Global Markets

International stock markets saw a good rise over the first part of the week, with markets rising around 2.5% and close on Wednesday with the FTSE trading around the 5500 levels. Lower oil prices aided markets, along with good gains from miners after the unsolicited £5bn bid by Exstrata for Lonmin, better than expected earnings from BNP Paribas and higher than expected housing sales in the US all pushing the markets higher on Wednesday.

Thursday saw a different picture, with the Dow Jones coming off its six week high, pairing gains from Wednesday and financials suffering. This after AIG announced a loss of $5.36bn and Citigroup, the world’s largest bank by asset, ordered to pay a $100mn fine and aid clients to get out of trades, after selling them auction-rate securities.

Unemployment figures in the US also spurred losses, reaching the highest levels in six years. Both the ECB and Bank of England left rates on hold at 4.25% and 5% respectively. Hawkish comments from ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet also dented confidence in Europe towards the close on Thursday.

Global Markets

The financial markets were significantly choppy this week, as a barrage of macro economic and sector specific data were released from all corners of the world. My opinion is that the market has become overly bombarded with 'data' to the extent that participants can not discern between relevant information and noise.

Understandably, we are living and trading in uncertain times, with the sub prime woes and overall global growth contraction, looming over us. Graph 1 and Graph 2 (graphs provided by Bloomberg) serve as testimony to the volatility we have seen this week. Long or short, the volatility would have triggered a number of stops on trading positions. Thus going into the new week, the House view is dollar neutral. I expect the volatility we have seen this week to persist as we get closer to the end of the reporting season.

Global Markets

After a fairly bullish start to the week, jobless and housing stats sent the Dow Jones Industrials into a slight collapse on Thursday’s trade. Concerns about the aftermath of the Freddie and Fanny fiasco are still weighing on the minds of many investors. A stronger USD came about from Paulson, talking of a bill due to be passed by congress, regarding the aforementioned issue that looks to strengthen confidence. On the back of that announcement, the USD rose 0.2%, breaking through a significant technical barrier of 1.5900 to the EURO.

Global Markets

Sentiment across the global markets was again dampened this week by the persistent rise in the price of black gold. Oil rose once again on the back of a weaker dollar to a record $146.30 per barrel. Supply concerns emerged from Iran to further push the price higher and comments from the OPEC meeting in Spain indicated supply and demand were in balance.

A brief respite was seen across local bourses as investors clung on any positive news that came out of the US. JP Morgan surprised with smaller than predicted losses and jobless claims released on Thursday were better then expected. This, coupled with mega oversold positions of major world indices, prompted a powerful rally on Wednesday with the DOW up almost 300pts.

Global Markets

Sentiment remained volatile ahead of important second quarter earnings out of the US. Stocks advanced earlier this week as a result of a pullback in crude prices and the Fed extending its lending program to financial institutions.This, coupled with a general retrenchment in commodity prices, resulted in a brief rally in equities.

Towards the end of the week, geo-political uncertainty in the Middle East triggered a rally in crude (settling around the $142 level) with the important Straight of Hormuz potentially at threat, this as a result of Iran's aggressive diplomacy (or lack thereof) and its missile testing.

Global Markets

Sentiment across the global markets was again dampened this week by the persistent rise in the price of black gold. Oil rose once again on the back of a weaker dollar to a record $146.30 per barrel. Supply concerns emerged from Iran to further push the price higher and comments from the OPEC meeting in Spain indicated supply and demand were in balance.

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Trading is heavily influenced by the psychological individual person. The failures or success of a trader can often be brought back to the psychological state they were in when entering or exiting a trade. To consistently trade successfully, traders need to temper their emotional swings. Doing this is not a today to tomorrow thing for most traders, but a gradual process of learning, self questioning, familiarization and application of discipline.

Knowing one’s own personality, risk tolerance and lifestyle is an important part of any traders business. Here are a few insights into trader psychology that can help traders on the path to a better, more successful trading career.

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On Stock Investor Network you will find like-minded members dedicated to helping each other solve online business problems, find new suppliers, win new customers, share experiences and practical advice.

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Contract For Difference (CFD) are a new trading product in South Africa that give traders more trading power, flexibility and trading opportunities. Since the introduction of CFDs as a trading product in South Africa, they have become very popular.

This is a quick tutorial on how to trade CFDs to demonstrate just how easy trading is and why it is they are so popular. For those just getting started on CFD trading this tutorial will quickly get you up and running.

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Nedbank Capital Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are an exciting new trading product that allows investors exposure to JSE-listed securities on a leveraged basis.

A contract for difference (CFD) is an over-the-counter derivative contract under which two parties agree to exchange the difference between the opening and the closing value of the contract, with reference to an underlying equity instrument.

CFDs allow investors to position themselves in relation to the rise or fall of JSE-listed securities, without the need for ownership of the securities.

CFDs are a leveraged product that requires from an investor a deposit of cash as margin rather than the payment of the full value of the underlying position.

Depending on the position taken by such an investor, the investor may be either the long or the short counterparty to the CFD. Effectively cash is being borrowed by the long counterparty and lent by the short counterparty in respect of the underlying security.