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Today’s FTSE 100 Binary Tip

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Binary betting on the FTSE 100 is fun. We tell you if the FTSE 100 will close up or down at 16:30. Click here to learn more about binary betting.

Economic Calendar

Important announcements today (UK Time):

Today	08:55	German unemployment change
Today	12:30	US GDP
Today	12:30	US jobless claims
Today	13:00	German CPI
Today	14:00	US pending home sales

Hawkish Fed keeps investors off balance. | CMC Markets UK

What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate”, is a line from a great film, Cool Hand Luke, but it could equally apply to the policy machinations of the US Federal Reserve FOMC rate committee, let me explain.

In September the Fed gave us a dovish hold, largely due to concerns about events overseas, and rather controversially, when the economic data was undoubtedly much better than it is now, yet six weeks later, we get a hawkish hold when we've seen a significant deterioration in that same US data, on top of another policy easing from the Chinese central bank, as well as the potential for additional easing measures, from the ECB.

This does rather beg the question as to whether the Fed really has any idea at all about what it is trying to communicate.

Certainly the decision by the US Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged wasn’t too much of a surprise given the lack of a press conference, but the tone of the statement certainly was, particularly in light of the recent dovish comments from senior members of the Federal Reserve Board, and the recent slowdown seen in the most recent economic data.

The statement’s hawkish tone would appear to suggest that the Fed is willing to go to great lengths to keep its options open with respect to keeping a December rate rise on the table, and keep the markets guessing.

In the process the FOMC appears to be playing down any concerns it may have with respect to the strength of the US dollar and the continued weakness in the US manufacturing sector, and potentially the wider economy.

It does run the risk however of giving the impression it has about as much clue as to what is going on with the US economy, as the rest of us, and that can’t be good for its credibility.

As far as the statement was concerned the line about recent global and economic events restraining economic activity, was removed, while the committee stated that they were seeing solid gains in household spending and investment, which makes you wonder what data it is they are looking at, though it did acknowledge the slowdown in jobs growth, removing the line about an improving jobs market.

via www.cmcmarkets.co.uk

FTSE 100 is leading the way

The FTSE continued to pullback and is now underperforming the S&P. If the S&P rallies to its target the FTSE is unlikely to make a new high above 6488. Sentiment is bullish but investors are not interpreting the news in a positive way. Yesterday’s data was negative and the FTSE closed down. UK GDP, US core durable goods orders, US services PMI and CB consumer confidence all came in lower than expected. It would appear investors are no longer focussing on interest rates, instead they are concerned by the economy. This is a sign sentiment is about to turn bearish, and we can expect the Fed to be in a similar state. Today’s release of the FOMC meeting minutes at 18:00 should be dovish for the market, the weak economy means interest rates are unlikely to rise. So the stock market should be excited by the prospect of no rate hike, yet the FTSE is struggling to rally. As we have seen on many occasions, the FTSE is leading the way, the S&P may rally tonight but the FTSE is telling us that the next move will be down.

+543 pts in the last four trades on the FTSE 100, join the service now and receive our accurate trading signals

FTSE100 tipped to ease at the open | 26 October 2015 | Stock Market Wire

The headline index is tipped to start the week tentatively lower, according to financial websites, as BoE chief plays down the possibility of a UK interest rate hike and despite solid gains in the US on Friday, while Asian markets got off to a mixed start today.

US & ASIA

In the US overnight Friday, the Dow gained 158 points to close at 17,647, the Nasdaq added 112 points at 5,032 and the S&P 500 climbed 22 points higher to 2,075.

In Asia today, the Nikkei was recently up 116 points at 18,941, while the Hang Seng had fallen 16 points at 23,136.

WTI crude oil traded at $44.7 a barrel and Brent at $48.06.

Gold settled at $1,165.68 an ounce.

LONDON MARKETS

In the corporate diary today, a trading statement is due from WPP Group, final results are expected from Avacta Group and Trinity Capital is set to host a shareholder meeting.

via www.stockmarketwire.com

Economic Calendar

Important announcements today (UK Time):

Today	08:30	German manufacturing PMI
Today	09:00	EU manufacturing PMI
Today	14:45	US manufacturing PMI

FTSE100 tipped to open higher this morning | 23 October 2015 | Stock Market Wire

The headline index is seen opening on a positive note, following on from gains on Wall St and in Asia overnight but with little in the way of corporate news scheduled to spur trader activity.

US & ASIA

In the US overnight, the Dow added 320 points to 17,489, the Nasdaq rose 80 to 4920 and the S&P 500 firmed 34 to 2053.

In Asia, the Nikkei 225 rose 383 to 18,819, the Hang Seng added 307 to 23,152 and the Shanghai was broadly flat at 3369.

WTI crude oil traded at $45.50 a barrel and Brent at $48.37.

Gold was trading around $1168/oz.

via www.stockmarketwire.com

FTSE 100 is behaving as expected

Sentiment is one of the most important indicators, when sentiment is bullish odds favour a rally. There is support above 6300 and once again we saw the FTSE approaching this level last night. Today the index is bouncing back. Why hasn't the index broken decisively below 6300? Probably because today we have an important announcement from the ECB. At 1.30pm Mario Draghi will speak and there are rumours that he will announce more stimulus measures to boost the economy.

When people anticipate good news there are in a state of bullish sentiment which is reflected in the rising BTI (sentiment indicator). The market will struggle to go down in that situation. But bad news today at 1.30pm will send the index lower. We are prepared.

Given the uncertainty today and tomorrow we closed our FTSE 100 December trade yesterday and banked another 61 pts. In total we have taken 543 pts in the last four trades. And we are making money on options too, +500 pts since April.

To receive regular analysis and trading signals on the FTSE 100, options, S&P 500, EUR/USD and Gold subscribe to Better Trader

Economic Calendar

Important announcements today (UK Time):

Today	09:30	UK retail sales
Today	12:45	EU interest rate decision
Today	13:30	US jobless claims
Today	13:30	ECB press conference
Today	15:00	US existing home sales