Businesses should be planning for the scenario of a Eurozone collapse June 14, 2012 WITH Greece going to the polls on Sunday, the Eurozone crisis continues to dominate. While we are in uncharted territory – there is no legal or jurisdictional framework that allows for a euro collapse, or exit from the currency by one or more countries – businesses can assume three scenarios to set plans against: a [...]
Should the legalisation of gay marriage be a significant priority for this government? May 13, 2012 YES Ruth Hunt In his speech to the Conservative Party conference in 2011, the Prime Minister stated that “Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us; that society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other.” This is a position that Stonewall enthusiastically endorses. At a time when the government [...]
Should the legalisation of gay marriage be a significant priority for this government? May 13, 2012 YES Ruth Hunt In his speech to the Conservative Party conference in 2011, the Prime Minister stated that “Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us; that society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other.” This is a position that Stonewall enthusiastically endorses. At a time when the government [...]
IMF wants Bank of England rate cut to help GDP May 22, 2012 BRITAIN’S economy needs more support from the Bank of England, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said yesterday, arguing that falling inflation means interest rates can be lowered even further. “The economy has been flat” as “private demand-led growth has not fully materialised,” IMF boss Christine Lagarde said, after first quarter GDP estimates showed a contraction. [...]
After the Muslim Brotherhood won Egypt’s presidency, should liberals be concerned? June 25, 2012 YES Samer Libdeh Although the Muslim Brotherhood stated that it will support and defend civil and minority rights, it remains to be seen whether this will happen in practice. The first test will come over the formation of a new government and whether Freedom and Justice, the Brotherhood’s party, will reach out to all sectors [...]
Europe’s banks hit regulatory capital targets July 11, 2012 ALMOST every bank which was dangerously undercapitalised in February has now met regulatory targets, the European Banking Authority (EBA) revealed yesterday. Five months ago the EBA warned that 31 banks required €76bn (£60bn) between them to meet the nine per cent core tier one capital target. The updates from June show an aggregate increase of [...]
Banks rally fuelled by emergency credit plan June 15, 2012 The FTSE 100 saw rises fuelled by a rally in banking shares as the Government and the Bank of England announced plans to pump in £100bn of credit into the economy. Emergency measures to breathe new life into the economy were unveiled by Chancellor George Osborne last night with the money printing presses to be [...]
Decades of hard work and entrepreneurship July 15, 2012 NOT MANY outside the insurance industry know the name Stephen Catlin. But he is one of the most successful UK businessmen. Over the last 30 years, he has turned a two person reinsurance company into a £3.5bn international firm – Catlin Group. The eponymous CEO was crowned UK winner at the Ernst & Young World [...]
£100bn gamble to save UK economy June 14, 2012 EMERGENCY measures to try to kick start an economic recovery were announced by Sir Mervyn King and George Osborne at Mansion House last night, aiming to pump cash into the financial system and boost lending to businesses. The printing presses are set to be switched back on at the Bank of England as King warned [...]
Nein Nein Nein June 25, 2012 The Eurozone crisis escalated last night as credit rating agency Moody’s slashed the ratings of 28 Spanish banks, while earlier in the day German Chancellor Angela Merkel appeared to rule out plans to mitigate the euro area’s troubles with more debt sharing. The mass downgrades followed the lowering of Spain’s sovereign rating to Baa3 on [...]