The Traderszone Network

Millionaires are on the increase in Britain, according to a study which found that one in 65 adults is now worth over seven figures, 41 percent more than five years ago. A rebound in house prices and stock markets following the 2007 global financial crisis has swelled their numbers by 212,000 to 715,000, a prosperity index published by Barclays said on Thursday. “The UK is becoming more prosperous … and every region is seeing a growth in these wealthy individuals,” said Akshaya Bhargava, chief executive of Barclays Wealth and Investment Management.

Google Inc (GOOGL.O) has rejected EU antitrust charges that it abused its market power, exposing the company to the risk of a hefty fine if it does not alter its business practices. The company’s comments came after the European Commission in April accused it of distorting internet search results to favor its shopping service, harming both rivals and consumers. “Economic data spanning more than a decade, an array of documents and statements from complainants all confirm that product search is robustly competitive,” Kent Walker, Google’s general counsel, wrote in a blog on Thursday.

October WTI contract up almost 10% – -the most since 2009
Massive rally in oil today as shorts get obliterated.
The front month contract closed up $3.96, or 10.26%, to $42.53.

Borrowers struggling to pay back their student loans should be wary of any offers that sound too good to be true, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan warned.
read more

Interesting note from JPMorgan:
on highlights of a research note from JPMorgan quant Marko Kolanovic.

read more

The issues with data display on the NYSE floor Thursday did not seem to affect trading.

For all the talk about Japan’s struggling economy, the Nikkei is on top
Very few global equity markets are in positive territory this year in domestic currency terms and even fewer factoring the advance of the US dollar. But Japan is the exception as the market anticipates better days ahead.