Member Info for JohnLewis79

London stocks bounced higher on hopes of economic stimulus packages here and abroad will keep economies from sinking. The ftse had it's second ever best one days points gain jumping 452 (5446) the All 242 and the 250 zoomed 1094 for 9%,9% & 8% gains on the session. The awful PMI nos were ignored in the rush to buy stocks.

In NY a classic rally in a bear territory saw the Dow hit its bigest % gain since 1933 and its bigest ever one day rise in points (2113) an 11% rise on hopes law makers will sign the c.$2trn stimulus package today. Amex, Chevron & Boeing expected to be big beneficiaries of any Govt cash the latter gaining 22%. Investors should not get over excited or think mrkts have hit rock bottom (18213). Af'terall the euphoria it's only a one day volatility rise. Infections and fatalities are going up and NY is in total lockdown. For the moment investors are looking past the impact of the virus.

All sectors saw concerted buying, Airlines, Hotels and Restaurants despite the IHS Composite Output reading falling to 40 from near 50 last month signalling the US is in recession.
At close:
DJ +2113 (20705)
SP +210 (2447)
NS +557 (7418)
R2 + 94 (1097)

Mrkts rose across Asia and the Pan Pacifics following the big jump in stock values on the NYSE on hopes Congress will rubber stamp a c.$2trn rescue package to keep the US economy afloat. Towards close.
TK +1159 (6%)
HK +428 (2%)
SH +42 (2%)
SK +60 (4%)

Nos: Oil $27.95. Vix 62.
Gold $1673. Palm $670.
$ 1.182. € 1.095. PI 5986.
FP 5630. MSCI(W) 416.
FF +33. DF -44.
Morning all.

No use in pleading with the public to shop responsibly and only when you need food or medicines. Its falling on deaf ears. It's a case of I'm alright Jack, sod you mate. Thinking of others is the last thing many are doing at the moment.
How does one stop it. Staff at the tills are frightened they will be verbally abused or worse so turn a blind eye. Are we to have Security Staff or the Police at every till to see to fair play?

The obvious solution is to have supermarkets open 24 hours which would flatten the queues and the store can be readily supplied over the duration.
Unfortunately we're not geared up for this in my part of London. Deliveries are one a day if were lucky. Staff shortages are compounding the problems with food piling up in some store rooms and not on the shelves.
My shopper knows of a case where a young man out of work offered his services free to help keep shelves full. He was told it was against Co policy to employ anyone without an interview, Health & Safety certificate or a job spreadsheet. The mind boggles. I'm passing this on 3rd hand but it doesn't surprise me one bit. Wouldn't have worked in the run up to WW2!

Your Country does not
.............NEED YOU.............

Huge drop off in the PMI nos from 53 to 37 on the index. A number below (50) points to a contraction. It's likely to translate into a 1% fall in GDP.

That's all we need! A Chinese professor of Medicine has warned of a second outbreak of the virus from citizens returning to China from abroad.
Surely not. If they are coming off planes they will go into quarantine immediately! I cannot see the Govt allowing them to wander down their local for a pint and a Big Mack, can you? Nah, no way Jose!

That's all we need! A Chinese professor of Medicine has warned of a second outbreak of the virus from citizens returning to China from abroad.
Surely not. If they are coming off planes they must go into quarantine immediately! I cannot see the Govt allowing them to wander down their local for a pint and a Big Mack, can you? Nah, no way Jose!

One is only allowed to leave home for shopping, walk & work.
What's missed on the shopping is the word 'infrequently', my shopper tells me a second front of locusts has appeared outside Iceland. Obviously returning for a second helping......bastards!

Current price £58 on 1623 traded.

My walk lasted 40 mins up the South Circular for 20 then back. Passed 3 people in total, seems the lockdown is working. Traffic was a la a quiet Sun morning and buses are empty.
They normally run every 5-6 mins I think that's more like 20 now. Jump in your car the roads are empty! My scout tells me the smarkets are all empty nothing anybody wants is all that's left! Dont panic theres plenty of food for all....heh heh heh!

Have to say where I live the supermarkets are all of the small to medium size. No big superstores. One has to go to Dulwich or Peckham for them a fair trek from where I live and only reachable by bus and they are a NO NO!

Big jump up this morning now $1662.(+$105)

....Its bedlam once again. It's as though some strange sci fi thought process infects everybody at once and the High St is swamped once again.
Shopper reports way too crowded to do any buying and it's just gone 9.00am ffs! Keep up the good work. You crazies are a great advert for UK plc playing out in TVs all over the World as you shop till you drop.

