Oil plummets on talks about US and UK releasing reserves March 15, 2012 THE PRICE of oil crashed by as much as $3 a barrel yesterday on the news that US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron have discussed a joint release of the countries’ fuel stockpiles to ease supply worries. Downing Street confirmed that the leaders have talked about tapping the States’ 727m barrel [...]
FTSE up as Greek D-Day arrives February 20, 2012 Miners led the FTSE 100 upwards this morning as China moved to stimulate more growth in its economy and Eurozone chiefs were poised to finally sign a bailout agreement to save Greece. China’s central bank cut the amount of cash banks must hold in reserves, boosting lending capacity for the second time in nearly three [...]
Oil price hits $128 high March 1, 2012 OIL hit a four-year high yesterday after an Iranian state-run news channel reported an explosion on a pipeline in Saudi Arabia. Brent crude prices hit $128 a barrel in late post-settlement trade, a level not reached since July 2008. A Saudi official later denied the Press TV broadcast, saying no oil facilities had been sabotaged. Iran, [...]
Oil price at record £78 per barrel February 22, 2012 THE PRICE of oil hit an all-time high in sterling yesterday, paving the way for record petrol costs at the pumps in the coming weeks. The relatively weak pound means Brent crude spiked at around £78.50 a barrel, beating the previous record of £77.70 set last spring. In dollar terms crude, squeezed up by supply [...]
THE TIPSTER BELLWAY HOPES TO BUILD ON BOVIS GAINS March 26, 2012 WHEN Bellway Homes brings its trading update to the market today, shareholders will be looking for any cracks in the brickwork. The recent figures release from its peer Bovis should give guidance as to what’s to be expected, and positive coverage across the sector from Credit Suisse will only add to the hope that the [...]
We are in a world without leaders: The G-Zero will soon replace the G7 May 13, 2012 WHEN so many problems bestride borders, the need for international cooperation has never been greater. Cooperation demands leadership, however. Only leaders have the leverage to coordinate multinational responses to transnational problems. They have the wealth and power to persuade other governments to take actions they wouldn’t otherwise take. They pick up the bills that others [...]
Remember Greece is not the only problem February 20, 2012 IF I’m getting sick of talking about Greece, I’m pretty sure you are just as sick of hearing about it. The thing that worries me more about the news fatigue around the Eurozone crisis is that we are about to become horribly complacent. Once Greece comes to a head, there’s bound to be another issue [...]
Lagarde: UK must cut deficit January 25, 2012 THE BRITISH government has no choice but to continue with plans to reduce its annual deficit, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said last night. Former French finance minister Christine Lagarde (right) recently recommended that some governments had scope to slow down austerity measures in the face of strong economic headwinds. But yesterday [...]
Lagarde: UK must cut deficit January 25, 2012 THE BRITISH government has no choice but to continue with plans to reduce its annual deficit, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said last night. Former French finance minister Christine Lagarde (right) recently recommended that some governments had scope to slow down austerity measures in the face of strong economic headwinds. But yesterday [...]
Scientific progress and emerging markets give us all hope April 19, 2012 I AM as guilty as anybody of excessive gloominess. To be fair, I have an excuse: the government is floundering; Abu Qatada is making a mockery of Britain; the UK economy is stagnant; unemployment is elevated; taxes are rising; the nanny state is gaining ground; the Eurozone faces years of misery and eventual collapse; China [...]