Professional money managers are once again having to look hard into their crystal balls, tea leaves, mirrors on the wall or whatever place it is that gives them insight on the markets.   Read More

What started out as a modest retreat in oil, softness in gold and a gentle rotation of metals into banks and financials has become something more compelling. In fact rather annoyingly for the momentum investors who follow the trend - the certainty of ever higher commodity prices is starting to be challenged.    Read More

You have to wonder at markets and analysts for that matter. They are fickle creatures.    Read More

This is not a time to get stressed about losing money – but to refocus on who is still generating sustainable earnings.   Read More

First things first. I promised our US viewers a couple of handy phrases to learn now that Anheuser-Busch has embraced the Belgian/Brazilian combo at Inbev. If toasting your Belgian acquirer: ‘a votre sante’ or ‘ap uw gezondheid’ will suffice – of course being mindful of the need to work out whether they are from the Flemish or Franco side of the country.    Read More

The music doesn't sound so sweet over at high-end audio-visual equipment maker Bang & Olufsen. The Danish company announced a downgrade on profit expectations for the year this morning.   Read More

The developed markets are likely to continue to underperform, while the commodity and emerging market indices will generate better returns.    Read More

The markets have worked themselves into a frenzy of navel contemplation about today's Fed meeting, and the "consensus" seems to be investors are collectively worried about Ben Bernanke & Co. sounding too hawkish.   Read More

Blowout retail sales numbers for the UK in May are only further confusing the fixed-income markets. Surging sales in food and clothing challenge the bank of England's forecast that consumer spending is set to slow sharply this year, bringing inflation back toward the target rate of 2 percent.   Read More

There are obviously some positive aspects to the cleansing and rejuvenating performed by efficiently-managed capital. And Chinese managers will do well taking that message on board -- but when western bankers start invoking the impressive powers of leveraged equity, let us hope they are given less attention.   Read More