Markets on both sides of the Atlantic suffered sharp price drops on Thursday, as a collective fear amongst traders ran amok. With the FTSE down 1.6% and the Dow Jones down 1.5%, it recorded the worst drop since June. Both markets attributed the decline to fears that banks will shortly push interests rates up again. However, Mark Carney of the Bank of England has promised to keep rates at the record low of 0.5% until unemployment falls below 7%. Some feel that this manipulation of interest rates will help create a “bond bubble” which, should it burst would wreak havoc in financial circles.

Tapering Trends

Meanwhile, in the US, investors are worried that Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve Chairman, is planning on decreasing America’s $85bn-a-month bond buying programme, creating another hurdle for new growth. These actions would serve to cut the amount of cheap money available to the extent that the current economic upturn could stall and subsequently stop altogether causing panic among traders and investors alike. Fears both in the US and the UK have directly affected the markets in what market analysts have labeled a “Taper Tantrum”. Many believe this is merely a temporary blip and think that we will continue to witness the markets growth over the coming period.

Either way, it would seem that now is the time to keep an even closer eye on your stocks and shares in this particularly volatile market. Take a look at your HPQ Hewlett-Packard shares and many others at Quotenet. With all the latest stock market news and statistics, you are sure to find the information you are looking for and stay one step ahead of the competition, ensuring your finances are secure.