Stocks continue to grind ever higher pushing many indices to reach new peaks as global stocks play catch-up with the U.S. The S&P 500, for example, is now only around 5% from its year high – a remarkable recovery from the March 23rd low. The index is now 40% above its coronavirus collapse.Read More →
As we continue to look at the economic damage done by the coronavirus, yesterday’s focus was on the U.S. ISM manufacturing PMI, which rebounded a little and gave some optimism to markets. The data may suggest that the worst is past for the U.S. economy and that the slowdown inRead More →
The U.S. economy slowed more than expected with the GDP reading for the first quarter coming in at -5%. Analysts have suggested that the second quarter GDP could be down by as much as 40% 1 in 4 Americans have lost their jobs Data yesterday, 28th May 2020, showed U.S.Read More →
Too fast too soon? Blind hope or sensible policy? Governments around the world attempt re-opening, but is it too early? Will we be hit with a second wave of the coronavirus? Hope is that the worst of the pandemic is behind us now. How can we know? What does theRead More →
Good news UK and U.S. markets were closed Monday 25th June 2020 – but that didn’t stop European markets roaring ahead yesterday. There are a number of positives for markets to be happy about right now. England is to re-open non-essential shops by mid June. European countries are easing theirRead More →
UK borrowing at record high as virus cost soars Government borrowing surged dramatically to £62 billion in April 2020 according to data released by the Office for National Statistics, was the highest monthly borrowing on record, as a result of substantial government intervention to help ease the coronavirus crisis. TheRead More →
Barely out of lockdown after facing a once in a lifetime world wide unprecedented pandemic and some decide it’s time for a holiday. I can’t begin to imagine how upsetting it must be for front line workers to witness the selfishness displayed over recent days. They all deserve so muchRead More →
Market jitters On Monday, 18th May 2020 the markets basked in positive news pushing stocks up. Fed chair, Jerome Powell, said he had more ammunition to help the economy recover from its coronavirus hit. Then came more positive news from a U.S. pharmaceutical company, Moderna Inc., saying that their vaccineRead More →
Unemployment claims increased UK unemployment data released at 07:00 BST Tuesday, 19th May 2020 reported a big rise in benefit claims. The benefit claimant count in April 2020 increased by 856,500 to 2.1 million, according to data released from the the Office for National Statistics (ONS). As UK unemployment claims jumped, andRead More →
Vaccine progress As economies struggle to re-open around the globe and as the Fed said that they have more ammunition to fight the virus, came more good news of vaccine progress. Moderna Inc., a U.S. company, announced yesterday that human trials of its coronavirus vaccine showed good progress in allRead More →