Most of yesterdays gains were reversed today as early currency performance tended to replace equities. Selling in the Nikkei ahead of year end was somewhat counterbalanced by the Yen’s 1% appreciation. Selling of auto’s, industrials and steel producers weighed on the Nikkei which also led to renewed buying of JGB’s. In late US trading the […]

The key weekend headline for all markets was the agreement between China and the USA on a temporary suspension of further trade tariffs. Although this is only for a period of 90-days, it does offer an ease of tension which will be much enjoyed by the markets. Almost all core Asian indices opened around 2% […]

After an initial morning wobble, Asian stocks managed some positive momentum to close the day on a healthy note. The Shanghai suffered from low volume, but the final hours trading closed on the days high gaining +0.81%. The Hang Seng hit its days high late morning and then drifted back to close just +0.21% firmer. […]

QUESTION: What mechanism prevents banks from creating fraudulent electronic deposits of currency? As an IT systems admin, I have the ability to add / subtract / adjust ERP systems inventory / costing outside the normal users ability. I could add widgets to the system at will, but fraud can’t be sustained very long, as the […]

Asian markets were buoyant in the hope the meeting between USA and China over the next few days would prove fruitful. Early losses were quickly reversed leading to 1% gains for both Shanghai and the Hong Kong’s Hang Seng indices. The Nikkei gained strength throughout the day, but should be viewed together with a weakening […]

Even though the US market lost a little of Mondays gains into the close, the mood in Asia still appeared reasonably constructive ahead of any trade talks. The Hang Seng was a little more confident as it responded well to rebounding tech values, but even then only managed a near unchanged close. Shanghai opened well […]

What I have found totally shocking is that the British government under Prime Minister Theresa May is this need to surrender all rights just to remain in the customs union. She has not figured out that the UK has been at the top of the list of the European Union’s ‘Big Four’ economies in terms […]

It feels as though this is the week that the markets have been building for all year! Having heard late yesterday that the EU 27 had accepted the BREXIT terms it is now up to Parliament to vote on the deal. This vote is expected, though not scheduled, for December 12th so we can expect […]

Often, when a major economy is out markets are quiet and that is exactly what we have seen the past two days. Thanks Giving in the US and national holidays in Japan has kept global markets quiet, closing almost unchanged from midweek close. Additionally, with such uncertainty surround Trade talks and BREXIT negotiations it endorsed […]

The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund sued Goldman Sachs on the Pi Target, Wednesday, November 21st, 2018,  for allegedly conspiring against the Middle Eastern fund to further a criminal scheme by Malaysia’s scandal-plagued 1MDB. The suit, filed in a New York court on behalf of Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), names Goldman Sachs […]