Daily Market Reviews by UWCFX

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VIDEO MARKET REVIEWS

19 December 2012: Daily Market Reviews from Mr. Arne Treholt (Vice-President of Business Development and Investments UWCFX)

[video=youtube;fH1SflVVtV0][/video]

 

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20 DECEMBER 2012: STALLED NEGOTIATIONS TURN MARKETS

DAILY MARKET REVIEWS
by Arne Treholt Vice-President of Business Development and Investments

After reaching a 18-month high Asian stocks eased and commodities fell in morning trade on stalled budget negotiations in Washington. President Barack Obama accused his opponents of holding a personal grudge against him and threatened to use his veto power. The top Republican negotiator branded the President “irrational”. The mutual accusations came after substantial progress to avert the so called “fiscal cliff” had been obtained during the last days. The personal taunts put a timely solution at risk and threaten the world largest economy with recession.

The harsh rhetoric had an immediate effect on markets. After a flat opening Dow Jones plunged 0,78 while Nasdaq lost 0,33 %. Financials and retailers, the big winners earlier in the week, were hardest hit. General Electric, Alcoa, Home Depot and the Bank of America were among the big losers. The Asian indexes with exception for the South Korean Kospi which rose 0,3 % on news of the election of its first female president, lost ground. Australia is still up. It is expected that European and US markets today will open lower on profit taking and risk aversion. Decreased risk appetite shall probably hit also smaller currencies.

Bank of Japan (BOJ) has according to expectations expanded its asset-buying program by 10 trillion yen to fight deflation. USD/JPY which saw 84,50, has fallen to below 84 as result of the stalled budget negotiations. Euro/USD peaked to 1.33085 on Wednesday has fallen back trading at 1.3210. Smaller currencies are due to the changed risk sentiment atmosphere losing ground.

Oil prices which rose on growth optimism, has retreated somewhat in early Asian trading. Brent crude stands at 110.08 with NYMEX just below USD 89 a barrel. Copper is down. Gold and silver are at the lowest levels seen for months.

US prosecutors have charged two former UBS (Union Bank of Switzerland) traders for participating in a scheme to manipulate Libor and other benchmark interest rates. This is the first individuals criminally accused in the Libor scandal. UBS has agreed to pay a fine of USD 1,5 billion to regulators in the US, UK and Switzerland. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has simultaneously stated that UBS is under investigation for similar fraud in Hong Kong.

Copyright: United World Capital

 

[UWC Neeraj]

VIDEO MARKET REVIEWS

20 December 2012: Daily Market Reviews from Mr. Arne Treholt (Vice-President of Business Development and Investments UWCFX)

[video=youtube;pyXxW7-bzHE][/video]

 

[UWC Neeraj]

21 DECEMBER 2012: SERIOUS SET-BACK FOR “CLIFF” NEGOTIATIONS

DAILY MARKET REVIEWS
by Arne Treholt Vice-President of Business Development and Investments

In a statement to the House late yesterday, Republican Speaker, John Boehner, announced that there was not enough support to have “Plan B” to avoid the fiscal cliff voted through. Two options seem to remain: The Republicans can wash their hands on the entire matter or try negotiate a compromise with Democrats that could secure support from a sufficient number of Republicans. Plan B involved increased taxes on incomes above USD 1 million. President Obama’s proposals set the threshold at USD 400 000.

Dow Jones and Nasdaq gained on new expectations for a budget solution within year-end before the news announcement. A solution seems for the moment unrealistic. A possible compromise would mean that a substantial member of Republicans give up their bedrock resistance to all tax hikes. The non-vote in the House represents a serious set-back for the prospects to avert the “fiscal cliff”, automatic spending cuts and tax increases set to start in January. The news had an immediate effect on Asia. Asian shares slid. The MSCI index for the Asian Pacific dropped 0,7 %. Nasdaq and Dow Jones futures are down 1,7 %.

Risk assets from shares, oil to currencies as the Australian dollar and EURO, were sold off in the morning hours. Euro/USD is falling below 1.32 losing 60 basis points. The USD/JPY is slightly firmer at 83,93 down from 84,50 yen a dollar yesterday. The market uncertainty has generally strengthened the dollar. The DXY index where the USD is weighed against a basket of major currencies, gains 0,2%. The steep fall in precious metals continue. Gold is USD 1640 an ounce and silver has dropped two dollars during the last day trading to 29,72.

The Republican-led House of Representative which abruptly recessed late Thursday may return with a not yet decided new plan on December 27th. Markets see the event yesterday as major set-back for a fiscal compromise. The chance for a deal is downscaled from 60 to 30 %. Markets are extremely volatile and will continue to be swayed by the budget negotiations over the next days.

