Europe is hot, if you don't look too far over your shoulder. The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index played well through the stock market recovery of 2009, ticking up 28% (60% from its March 2009 low). This was the index's best annual performance in a decade.

Basic resources and banks gained 100% and 46%, respectively, this year, after having turned in dismal performances the year before. China helped, as well, with its elevated economic growth forecast good for another 0.5% gain during the shortened week of Christmas.

Continue reading Good Year, Bad Decade for Europe

Good Year, Bad Decade for Europe originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A new stock ticker tool for the Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone may not have you hoping for a plunge, but at least it takes the sting out a little bit. This new application pairs strippers with tickers, and as the numbers tick down, items of clothing find their way to the floor. There's a different girl for each of the major indices, providing a bit of spice to international financial markets. So, whether you follow the DAX or the Dow, you won't be the only person losing his shirt when the market tanks.

Doubtless, some have no interest in watching svelte stripping women illustrate their loss of fortune. For this crowd, male strippers are available. Whether you lean toward boys or girls, whatever your sex and orientation, sometimes a helpful hottie is exactly what you need to soothe your spirit.

Continue reading iPhone app makes stock market rally disappointing

iPhone app makes stock market rally disappointing originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Overseas markets got remarkable worse overnight. The Japanese Nikkei dropped 11.4% to 8,458. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong moved down 6.1% to 15,027. The Shanghai Composite dropped 4.3% to 1,910.

In early trading in Europe, the British FTSE fell 5.8% to to 3,842. The German DAX was off 5.4% to 4,602, and the French CAC 40 dropped 5.9% to 3,182.

Data from Reuters.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Japan market off 11%, rest of global markets mangled originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I am the Global Editor at MoneyShow.com and each week I interview an investing expert. This week, I spoke with Christoph Scherbaum, editor of the German edition of Personal Finance, who says German investors are cautious, but optimistic about their market.

Q. Christoph, some experts predict the beginning of a prolonged slowdown that will push consumer price inflation in Germany to as low as 2% next June. What do you think?

A. Consumer prices are not really a problem. August inflation was less than 4% and is estimated at 3% until year-end. The delayed effects of rising commodity prices will have a steeper decline. In addition, second-round effects through higher wage developments are now more visible. Therefore, the European Central Bank-despite poor economic data-will wait for a reassessment of its inflation target for 2010 until the second half of 2009

Q. To what extent do you think the US's financial worries are extending to German financial institutions?

A. It's a difficult question, but we have no big problem with our banks. German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck recently stated: "Although this financial crisis undoubtedly is the biggest economic risk for the German economy, I think the potential impact on us-after inquiries and interviews with the Bundesbank president-to be limited". He also reaffirmed the intent of a balanced federal budget in 2011.

Continue reading Global Q&A: Guten Tag to Germany

Global Q&A: Guten Tag to Germany originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The New York Times reports that global stock markets are tumbling. Nobody really knows why but the latest theory is that investors are concerned about the capital problems at Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) about which I posted yesterday.

Here's a survey of some of the global market damage:

• Nikkei 225 stock average fell 2.5%
• The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong down 3.3%
• S&P/ASX 200 index in Sydney declined 1.4%
• In London morning trading, the FTSE 100 index was down 2.7%
• DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index, of euro zone blue chips, fell 2.3%
• DAX in Frankfurt fell 2.4%
• CAC 40 in Paris sank 2.4%

Continue reading Global markets tumble on Fannie, Freddie blues

Global markets tumble on Fannie, Freddie blues originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading In Europe, selling but no panic as U.S. Fed intervenes

In Europe, selling but no panic as U.S. Fed intervenes originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Oil falls to $88 on Asia/Europe sell-off, global slowdown concerns

Oil falls to $88 on Asia/Europe sell-off, global slowdown concerns originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As bad news mounts and fears grow about the impending recession, stock markets dropped around the world in Monday trading. Adding to the woes, analysts expect that the Bank of China may have to write off at least 25% of its $8 billion [subscription required] mortgage securities holdings in the U.S. Prior to these reports, the bank had only admitted to the need for a $322 million provision for losses, according to today's Wall Street Journal.

Europe's Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index took its steepest fall since its Sept. 11, 2001 tumble, dropping 4.2%. Since it reached its 6 1/2 year high in June, the index has dropped 22%. A drop of more than 20% puts this market officially into bear territory.

Other key losers today include:

• France's CAC 40 lost 5.1%
  
• UK's FTSE 100 dropped 4%
• Germany's DAX went down 5.9%
• MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 3.7% and the MCSI Emerging Markets Index fell 5.1%
• Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gave up 5.5%
• Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 5.1%

With this type of global bloodbath, expect U.S. stocks to tank when they reopen tomorrow. They are closed today for the holiday. Investors are seeking safe havens in bonds and currencies.

Lita Epstein has written more than 20 books including "Trading for Dummies."

Worldwide stock markets decline originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.