Market Analysis
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Apple Inc shares enter bear market territory
When a particular share or a benchmark index loses more than 20 per cent of its value, it is described as having entered a bear market. Some readers may be surprised at the link between Apple and a bear market since the major financial headlines...
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Stock markets drop as Europe strikes
Europe’s main stock markets dropped yesterday as workers across indebted eurozone nations took part in coordinated general strikes in protest at their governments’ deep austerity programmes. London’s FTSE 100 index of leading companies dropped 1.11...
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Shipping movements
These vessels are expected in Malta: The Maersk Edison from Genoa to Port Said (Thomas Smith Shipping) today. The Mont Ventoux from Tripoli to Tripoli, the Mediterranean Sea from Antalya to Beirut, the Stadt Schwerin from El Khoms to Oran, the ...
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Malta aiming for a first
The financial services sector has been one of the success stories of Malta in recent times. In years gone by, when travelling to Europe on business, counterparts from other financial institutions showed little, if any, interest in Malta. Some even...
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Euro slips as IMF, EU spar over Greece
The euro was under pressure at the start of the week, weighed by concern over Greece as international lenders bumped heads over a longer-term target date to shrink the country’s debt pile. Despite agreeing to give Athens an additional two years to...
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Introducing exchange-traded funds to portfolios
Exchange Traded Funds, or ETFs as they are more commonly referred to in the investment world, are funds that are traded on the major global stock exchanges similar to shares. They have become very popular with investors especially in the US and in...
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European stocks, euro retreat, oil prices slump
European stock markets slid yesterday and the euro fell against the dollar as traders expected US President Barack Obama’s re-election to be challenged quickly by a looming fiscal crisis, and the EU issued gloomy growth forecasts. After rising in...
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Shipping movements
These vessels are expected in Malta: The CMA CGM Lavender from Pireaus to Pireaus, the Mont Ventoux from Tripoli to Tripoli, the Stadt Schwerin from Gioia Tauro to Misurata, the Thebeland from Benghazi to Benghazi (Carmelo Caruana Co.), and the...
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True nature of bonus shares
Bank of Valletta recently issued the preliminary statements covering the annual results for the year ending September 30. Among other matters, the board of directors recommended a bonus share issue of one share for every nine shares held. This...
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The United States in the limelight
Earlier this week the US was in the limelight. The whole world awaited the final results of what seemed to be a tight race between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, and in the background the ‘fiscal cliff ’, one of the most prominent...
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Record profits, dividends for BOV shareholders
The publication of the financial results by the two major banking institutions are key calendar events for the local financial community, as they are the largest companies by market capitalisation and have the highest number of shareholders.
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European stocks down despite positive earnings
European equities fell yesterday despite a raft of largely positive company results, with trading volumes boosted by the resumption of activity in storm-struck New York. London’s FTSE 100 index of top companies dropped 1.15 per cent to 5,782.7...
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Shipping movements
These vessels are expected in Malta: The CMA CGM Fidelio from Algeciras to Port Said, the Fas Dammam from Bejaia to Misurata, the CMA CGM Erving from Genoa to Port Said, the Mediterranean Sea from Antalya to Beirut, and the Thebeland from Benghazi...
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Testing market patience
Spain has become the major concern for investors over recent weeks. Attention is particularly focused on whether – or more realistically when – Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will make an official request for a bailout plan. With the country...
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Hurricane Sandy grounds US markets
Currency markets were quiet and mostly range-bound at the start of the week with the US Treasury and stock markets remaining closed as Hurricane Sandy slammed into the East Coast of the United States. The biggest Atlantic storm hit the New York...
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Black Monday – 25 years on
The international stock market crash of 1987, or “Black Monday” as it is referred to in the financial world, was the largest one-day decline in the history of the stock market. The Dow Jones in the US declined by an astonishing 22.6 per cent in just...
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European stocks rise as oil prices fall again
European stock markets rose yesterday, a day after suffering sharp falls, as traders digested mixed economic data before the outcome of the Fed’s monetary policy meeting. Meanwhile global oil prices fell yesterday, with New York crude hitting the...
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Shipping movements
These vessels are expected in Malta: The Mont Ventoux from Tripoli to Tripoli (Carmelo Caruana Co Ltd), and the Maersk Eindhoven from Genoa to Port Said (Thomas Smith Shipping) today. The CMA CGM Agadir from Algiers to Oran, the CMA CGM Meknes from...
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European Union: Fixit or Brexit?
We have recently witnessed the toe-curling spectacle of the Nobel Peace Prize being given to the European Union for its contribution to world harmony. I was hoping the award ceremony would be held somewhere like Athens or Madrid, preferably at a...
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Gold hits six-week lows on back of stronger USD
Risk sentiment somewhat soured earlier this week after the improvements made throughout the previous week. Major equity indices in Asia, US and the EU slipped lower at the start of the current week. Demand for the euro was limited amid continued...
