Lou Gutheil

I’ve been watching the FTSE 250 index this morning as it has been struggling to reach its all time high of 12,220.  Through the morning it has climbed over 30 points, but the last four or five were the toughest.  Then, during the noon hour, just when it appeared that the 2007 record was about […]

Whilst necessity may be the mother of invention, As Seen on Screen (ASOS) has proven that inspiration is the mother of innovation. The share price of ASOS (LSE:ASC) rose 91.00 pence (3.69%) in trading today on the news of an outstanding 1st quarter.  Good financial reports from retailers are hard to come by these days […]

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is seldom discussed, but when it speaks, we ought to listen. “As an organization of central banks, the BIS seeks to make monetary policy more predictable and transparent among its 58 member central banks. While monetary policy is determined by each sovereign nation, it is subject to central and private banking […]

There is a Ally Bank commercial in the US that goes something like this: TV Host:  “Tonight, our guest . . . Thomas Sergeant, Nobel Laureate in economics and one of the most cited economists in the world . . .  Professor Sergeant, can you tell me what CD rates will be in two years?” […]

The Middle East has its Arab Spring; the UK has its Autumn Statement.  The Arab Spring bombed.  So far the Autumn Statement is going over like a fart in church, at least with the environmentally inclined. What the Autumn Report Does The new UK energy strategy focuses on increased production of gas, largely through investing […]

HSBC (LSE:HSBA) is liquidating its entire stake in Ping, an Insurance Group of China for nearly $9.4 billion (£5.84 billion). As a result of the sale, HSBC’s core tier 1 capital ratio will increase by 0.5% whilst its total capital ratio will be bolstered by 1.0%.  Those ratios as at 30 September 2012 were 11.7% […]

Amino Technologies (LSE:AMO) is proving that focus is one of the keys to achieving corporate goals.  After announcing its trading update for the year ending 30 November, Amino’s share price rose nearly 15% from 57.00 pence to 65.25 pence by mid-afternoon. The word “focus” appears no less than four times in the  brief report. The […]

“What launched as the Bank of England’s great white hope risks looking like a white elephant.”  That is the assessment of Christopher Shaw, CEO of Platform Black, commenting on the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) taxpayer bailout of flailing and failing UK banks.  I know that “white elephant” is not a circus animal, but this […]

Two days ago we posted an article about Sir Mervyn King and the Bank of England which described the inept management of the Bank with respect to forecasting the economy.  Today we can show you an example of a company that understands the wisdom of getting it right by properly managing their business. Instead of […]

After losing nearly 25% of its value between 06 November and 12 November, Balfour Beatty (LSE:BBY) is inching its way back toward the 320.00 mark with a 6.00 pence gain to 253.1 approaching the 14:00 hour. BBY share price dropped earlier this month, charting with a glide path like a father jumping into the Thames […]