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Financial news

Market buzz - 3 hours ago

Friday tips round-up: BTG, SAB Miller, Electrocomponents

Shares of BTG have been held back since the start of the year due to concerns regarding impending acquisitions. Nevertheless, now that these - and a 106.3m pound capital issue - are out of the way the stock should progress, says The Times's Tempus. The company will acquire North America based Ekos and one of the business units of Nordion, for a total amount of up to 280m pounds. That for a company with a market capitalisation in the 1.1bn pound area. Critically, non-organic growth is a pillar of the firm's strategy - although this is its most ambitious step yet.

Company news - 40 minutes ago

Morrison Supermarkets appoints Senior Independent Director

Morrison Supermarkets appoints on of its current non-Executive Directors, Philip Cox CBE, as its Senior Independent Director.

Broker tips - 4 hours ago

Broker tips: StanChart, AVEVA, Thomas Cook

Benjamin Chiou

Investec has maintained its 'buy' rating and 1,900p target price for emerging markets-focused lender Standard Chartered, saying that the stock remains its top pick in the banking sector.

Morning traders' note - 4 hours ago

Investors fleeing equity markets have pushed gold towards its strongest week

Daily global markets overview with the overnight activity and what can be expected in the markets today. Information straight from the traders’ desks. Insights on commodities, equities, stocks and forex currencies.

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Traders' views

Be careful when trading on margin

By Ronnie Chopra

With record numbers of people trading on margin through CFDs and spread betting, it is extremely important not to use all the leverage available which can be tempting but one must resist -  as within a blink of an eye your position(s) can be wiped out.  

With leverage sometime 100 times for an instrument, especially indices one has to be very careful when trading as the risk/reward is extremely high. It is no joke to say that trading is riskier than visiting a casino. Profits and losses can be far greater trading!

As with most currencies...”it’s all about Bernanke!”

By Ishaq Siddiqi

Earlier this week we heard from the Reserve Bank of Australia and the minutes of their meeting, which generally confirmed what most had suspected: that the strength of AUD was a pivotal factor in what was an otherwise close decision to cut interest rates.

The all-important policy guidance at the end of the minutes reveals that the RBA opted to use “some” (the “some” comment is a repeat from a couple of weeks ago) of the scope afforded by the low first quarter inflation figures and outlook, to lower the cash rate. 

A stimulus programme might be the way to go for the UK

By Christopher Beauchamp

The latest Japanese GDP reading highlights the success that the new massive stimulus programme being carried out in Japan has had in revitalising that stricken economy. Today’s drop in UK inflation suggests that the new Bank of England governor may be wise to suggest a similar policy for the UK.

The equity markets are too confident to ignore geopolitical risk and war

By Ronnie Chopra

The markets seem to be extending their highs in recent days with no concern about the continuing threat of war in the Middle East.

This morning, news that Israeli and Syrian forces have exchanged fire across the ceasefire line in the occupied Golan Heights was largely ignored by the financial markets. 

Sharp fall in silver today – fallen to levels not seen since September 2010

By Ronnie Chopra

This morning silver fell to levels not seen since September 2010 as commodity prices slumped overnight in Asia and this extended in early London trading. Although here is plenty of physical buying from China, India and the Middle East – there is heavy computer ETF selling.

A strong dollar and outperforming equity markets have shifted investor’s attention to more risky assets with silver suffering.

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