highs. Oil futures are approaching $130 a barrel, and talk of $200 oil by year's end is starting up again.
| | |
| May 16, 2008
Excerpt from: Financial Spread Betting Strategies | | Placing spread bets on currency trading | Even though it was strengthening in currency trading yesterday, the US dollar is struggling today. Financial spread betting strategy that includes the US dollar should consider that at one point today, the greenback was down against all other major currencies.
However, the US dollar is paring its losses against the euro in forex trading, limiting its downside. The dollar's volatility is due to this week's large amounts of economic data, some of it conflicting.
| | |
| May 16, 2008
Excerpt from: Bonds and Interest Rates CFDs and Spread Bets | | Spread betting and contracts for differences on interest rates | Spread bets and CFDs on interest rates should consider the Libor rate in Britain. It continues to rise as the Bank of England looks less likely to cut interest rates in the near futures, thanks to a recent inflation report.
As inflation remains a concern, the Bank of England is less likely to cut interest rates, even as signs of an economic slowdown prevail. Forbes reports on the Bank of England and interest rates:
Markets had been expecting
the central bank might cut rates by a quarter point to 4.75 percent
next month, but these hopes have been quashed after the BoE warned in
its quarterly Inflation Report on Wednesday that annual CPI inflation could reach near 4.00 percent by the autumn. | | |
| May 15, 2008
Excerpt from: Understanding Spread Betting | | Placing spread bets | One of the things to consider when palcing spread bets is economic data. Today's abundance of economic data coming out of Europe and the US shows the impact that economic data can have.
Consider economic data when making spread betting decisions, as this information can affect virtually all of the markets.
| | |
| May 15, 2008
Excerpt from: Individual Equities CFDs and Spread Bets | | Spread betting and contracts for differences on the US stock market | Spread bets and CFDs on US stocks should consider that individual equities are moving higher this morning on the US stock market. Today's economic data is starting to be released, and US stock futures are optimistic from the boost received after yesterday's CPI data.
Also, it is helping that online media acquisitions are driving some optimism today on the US stock market.
| | |
| May 15, 2008
Excerpt from: Stock Indices CFDs and Spread Bets | | Spread bets and CFDs on Asian stocks | Spread betting and contracts for differences on Asian stock indices should consider that they are rising quite a bit today. Japanese stock indices are doing rather well, and other Asian stock indices are also seeing success. Bloomberg reports on Asian stocks:
``Earnings growth in Asia is certainly one of the factors
which support valuations across the region,'' said Kerry Series,
head of Asia Pacific equities at AMP Capital Investors Ltd.,
which manages the equivalent of $103 billion. The ``combination
of low prices and continued earnings growth has made Asian
valuations attractive,'' he said.
The technology and airline sectors are doing especially well on the Asian stock indices today.
| | |
| May 15, 2008
Excerpt from: Futures and Commodity News | | Japanese stockpiles damage rice futures | Rice prices are dropping in commodities trading today. Even though the cyclone in Myanmar is expected to cause problems there with regard to rice, there are Japanese stockpiles. Bloomberg reports that the US is considering allowing Japanese stockpiles to be sold in the States:
``There is no reason for the U.S. to oppose the Japanese
government's move,'' Takaki Shigemoto, an analyst at Tokyo-based
commodity broker Okachi & Co., said by phone today. Possible
exports from Japan will discourage speculators, who have been
hoarding rice, as the market may see unexpected supplies, he
said.
Worries over rice supplies have had some people hoarding rice, including speculators, who may now see a loss.
Also down in commodities trading: corn prices.
| | |
| May 14, 2008
Excerpt from: Understanding Spread Betting | | Spread betting is speculation | One of the important things to remember when placing spread bets is that it is similar to gambling. Indeed, spread betting is speculation, and the government sees it as such.
While you may not have to pay certain taxes on spread betting earnings, you do have to understand that it is viewed as gambling, and the government treats it as such. And so should you.
| | |
| May 14, 2008
Excerpt from: Futures and Commodity News | | Oil futures trading | Even though oil prices are still high, they are dropping a bit in commodities trading right now. A report on US stockpiles of oil should show a gain in supply, and that is holding oil futures a little lower in futures trading.
However, as developing nations increase their demand for oil, it is likely that oil prices will start rising again. The US can't remain the only major indicator of oil futures for much longer.
| | |
| May 14, 2008
Excerpt from: Financial Spread Betting Strategies | | Spread bets on gold prices | Financial spread betting strategy on gold prices should consider that pressure is likely to remain on the precious metal in the near term, due to speculators moving their money elsewhere. However, investors are still buying gold up as a long-term investment.
Spread bets on gold prices should also consider that the precious metal is connected to oil prices as well. Additionally, gold prices often move inversely to the US dollar, and the greenback is up in forex trading.
| | |
| May 14, 2008
Excerpt from: Bonds and Interest Rates CFDs and Spread Bets | | Spread betting and contracts for differences on the bond market | Spread bets and CFDs on European government bonds should consider that they are dropping on new interest rate expectations.
Inflation worries have investors wondering if maybe ECB interest rate cuts will have to be scaled back. This is also affecting the euro in forex trading. Bloomberg reports on the European bond market:
``There have been lots of comments on inflation from central
bank officials in Europe and the U.S. this week, and that's the
reason behind the sell-off in bond markets,'' said Orlando Green,
a fixed-income strategist in London at Calyon, the investment-
banking unit of Credit Agricole SA.
| | |
| May 13, 2008
Excerpt from: Understanding Spread Betting | | You don't pay many taxes on spread betting earnings | Because the government views placing spread bets as gambling, spread betting is not subject to all of the same taxes that one would see on investments or other forms of income. Here are some of the taxes that you don't have to pay on spread betting earnings:
- Stamp duty
- Capital gains
- Income
You do have to pay a betting tax, however.
| | |
| May 13, 2008
Excerpt from: Individual Equities CFDs and Spread Bets | | Spread betting and contracts for differences on individual equities | Spread bets and CFDs on the stock market should consider that some individual equities are doing well, despite what some see as a US recession. Among them is Wal-Mart (WMT). The company is seeing its profits spike. BloggingStocks reports on the success of Wal-Mart:
Wal-Mart explained its profit spike by saying that in response to
tightening credit markets, insanely-high gas prices and the worse
housing slump seen in over a quarter century, customers were "trading
down" to shop at Wal-Mart. | | |
|