Copyright: United World Capital

 

[UWC Neeraj]

VIDEO MARKET REVIEWS

21 December 2012: Daily Market Reviews from Mr. Arne Treholt (Vice-President of Business Development and Investments UWCFX)

[video=youtube;nLUEt2mYNOo][/video]

 

[UWC Neeraj]

24 DECEMBER 2012: THE OPEC DOESN'T WANT THE PRICE OF OIL TO BE LOWER THAN $100

DAILY MARKET REVIEWS
by Arne Treholt Vice-President of Business Development and Investments

Last trading session in America was closed with drop, the index S&P500 lost 0,94%. Price stopped at the level of 1430,15 points. Dow Jones lost 0.91%. With approach of 2013 tension at the stock markets increases: the problem of "fiscal cliff" isn't solved, moreover, investors are getting new reasons for concerns. So, the speaker of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the USA John Beyner cancelled vote according to the project of republicans in connection with insufficient support of the ideas, thus, the resumption of negotiations between republicans and democrats is expected only after Christmas, and for achievement of the agreement they will have only 4 working days.

The most part of "blue chips" included in index finished session in "a red zone". The most notable decrease showed Bank of America (-2,00%), Exxon Mobil (-1,87%) and Walt-Disney (-1,86%), in plus there was only American Express (+0,44%) and McDonald’s (+0,16%).

Recently we heard news which can become the reason of correction of the world markets at the beginning of the next year. The prime minister of Italy Mario Monty retired on Friday, but thus declared on Sunday that he will consider opportunity to stand for the second term at parliamentary elections on February. Chances to get the second term are insignificant.

As a whole rather quiet situation remains in the oil market. Quotations are consolidating within the trade range of the last months. All attempts to leave out from these limits are unsuccessful. Among the latest news of the sector, it is necessary to note the message of several news agencies referring to the minister of oil of Iran - Rostam Ghasemi. According to him, the OPEC will hold an emergency meeting if price of oil falls lower than 100 US dollars. Besides he also noted that the price of oil is predicted to be higher than 100 dollars for barrel in 2013. This morning we can see Brent on a level of 108.78.

Gold and silver are stable this morning and a slowly recovering from the minimum levels we have seen last week. Gold is traded on a level of 1663.22 and silver is on a level of 30.236. As a whole, for this year prices of gold grew by 5.9% and this is the 12th year of growth of metal. One of the reasons of the high prices is demand of the world Central Banks which buy up metal for hedging of the risks. Nevertheless, judging the last data of the Commission of the market of futures of the USA, rates on further rally of gold fell to 13% to 112.42 thousand contracts.

Copyright: United World Capital

 

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26 DECEMBER 2012: MARKETS ARE WAITING FOR PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS ON BUDGETARY QUESTIONS IN THE USA

DAILY MARKET REVIEWS
by Arne Treholt Vice-President of Business Development and Investments

Without special enthusiasm passed the pre-Christmas truncated trading session on Wall Street. Key indexes lost about 0,2-0,4% on small trading volumes. As a part of an index of blue chips - Dow Jones, the greatest contribution to decrease in the indicator made the representatives of hi-tech sector: Hewlett-Packard (-2,3%), Microsoft (-1,42%), Cisco Systems (-0,65%).

Besides, in the days which have remained to New year, statistical departments will submit data on the housing market, in particular housing prices, sales of new buildings and incomplete sales of houses. The research organization Conference Board will publish data on dynamics of an index of consumer confidence in the USA for December. While stock markets stiffened waiting for news from America regarding "fiscal cliff".

Asian share indexes bargain today in more expanded structure, than yesterday, however the stock exchanges of Australia and Hong Kong are still closed in connection with celebration of Catholic Christmas. At the same time the Japanese Nikkei index continues the ascending movement caused by the next round of weakening of national currency, but the index of continental China SSE corrects today a yesterday's steady growth.

The Japanese yen continues today to decrease, USD/JPY pair bargains at the level of 85,3, again updating thereby an one-and-a-half-year maximum, and approaching a maximum of 2 years, established at the level of 85,5.

Yesterday futures of gold rose in price in Tokyo for the first time for the last four days this is connected with statements of the new prime minister of Japan Shinzo Abe who is the supporter of "soft" approach to economy. He insists that if the Central Bank of the country will not raise a level of inflation for stimulation of economic growth, he will change his powers. All this promotes that gold acts again for investors as "smooth water". Today this morning, we can see gold traded on a level of 1655.98. Silver is slightly strengthening and traded at level of 29.95, getting closer to a level of 30 dollars per troy ounce.

Copyright: United World Capital

 

[UWC Neeraj]

27 DECEMBER 2012: MARKETS WAIT FOR NEWS FROM WASHINGTON

DAILY MARKET REVIEWS
by Arne Treholt Vice-President of Business Development and Investments

The European stock exchanges were closed yesterday, but American indexes showed not so positive dynamics and were closed with a decrease. Dow Jones lost 0.18%, but Nasdaq and S&P500 were closed with a fall of 0.74% and 0.47% accordingly. Fears of the American investors are again connected with a dependence of the main problem of year - "fiscal cliff", and also with a ceiling of the public debt which limit, according to the Minister of Finance - Timothy Geithner, will be reached already on December 31 of the current year.

Also oil to fire was added by data on retails which were record-breaking low, their volume from October 28 till December 24 grew only by 0,7% in comparison with the similar period last year. Master Card also specifies that many people show today restraint in the purchases, being afraid of "fiscal cliff" which can come on January 1 and bring with itself increase of taxes.

