Aluminium and nickel: riding the sanctions rollercoaster
Industrial metals prices have made some solid gains this year, and leading the pack are those that have been affected by the changing geopolitical landscape in recent weeks
Weak US payrolls number hints at tight labour market
Fewer jobs than expected were created in the US during March, but rather than suggesting a burgeoning weak spot in its economy, many believe the slowdown in jobs growth is emblematic of a tightening labour market
Spotify IPO: is the stock listing music to investors' ears?
Having never made an annual profit, Spotify – the music streaming service – launched on Nasdaq this week to great acclaim and a share price pop that quickly overshadowed the company's initial listing price
The risks of cryptocurrencies laid bare
Cryptocurrencies are so new to the world of investment that debate still rages – as it does around foreign exchange – about whether we call them an asset class. But one thing was made perfectly clear at the end of 2017: they belong at the riskier end of the investment spectrum
AIM’s ideals questioned as average market cap hits record
AIM describes itself on owner London Stock Exchange's website as "the most successful growth market in the world", and this week the Alternative Investment Market's average market capitalisation hit a record high
Dollar doldrums likely to persist on clouded risk outlook
The US dollar has been the weakest of the G10 currencies - barring the odd uptick - for about 15 months and has demonstrated that economic strength and interest rate hikes do not necessarily act in support of a currency
Rising geopolitical risk and its impact on assets
Hegel, the German philosopher, said that periods of happiness are empty pages in history. While peace and tranquility usually bring gains to financial markets, they tend to be slow-building and cyclical - depending on the state of the economy
Higher copper prices are coming
As global economic barometers go, copper has been a fairly-accurate indicator of global growth during the past 10 years
Fractals: what are they and how to use them
Fractals belong in the more abstract bracket of mathematics and are used in trading to help identify points in a chart where a reversal looks likely
How volatility products aggravated equity correction
Stock markets across the globe suffered a sharp sell-off in late January and early February. While it was assumed fears of the impact of rising inflation on the pace of US rate hikes was the trigger, the sell-off was exacerbated by exchange-traded products based on volatility measures, a new report finds
US markets welcome jobs boost as wage growth dips
Jobs growth in the US keeps surprising Wall Street analysts and during February, just a slight disappointment on wage growth marred another great set of labour market data, published on Friday
Dovish ECB stance masks hawkish policy message
How does one communicate an increasingly hawkish policy path in an utterly dovish manner? Step forward Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, who delivered a masterclass in nuance at Thursday's February governing council press conference
The rise of whistleblowers and how they affect prices
Strong governance is essential when promoting a company to potential investors, and a rise in whistleblowing alerting the public to poor corporate practices could be seen as damaging
The top bitcoin alternatives you should know about
In the fluid and ever-changing world of financial markets, one small corner finds a seething cauldron of bubbling activity that is cryptocurrency trade
Maplin and Toys R Us latest victims of UK retail transformation
The transformation of Britain's high street continues with the likely disappearance of another two well-known retail brands as the owners of Toys R Us and Maplin put their businesses up for sale