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EUROPEAN STOCKS ROSE today before the New Year break, capping a year of bumper gains on the back of growing economic optimism and easier monetary policy from top central banks.
In late morning deals, London’s FTSE 100 index advanced 0.36 per cent to 6,755.79 points and the Paris CAC 40 won 0.25 per cent to 4,286.60, on the final trading day for both bourses before shutting for New Year’s Day.
“In today’s shortened session, the FTSE is moving higher as traders prepare to pop the champagne corks,” said analyst David Madden at trading firm IG.
Not only will they be celebrating in honour of New Year’s Eve, but also because 2013 has been a stellar year for the stock market.
Frankfurt’s DAX 30 was closed on today, one day after falling 0.39 per cent to finish the year at 9,552.16 points.
Over the course of 2013, however, Frankfurt stocks soared by a staggering 25.5 per cent, striking a series of record peaks. The British and French markets are on course for annual gains of about 15 per cent in value.
Stocks have been boosted this year by the upbeat global economic outlook, low interest rates and central bank stimulus policies.
“Markets have been propped up by looser monetary policies and stimulus from the US Federal Reserve, Bank of England, Bank of Japan and European Central Bank, as investors take advantage of the ample supply of liquidity being pumped by these central banks,” ETX Capital trader Ishaq Siddiqi told AFP.
He added that the “low interest rate environment for US, UK and eurozone means the atmosphere in general is seen as accommodative, allowing risk appetite to build”.
In addition, sentiment was bolstered after the Fed decided earlier this month to scale back its stimulus, sparking hopes that the US economy was back on track.
Across in Asia on Tuesday, equities mostly rose on the last day of 2013, after another record-breaking session on Wall Street.
Dealers also drew strength from the Dow’s record close overnight on Wall Street, with the market jumping 0.16 per cent to register its fourth all-time high in the past five sessions and the 51st of the year.
“Clearly, the Federal Reserve’s decision to begin scaling back its quantitative easing program a couple of weeks ago is still providing investors with the confidence to buy into the rally,” added Alpari analyst Craig Erlam.
A man walks by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo. (Pic: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Asia
The Hong Kong stock market meanwhile added 0.26 per cent to close at 23,306.39 points — putting on 2.87 per cent in 2013. Sydney was flat but closed the year more than 15 per cent higher.
Shanghai added 0.88 per cent. However, the Chinese market finished down 6.75 per cent for 2013, making it one of the world’s worst performers.
In June and again in December, a cash crunch in China’s financial markets fuelled worries about the economy, which was already suffering a slowdown that had knock-on effects for other nations dependent on Beijing for growth.
Tuesday’s modest advance had followed a pledge by the central bank, the People’s Bank of China, to maintain an “appropriate” level of liquidity.
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I was hoping it wouldn’t be true about Bill but my hope is slowly fading.
Maybe he isn’t commenting so that trial by media can kick off and he can then claim that he has no chance of getting a fair trial?
Why is this not a race issue,? All the victims so.far are white, if it was a white male and the victims were black, the riots would be in full swing
Bernard – we do not know all the victims yet as it would seem there are more to come forward.
In all fairness, most women in the US are white, so if you’re going to go out and rape a load of random women, statistically speaking, they’ll probably be white.
This analysis is inexplicably omitted from most introductory stats courses.
Most U.S. Women are white? Where’d you get that statistic?
Without knowing the actual figures, there really isn’t any doubt that the majority of people (and therefore presumably women) in the US are white. And that stands even if you exclude hispanic white people (which I wouldn’t).
Brian- It’s only from Wikipedia, cause I’m not arsed getting a better source but whatevs. It mentions the US census.
“White Americans are the racial majority, with a 77.7% share of the U.S. population, according to the 2013 U.S. Census. Hispanic and Latino Americans amount to 17.1% of the population, making up the largest minority. African Americans are the largest racial minority, amounting to 13.2% of the population. The White, non-Hispanic or Latino population make up 62.6% of the nation’s total.”
I’m starting to get confused with my maths now actually, and I’m not sure that I’m right. =/ Too many numbers.
Not looking good Bill
Not looking good indeed
Ghost dad Janice,it was ghost dad.
Nor is Janice these days – ‘twould be like sleeping with Steven Tyler …
Was he too good to be true I wonder?.
He always looked so smug. Does this make him a rapist?. Janet Dickinson not too stable herself.
Only time will tell.
Of course Mary, I totally forgot that only well adjusted stable people get raped. People who are not too stable never do. And no looking smug does not make you a rapist.
“He always looked so smug. Does this make him a rapist?”
No – pretty sure it’s raping that makes someone a rapist.
“Janet Dickinson not too stable herself.”
Ah, of course! I forgot that only stable people get raped. Amazing point.
It’s hard to doubt that many victims and I can well believe it’s true but that’s for a court to decide, kinda weird though that in his previous comedy gigs he joked about drugging women to rape them, guess art imitates life or vice versa!
Stand up link for anyone who wants to listen to it
Bill Cosby – Spanish Fly: http://youtu.be/LAorIG6MZnc
The passage of time alone would have made that sound very off-colour, but wow – it REALLY sounds bad now. Ew.
It’s a bit like that time Rolf Harris turned out to have recorded a video of the song “My Body’s Nobody’s Body But Mine” with a bunch of kids. Only not _quite_ as ironic.
Janice Dickinson didn’t even know which one of her lovers was the father of her baby, that tells us all we need to know.
Does it? How so?
So it’s ok for her to be raped?
She’s a fame hungry tramp. See I’m a celebrity series one.
You say rape, I say surprise.
It certainly wasn’t series one of I’m a celebrity
Fact, have you got a riddle for us by any chance?
Disgusting comment fact. Shame on you.
She was a top model in the earlier years and she was on america’ s next top model as a judge .
Stop feeding the troll guys, FFS.
I always thought Lisa Bonet looked uncomfortable in his company on the Cosby Show ….
Do not look at Angel Heart Pontius – it will make you feel oh so old !
Quit talking dung will ya.
Alex Ferguson is next. Tick Tock.
Libellous to say the least. In a couple of years you’d get 5 years for that
he didn’t give an address – how many Mr. Ferguson’s on the Planet …loads of them !
@the truth – there is no libel any more
“there is no libel any more”
What on earth is that supposed to mean?
He’s the Jimmy saville of nbc .
I can remember that he was always a bit too touchy feely with that girl that played his daughter. From what I can remember she fits the profile of his type of victim.
As in she was female.
no young and innocent looking and over the top pretty
It is time for Bill to pay the bill.
Cosby not payin the bill he’s gonna go to jail!
Sheeeeee and I thought I was alone…….
Anyone who makes a show as terrible as the Cosby Show, is obviously a deviant of some sort. Terrible, terrible show.
@thetruth: What part of my comment is ‘libellous’? Why could I go to jail? I didn’t threaten anyone.
Are you offended? Go tell your mammy.
Your understanding of libel is comparable to your understanding of “Reply” buttons.
Zzźing well said zozzy
I like this new Zozzy guy.
I never knew another one my childhood Heroes masked in sleaze
Is this a riddle?
have your say