Futures for WTI brand oil yesterday jumped up for $2,37 to $90,98 for barrel. Today WTI oil is traded on a level of $91,18 for barrel, Brent is decreasing less than 0,2%, bargaining at the level of $111,05 for barrel.

Gold loses the positions in one of the last days of 2012, trading passes very inertly as many participants of the market already left for holidays. Gold is losing 0.25% and traded on a level of $1656.50, silver is bargaining around level of $30.00 second day in a row.

Absolutely other situation is observed in copper futures which add more than 1.3%. Quotations break through a level of $7900 after the National bureau of statistics of the People's Republic of China reported that the profit of the industrial companies in the country grew in November by 22.8% in comparison with the similar period last year. China is the largest consumer of copper therefore investors hope that recovery of the Chinese economy will positively influence demand for metal.

Copyright: United World Capital

 

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28 DECEMBER 2012: LAST TALKS ON “FISCAL CLIFF” STRENGTHEN EURO

DAILY MARKET REVIEWS
by Arne Treholt Vice-President of Business Development and Investments

President Barack Obama and lawmakers are launching a last chance round of budget talks just days before a New Year’s deadline to reach a deal to avoid a “fiscal cliff”: an increase of USD 600 billion of taxes and budget cuts to be automatically executed from January 1st if politicians fail to find a budget compromise. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will meet with congressional leaders from both parties in the afternoon today. The news has for now strengthened risk appetite and Euro/USD is up.

The two political parties remained far apart particularly over plans to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans to help close the US budget deficit. The coming days are likely to see intense bargaining over numbers or political theatre as each side attempt to avoid blame if a deal looks unlikely.

US stocks sharply cut losses and rose on news of the House reconvening as investors clung to hopes of an 11th –hour deal. Even a partial agreement on taxes that would leave tougher issues like entitlement reform and the debt ceiling until later could be enough to keep markets calm. US stocks recovered, but fell for a fourth day after a jittery session which saw a one % fall after Senate Majority leader, Henry Reid, initially warned that a deal was unlikely. Stock markets recovered and ended flat on news on new negotiations. Dow Jones ended down 0,14 % to 13 096 after a one percentage free fall in the opening of yesterday’s session.

Asian shares inched higher on signs that Washington is making a last ditch effort to reach a budget compromise. The USD/JPY fell to its lowest level in 2 years trading at 86,64, and Japanese stocks to 21 months high on expectations of drastic monetary easing. Australian shares rose to a 19 month high and are on track to post its strongest annual gain since 2009. Oil prices rose on hopes of a US political deal. Brent crude reached USD 111 a barrel.

EURO/USD has recovered to 1.3240 after falling to 1.3170 before Christmas on news of failed budget negotiations. A budget settlement will create renewed optimism for continued US economic growth and increased risk appetite which will strengthen the Euro and smaller currencies. Australian dollar hit a 20-month peak against the yen at 89,93 and is also up against the USD.

Copyright: United World Capital

 

[UWC Neeraj]

31 DECEMBER 2012: LAST DITCH EFFORTS TO AVOID “FISCAL CLIFF”

DAILY MARKET REVIEWS
by Arne Treholt Vice-President of Business Development and Investments

Democratic and Republican leaders pushed the United States to the edge of the “fiscal cliff” on Sunday as they struggled to reach a last-minute deal that could protect the world largest economy from a politically induced recession. Senate lawmakers are still hoping to clear the way for swift action thereby avoiding sweeping tax increases and spending cuts due to tick in on Tuesday, January 1st. The two sides are, however, still at loggerheads in talks. Senate was adjourned yesterday and meet again today for a last ditch effort to reach a compromise.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid last night postponed any possible votes; “There are still significant differences between the two sides”, Reid stated. President Obama had originally proposed a USD 250 000 income threshold for increased taxes. The Republicans are in principle against all tax increases, but has voiced a compromise threshold on USD 1 million. The parties are also wide apart on possible budget spending cuts.

As hours ticked away it appeared increasingly unlikely to avoid a USD 600 billion hammer blow to the fragile US economy recovery. Americans could see a bigger bite taken out of their pay checks starting on 1st January as payroll and income tax cuts expire. Two million unemployed Americans could see their jobless benefits run out. The uncertainties have weighed in on global, financial market. Investors are likely to sell off stocks at the beginning of the new year expressing their displeasure with a no deal.

In a rare appearance on Sunday’s NBCs “Meet the Press”, president Barack Obama warned against the immediate negative effects on markets and blamed the Republicans for rejecting significant presented compromises. His accusations were flatly refused by Republican spokesmen.

Due also to Christmas and the New year holidays investors have been sitting on the side lines waiting for Washington to act. US markets were down for a fifth straight session on Friday, and there were small changes in the currency and commodity markets. Euro/USD is trading around 1.3215 up from last week’s low on 1.3175. USD/JPY is stabile on 86 yen to a dollar. Oil prices are high with Brent crude above USD 110 a barrel. No major changes in commodity and precious metal prices. Gold is at USD 1660 an ounce.

Copyright: United World Capital