Tips for beating the market tend to come and go quickly, but one has held up extremely well: if executives, directors or others with inside knowledge of a public company are buying or selling shares, investors should consider doing the same thing.
Indeed, much research shows that insider trading activity is a valuable barometer of broad shifts in market and sector sentiment. But, before chasing each insider move, outsiders need to consider the factors that dictate the timing of trades and the factors that conceal the motivations.
Read the full article at investopedia.com
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Oil, maize price risks to S.Africa inflation - survey
South Africa's inflation prospects have improved this year, but higher international oil and maize prices could cloud the outlook, the Bureau of Economic Research (BER) said on Wednesday.
In its quarterly economic survey, the BER said inflation was unlikely to breach the upper end of the central bank's 3-6 percent target range and forecast an average CPIX increase of 5.4 percent this year, up from 4.6 percent in 2006.
International oil prices have pushed higher over the past few weeks to more than $60 a barrel after briefly dipping below $50 a barrel, raising the prospect of higher domestic fuel prices adding to inflationary pressures.
Maize prices have surged to four-year highs and are up by 30 percent since the beginning of the year, the BER said in a statement.
Read more at Reuters South Africa
In its quarterly economic survey, the BER said inflation was unlikely to breach the upper end of the central bank's 3-6 percent target range and forecast an average CPIX increase of 5.4 percent this year, up from 4.6 percent in 2006.
International oil prices have pushed higher over the past few weeks to more than $60 a barrel after briefly dipping below $50 a barrel, raising the prospect of higher domestic fuel prices adding to inflationary pressures.
Maize prices have surged to four-year highs and are up by 30 percent since the beginning of the year, the BER said in a statement.
Read more at Reuters South Africa
S.African stocks slide anew on tax, global jitters
South African stocks slid on Wednesday amid a global sell-off as worries about a possible windfall tax on miners hit resource stocks and Naspers tumbled on news it will sell new shares to raise cash.
The Johannesburg Top-40 index of blue-chip stocks dropped 1.11 percent to 23,176 points after tumbling more than 3 percent the previous day, halting a rally that took the index to a string of record highs.
The All-share index tripped 1.08 percent lower to 25,795.99 points.
Read more at Reuters South Africa
The Johannesburg Top-40 index of blue-chip stocks dropped 1.11 percent to 23,176 points after tumbling more than 3 percent the previous day, halting a rally that took the index to a string of record highs.
The All-share index tripped 1.08 percent lower to 25,795.99 points.
Read more at Reuters South Africa
S.Africa trade balance swings back into red
South Africa's monthly trade balance swung back sharply into deficit in January after a small surplus in December, keeping pressure on the ailing current account.
The massive 11.94 billion rand shortfall was just off the record gap of October last year, and was way above forecasts of a 3.3 billion rand deficit.
The South Africa Revenue Service (SARS) data -- which is notoriously volatile -- recorded an unexpected 0.39 billion rand surplus in December, raising hopes that the series of large deficits had ended.
Read more at Reuters South Africa
The massive 11.94 billion rand shortfall was just off the record gap of October last year, and was way above forecasts of a 3.3 billion rand deficit.
The South Africa Revenue Service (SARS) data -- which is notoriously volatile -- recorded an unexpected 0.39 billion rand surplus in December, raising hopes that the series of large deficits had ended.
Read more at Reuters South Africa
Rand takes a knock
The rand weakened against the dollar on Wednesday after a choppy session which saw the currency hit by poor trade numbers and continuing emerging market nervousness.
The rand zig-zagged in a 7-cent band in the session, losing about 0.7% after the trade numbers showed that South Africa's deficit ran at R11.9bn in January after a R0.39bn surplus in December.
At 17:25, the rand stood at R7.2880/$, slightly weaker than its New York close of R7.2780, and traders said the currency's short-term outlook was shaky in light of continuing global uncertainties.
Read more at FIN24.co.za
The rand zig-zagged in a 7-cent band in the session, losing about 0.7% after the trade numbers showed that South Africa's deficit ran at R11.9bn in January after a R0.39bn surplus in December.
At 17:25, the rand stood at R7.2880/$, slightly weaker than its New York close of R7.2780, and traders said the currency's short-term outlook was shaky in light of continuing global uncertainties.
