Wall Street made a bright start to 2010, with the S&P 500 rising 2.7% to end the week at a 15-month high. The Dow Jones was up 1.8%, while technology stocks joined in the rally as NASDAQ climbed 2.1%.
Wall Street makes a bright start to 2010 - Read More

European equities got off to a positive start in 2010, with the MSCI Europe Index ending the week 2.2% higher at its best level since October 2008. Positive Chinese economic data boosted mining stocks as metal prices pushed ahead, while oil prices surged to a 15-month high on the back of cold winter weather in Europe and North America, helping provide good support to energy companies.
New Year rally takes markets to 15-month highs - Read More

The country’s Finance Minister resigned due to ill health and was replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Naota Kan – Japan’s sixth Finance Minister in just 18 months. Kan immediately faces the task of trying to tackle renewed deflation and prevent Japan from dipping back into recession.
The sixth Finance Minister in 18 months - Read More

Asian stocks were up across the board on signs that global economic growth will accelerate. The MSCI AC Pacific Asia ex-Japan Index rose 2.6% in USD and 1.3% in local currency terms.
Global recovery hopes boost sentiment - Read More

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index strengthened by 1.7%. Most markets were up on a wave of New Year optimism.
Global recovery hopes boost sentiment - Read More

A record USD 17.5 billion plunge in consumer credit, a 16% decline in pending home sales and a net 85,000 jobs shed in the US economy alongside a 1.2% contraction in Eurozone retail sales and an unexpected fall in UK consumer confidence were not exactly what investors had hoped or expected to see in their first week back after the holiday period.
Eurozone sovereign debt markets unaffected by Iceland’s rating downgrade - Read More