Press Releases and Articles

Bear to be bold

More 2003 insights, this time from John Cassie, equities trader at Arden Partners and a man with over 40 years experience of doing deals at this time of year.

Traditionally, investors, fresh from the Christmas and New Year celebrations, look more favourably on stock valuations and generate a surge in dealing that pushes up prices.

But not this year. With concerns over war in Iraq, the US dollar, deflation in Germany and a downturn in consumer spending in the UK, Mr Cassie says so far dealing volumes have been "disappointing". "There is so much going on in the world some people are being cautious," he says.

There are special situations in smaller stocks - the area in which Arden focuses - which attract interest and dealing fees.

For instance, yesterday 300,000 Aston Villa shares changed hands - a large number for a tightly held stock - and there has been interest in floor coverings specialist Headlam and Wyevale Garden Centres.