Read more at FIN24.co.za
Gold rally set to continue
Standard Chartered Bank says gold's recent rally is set to continue.
Helen Henton, head of commodity research at Standard Chartered Bank says that framed in the context of current dollar weakness, the gold rally looks set to continue heading higher.
Read more at FIN24.co.za
Helen Henton, head of commodity research at Standard Chartered Bank says that framed in the context of current dollar weakness, the gold rally looks set to continue heading higher.
Read more at FIN24.co.za
Click fraud costs Google $1bn
Google on Thursday made public more information about the extent of click fraud on its ad network to further clarify what it says are misperceptions about the issue.
Loosely-defined, click fraud occurs when an internet ad is clicked upon for nefarious reasons, such as driving up a business competitor's ad costs.
The practice takes advantage of how internet advertisers pay a small fee to Google and other internet ad providers each time one of their ads is clicked upon.
Read more at FIN24.co.za
Loosely-defined, click fraud occurs when an internet ad is clicked upon for nefarious reasons, such as driving up a business competitor's ad costs.
The practice takes advantage of how internet advertisers pay a small fee to Google and other internet ad providers each time one of their ads is clicked upon.
Read more at FIN24.co.za
OPEC likely to keep oil output steady, Nigeria reiterates
OPEC is leaning towards maintaining current oil output when it meets on March 15, but there is a possibility it will opt for a small cut, Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Edmund Daukoru said on Tuesday.
Read more at Reuters South Africa
Read more at Reuters South Africa
S.Africa's Top 40 index opens over 2 pct down
South Africa's blue chip Top-40 index opened over 2 percent lower on Wednesday, after the Dow Jones industrial average slid over 3 percent on Tuesday.
At 0728 GMT, the top 40 index had slipped 2.18 percent, while the JSE All Share index was 2.24 percent weaker.
"It is a continuation of what happened yesterday. We actually outperformed other emerging markets and we are actually just playing catch up," a Cape Town-based trader said.
South African blue chips fell over 3 percent on Tuesday, posting their biggest one-day decline in more than seven months on worries about growth in China and news the government could slap a windfall tax on miners.
Read more at Reuters South Africa
At 0728 GMT, the top 40 index had slipped 2.18 percent, while the JSE All Share index was 2.24 percent weaker.
"It is a continuation of what happened yesterday. We actually outperformed other emerging markets and we are actually just playing catch up," a Cape Town-based trader said.
South African blue chips fell over 3 percent on Tuesday, posting their biggest one-day decline in more than seven months on worries about growth in China and news the government could slap a windfall tax on miners.
Read more at Reuters South Africa
Oil sinks on Chinese sell-off
Oil prices plunged in Asian trade on Wednesday in reaction to steep falls in the Chinese stock market on Tuesday and declines in bourses worldwide, said traders.
At 04:00 GMT New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, was down $1.17 to $60.29 per barrel from $61.46 in late US trades.
Before its fall, the contract reached as high as $62.65 in US hours.
Brent North Sea crude for April delivery was down 96 cents at $60.40 a barrel.
Traders said the selloff in the Chinese stock market and declines in global markets drove crude prices lower.
Read more at FIN24.co.za
At 04:00 GMT New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, was down $1.17 to $60.29 per barrel from $61.46 in late US trades.
Before its fall, the contract reached as high as $62.65 in US hours.
Brent North Sea crude for April delivery was down 96 cents at $60.40 a barrel.
Traders said the selloff in the Chinese stock market and declines in global markets drove crude prices lower.
Read more at FIN24.co.za
Weak rand at world's mercy
South Africa's rand firmed slightly on Wednesday after Tuesday's heavy losses but traders said it would stay under pressure and at the mercy of international developments and stock market movements.
The market would also be watching for local trade data due at 14:00, with the notoriously volatile trade balance expected to have swung back into deficit after December's unexpected, small surplus.
The domestic currency was trading at R7.2728/US$ at 08:55, a touch firmer than its previous close in New York of R7.2780.
Read more at FIN24.co.za
The market would also be watching for local trade data due at 14:00, with the notoriously volatile trade balance expected to have swung back into deficit after December's unexpected, small surplus.
The domestic currency was trading at R7.2728/US$ at 08:55, a touch firmer than its previous close in New York of R7.2780.
Read more at FIN24.co.za
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