Maria Iacob

Greece will leave bailout scheme in 2014, according to Prime Minister Samaras

Morning Roll Call

The exiting bailout stories are scheduled to come thick and fast in 2014. The much heralded ‘poster boy’ for good austerity behaviour, Ireland, exited in late 2013. But despite the muted celebrations very little has changed visibly in the country’s economy. Unemployment is still incredibly high (in terms of European standards), whilst approximately 400K of […]

Greece will leave bailout scheme in 2014, according to Prime Minister Samaras Read More »

Nikkei index has biggest yearly gain since 1972, WTI oil breaches $100 per barrel as USD reaches 5 year high versus yen

Mind The Gap

In a relatively slow day for news events that could affect market sentiment European retail data for December has been published this morning. The print came in at 47.7, down from the 48 in November. The fall would had been steeper had Italy’s retail PMI not reached a 33 month high. WTI oil has once

Nikkei index has biggest yearly gain since 1972, WTI oil breaches $100 per barrel as USD reaches 5 year high versus yen Read More »

Japan sees manufacturing conditions improve to their highest levels since 2006, USA and UK shoppers hit the pavements with renewed energy, whilst French unemployment rises

Mind The Gap

As Friday develops we’re beginning to witness a sense of ‘normality’ returning to the markets after the Xmas holiday. Key relevant data is beginning to be published. Markit Economics published its PMI on Japan’s manufacturing sector indicating that the level had reached a 7.5 year high. New order and employment growth in the region grew

Japan sees manufacturing conditions improve to their highest levels since 2006, USA and UK shoppers hit the pavements with renewed energy, whilst French unemployment rises Read More »

Thinking of changing broker in 2014? What to look out for and why the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the road

Between the lines

As 2013 ends it’s the perfect time for traders to evaluate many aspects of their trading. In a recent blog post we covered the subject of New Year trading resolutions; we highlighted some of the key improvements traders could make to their trading habits in order to encourage more proficient and profitable trading in 2014.

Thinking of changing broker in 2014? What to look out for and why the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the road Read More »

Japan’s housing starts rise by 14.1%, as investors look towards the USA weekly unemployment claims publication

Mind The Gap

European markets are closed on Thursday for a bank holiday therefore volatility and trading activity in the markets will be ‘thin’. In the overnight session yen reached a six year low versus the greenback as investors speculate that the BOJ will continue to maintain its stimulus (of circa $66 billion per month) whilst the USA

Japan’s housing starts rise by 14.1%, as investors look towards the USA weekly unemployment claims publication Read More »

The Nikkei index breaches the critical 16,000 level for the first time since 2007

Mind The Gap

In a relatively quiet overnight and early morning session for high impact news or policy decision making the bank of Japan published its rather bullish notes regarding the Japanese economy. It cited unemployment being low, exports rising and corporate profits increasing as reasons to be cheerful for 2014. This bullish statement helped propel the Nikkei

The Nikkei index breaches the critical 16,000 level for the first time since 2007 Read More »