You may be wondering how my shopper is on top of local news, well he's a scout for several local papers and gets to test what's happening on the High St.
I'm off for my daily 10 mile walk ..just kidding, 10 mins tops...

Shopper reports all quiet on the Western West Norwood front before the mile long queues start to form. The locusts are alive and well...

The Global lockdown has smashed palm oil output as tens if not 100s of thousands of canteens, restaurants, shops and home buying has tanked demand in India, China and especially the EU.
Malaysias Feb exports were down 10% and March nos are looking bleaker est at 20%+ lower
and palm biodiesel slumps over 100kt from last year as the fuel cannot compete with gasoil due to the global slump in crude prices.

The supply demand imbalance seen now is expected to revert to the normal in Q3 & 4. It's totally a question of containing and stopping the spread before any recovery will be seen in stock mrkts, commodities & business confidence. China led the world in and is now leading the World out, hopefully in time to mitigate any prolonged recession which Humpty Trumpty says will be short lived. Yea, yea...

Covid-19
06:53 GMT

Total cases 382,010
China 81,171 +78
Total deaths 16,558
China 3277 +7

Countries 195
(Selected)
Italy 63,927 (6077 deaths)
USA 46,245 +2411 (582)
Spain 35136 (2311)
Germany 29056 (123)
SK 9037 +76 (120)
UK 6650 (335)
Malaysia 1518 (14)
Indonesia 579 (49)

Death rate %
(Selected)
Italy 9.5%
Spain 6.6%
UK 5%
China 4%
SK 1.3%
Ger 0.42%
Global 4%

Total cases per 1m pop.
Italy 1057
Spain 751
Ger 347
SK 176
US 139
UK 98
China 56
Global 49

Summary
Total cases 382,010
New cases 322
Total deaths 16,558
New deaths 51
Recovered 102,481 (27%)

US overnight:
DJ -582 (18592) 3%
SP -68 (2237) 3%
NS -19 (6861)
R2 -11 (1002)

Much better in Asia this morning as TK & SK jump 7% and HK gains 4%. The ASX200 added 4% with other Pan Pacifics in the blue. Mostly on the Feds actions to support and keep financial mrkts working. However many economists say a recession is very likely as profit forecasts are slashed and neg growth in Q2&3 and flat in 4 will hit the economy and outlook into 2021.
Investors are praying the Dow will keep above 18000 though others say another 10%-20% "virus lurch" downwards is probable.

TK +1205 +7%
HK +2017 +5%
SH +57 +2%
SK +121 +8%

Nos: Oil $28.13. Vix 62.
Gold $1584. Palm $656.
$ 1.164. € 1.078. PI 5742.
FP 5493. MSCI(W) 384.
FF +215 DF +880.
Morning all.

Futures in 1400 point turnaround.

Report from my shopper. He says the High St at mid'day was 90% down on normal. People come out do their shopping and return home. That's good news. A reduced service is running on trains, buses and the Tube.

Germany is seeing a slow down in cases so hopefully in a month or so we could see the same.
I am still isolated and will keep indoors for the next 4 weeks accept for a very early morning walk, then reassess. Glad I kept all my old box sets!!

Just heard from my personal shopper ICE was open at 8.00am and was soon rammed as the nearby Coop, Tesco & SBRY were all empty as there was nothing on shelves. He said it looked to him as though the normally very busy High St was about 50% down in people as apart from the food shops everything else was closed.
I live right beside the South Circular race track which leads to the M20 and all points to Kent & the South Coast and going the other way to Victoria and the West End. Traffic is like a very quiet Sunday morning.

The destruction of Genels value is truly horrible to behold. Back in Feb 2014 G hit its historic high of 1099. That was the Merchant Bank doing its job of over inflating the IPO (looking after the boys) and were very well paid for getting the issue away.

Six years later the share price has crashed 93% and decimated the value to less than cash and equivalents. Others have similarly been trashed. The mrkt doing its job you might say? The good with the bad, what's the diff? Who gives a toss? Sink or swim were all in the same leaky boat. Just goes to show however strong the balance sheet, cash flow, profits it means diddly squat and will not insulate you from the vicissitudes of a manic depressive mrkt in times of extreme stress.
Those with free cash are buying and will be very happy bunnies at 78. Bunks you been in hoovering up these $Bill's for 5c?

$25.46 taking palm $660 down with it....thanx a bunch!

Down in line with Asia c.4-5% way better than I thought. Early days though.