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News
- Changing Trends and Threat to Market Share Prompts London Stock Exchange to Adjust Tariffs - Editor, 4 August 2008 - No Comments yet
- SEC Extends Ban on Abusive Short Selling - Editor, 30 July 2008 - No Comments yet
- Financial Sector Apprehensive as Embattled Americans Dip into Retirement Savings - Editor, 25 July 2008 - No Comments yet
- Short Selling Clamp Down - Editor, 22 July 2008 - No Comments yet
- Google-Yahoo Agreement Bitter Pill for Microsoft - Editor, 17 July 2008 - No Comments yet
- U.S. Government Steps Up To Rescue Faltering Mortgage Giants - Editor, 14 July 2008 - No Comments yet
- Bear Market Results in Reduced Trading Volumes - Editor, 9 July 2008 - No Comments yet
World-wide stock markets have been on a roller-coaster ride for some time now and, as has been the case for stock exchanges all over, the London Stock Exchange has had its fair share of upheaval. In addition to factors such as fluctuating oil prices and anxiety over rising inflation, the London Stock Exchange is facing increasing competition from new trading platforms that will undoubtedly poach some of its business.
There has been a marked rebound in the financial sector since the announcement by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 15 July to implement a temporary ruling on 21 July to curb short selling for nineteen of the financial sector’s biggest players. This has resulted in a mixed reaction from analysts who are left wondering whether this rebound is just coincidence, or is a direct result of the short selling curb.
While investors may have been encouraged by the more than $20 drop in oil prices since 3 July, indications are that the American public as a whole is not coping too well with mounting economic pressures. This is evident by the fact that an increasing number of individuals are dipping into their savings and retirement funds to meet their monthly expenses, including mortgage payments, and this in turn is having a negative impact on the financial sector of the stock market.
Following the seizure of IndyMac by bank regulators on 11 July, and the emergency life-line extended to FreddieMac and FannieMae on 13 July, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has instituted an emergency rule applicable to 19 major financial firms (including FreddieMac and FannieMae) to curb short selling.
Is Microsoft’s failed Yahoo takeover bid behind its argument that the Google-Yahoo agreement may be violating antitrust laws? Many analysts believe that this is the case. However, does this mean that Microsoft’s viewpoint is invalid? These are some of the questions being raised in the whole Microsoft-Google-Yahoo scenario which is dominating the news at present and which has been escalated to the Senate.
Following the news of unprecedented U.S. government support for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, players in the U.S. stock market are no doubt bracing themselves for a rocky ride this week. Shares in these two U.S. government sponsored enterprises (GSE) took a nose-dive on Friday 11 July, amidst market speculation that the U.S. government was on the brink of taking them over in an effort to resolve their current funding problems.
In the current bear market, plenty of attention is being focused on investors and the negative impact this is having on their investments. Advice on how to handle the situation abounds, with the general view being that riding out the storm may be the best option. But while sympathetic sentiments are being expressed for investors, spare a thought for the people who make their living from managing other peoples’ investments.
Recent Videos
- Video: Inside Look: U.S. Loses 84K Jobs in August - Friday 5 September 2008, 2:41 pm
- Video: Market Outlook: Small Caps Will Hold Up, S&P 500 Has More Work to Do - Friday 5 September 2008, 2:32 pm
- Video: The Bloomberg Edge: September Historically Worst Month for Stocks - Friday 5 September 2008, 2:19 pm
- Video: Election '08 Update: McCain Speaks - Friday 5 September 2008, 1:49 pm
- Video: The Bloomberg Edge: U.S. Stocks Tumble Near July Lows - Friday 5 September 2008, 1:47 pm
Recent Articles
- Increase in De-listings and Decrease in IPOs Cuts into Revenue of U.S. Exchanges - Editor, Thursday 28 August 2008
- Financial Sector Concerns Start Off Trading Week on a Negative Note - Editor, Tuesday 26 August 2008
- Signet Group Set to Move Primary Listing to NYSE - Editor, Thursday 21 August 2008
- NASDAQ Issues Non-Compliance Warnings - Editor, Monday 18 August 2008
- Branson Launches Campaign against Proposed BA/Iberia Merger - Editor, Monday 11 August 2008
Recent Comments
- 29 April 2008, 03:23 am: By Dhan - Take This Financial Planning Gift Horse...
- 25 April 2008, 12:58 am: By asiaconsult - The ‘No Comment’ Clue to Mortgage...
- 24 April 2008, 02:21 am: By Investa - How Your Financial Planning Can Benefit...
- 23 April 2008, 04:56 am: By Mint - A Stock on Which You Can Bank










