Financial News
Turbulence Ahead For Qantas – US-FOREX.US
HONG KONG -
Since Qantas Airways cannot see through the clouds ahead, the flying kangaroo has turned on the emergency navigation system and readied a cost-cutting parachute to lighten its load for a safe landing.
Because “high levels of volatility in the economic outlook, industry capacity, passenger demand, fuel prices and exchange rates continue,” Qantas Airways
said Tuesday… »
Ongoing Struggle At LOreal – US-FOREX.US
Billionaire Liliane Bettencourt, L’Oreal’s largest shareholder, does not have much to look forward to this year. Not only will her private life be scrutinized in a much-publicized legal battle between her daughter Francoise and photographer Francois-Marie Banier-who stands accused of wheedling nearly 1.4 billion out of the 86-year-old Liliane-but the woeful performance of L’Oreal is… »
Green Light For GameStop – US-FOREX.US
It’s a tough business if customers aren’t buying what you’re selling. This summer videogame sales have fallen sharply from last year, defying the prerecession assumption that the industry is growing so fast that nothing can stop it. Investors will get a look at the fallout when GameStop reports earnings on Thursday morning. The retailer is… »
Germanys Electric Car P.R. Stunt – US-FOREX.US
European carmakers are struggling to reinvent themselves in an effort to fight falls in sales; on Wednesday Berlin predicted 1 million electric cars on Germany’s roads by 2020, as Europe’s largest economy tries to create a positive impact on the ailing automotive sector. But adding electric cars to the mix won’t do the trick,… »
Switzerland Caves In To IRS Demands – US-FOREX.US
To assist the U.S. government Switzerland has lifted its veil of secrecy and has agreed to give 4,450 banking client names to the Internal Revenue Service. The international crackdown on tax evasion has been gaining ever more momentum as governments, smarting from the economic crisis, seek to claw back as much revenue as they can…. »
The New ETF Darlings – US-FOREX.US
After the stock market lost 37% last year, retail investors have developed a taste for comparatively stodgy fixed-income assets, especially exchange-traded funds. Assets under management by fixed-income ETFs climbed 47%, to 83 billion, this year, according to Barclay’s data. That gain outpaced the 17% jump in assets held by all U.S. ETFs.”Some people are feeling… »
High Hopes For Metals – US-FOREX.US
While recent pullbacks across raw materials may stoke fears of the bubble bursting, commodities bulls are undeterred. Inventories, after all, are extremely low and will have to be replenished once demand improves. Until then, volatility is just part of the game.Fears that China’s inventory build is over and that the economic recovery won’t be as… »
Bonds Still Have Legs – US-FOREX.US
All types of bonds have soared this year, from the debt of speculative-grade companies to the bonds cities and states sell to pay for schools. You might think that, the 38% return so far this year for junk bonds would mark the end of a run. But to Robert Tipp, chief investment strategist for Prudential… »
Retailers Cut As Consumers Hold Back – US-FOREX.US
Economic indicators may point to gradual economic improvements but to consumers facing weak wages, default, unemployment and eroding asset values, there’s little comfort in a “less-bad” economy. With private consumption accounting for roughly 70% of U.S. economic activity, a recovery without the consumer doesn’t promise to be much of a recovery at all. The consumer… »
The Cool Hand Of Technology – US-FOREX.US
A young engineer slips a glove on his right hand and wiggles it around at the wrist, then curls in his fingers. A shiny, black robotic hand mounted upright on his desk whirs and clicks as it mirrors his “real” hand with rapid movements. Very cool. But ask any of the other engineers what they… »