WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 9, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES TRICHET CALLS FOR TOUGHER EURO RULES Eurozone members that break the region’s rules on public finances should be excluded temporarily from Europe’s political decision-making, the president of the European Central Bank has proposed. The controversial suggestion by Jean-Claude Trichet would be part of a “quantum leap” in the governance of Europe’s 11-year old [...]
Public sector building slump raises double-dip fears July 12, 2010 A SHARP drop in public sector building activity caused commercial development to fall to the lowest monthly level in nearly a year in June, according to property advisor Savills. The company said its Commercial Development Activity Index showed a net balance of minus 2.8 percent in June, the lowest reading in 11 months, down from [...]
Red Ed? Come off it: A pitch for the centre September 28, 2010 POLITICAL EDITOR’S ANALYSIS ED MILIBAND’S inaugural leaders’ speech will not be remembered for its rhetorical flair. There was none of the barrister’s flourish that characterised Tony Blair’s excellent performances. For all its talk of optimism, it lacked the hopeful oratory that Barack Obama offered the US electorate in 2008. When David Cameron gave his first [...]
Medium-term UK gilts outlook remains rosy August 15, 2010 IN WHAT was one of the most important Fed meetings of recent times last week, the US central bank moved to support lower borrowing costs by reinvesting funds from maturing mortgage-backed securities in longer term government bonds. While this had been touted as a potential option for the Fed, most thought it would save some [...]
THE TIPSTER August 3, 2010 COMMODITY currencies such as the Australian dollar and the Canadian dollar have been back in vogue this week, with decent bids backed by a 10 per cent rally in the Reuters/Jefferies CRB commodity index since June. US dollar-Canadian dollar has just broken a major trendline support at Ca$1.0287 and momentum is skewed to the downside. [...]
NAHB adds to fears of US housing slump July 19, 2010 FEARS of a double-dip in the US housing market grew yesterday after a key housing index slumped to a 15-month low and expectations of future sales were extremely weak The NAHB index, which measures sentiment on home building, slumped in July to 14 from a downwardly-revised 16 in June, indicating that demand for new homes [...]
Fed in rescue bid on fears over growth August 10, 2010 THE US Federal Reserve confirmed fears of a marked slowdown in the world’s biggest economy yesterday as it made its first step towards extending its emergency monetary policy regime in a significant policy shift. The central bank said it would reinvest proceeds from its investments in mortgage-backed securities to buy longer-term government debt in a [...]
CBI: Britain needs tougher strike laws and flexi working June 20, 2010 TOUGHER INDUSTRIAL relations and flexible working are among some of the measures proposed today by the CBI to maintain Britain’s job market. A report by the business advocacy group unveiled a number of measures the government should adopt, including blocking regulations that will cost jobs, taking a tougher stance on industrial action and enforcing flexible [...]
A CURIOUS PAST LIES BEHIND THE FSA’S CITY BONUS CRACKDOWN August 1, 2010 THE Financial Services Authority (FSA) was talking tough last week with plans to adopt EU rules that regulate bonuses at financial institutions. The rules include measures to ensure that 40 per cent of bonuses are paid over three years and that half of these deferred payments are non-cash. This attempt to reform City bonuses is [...]
Buckle up for profit warnings, E&Y says July 11, 2010 COMPANIES are in for a “rough ride” next year as the coalition government’s austerity measures begin to suck life from the private sector, accountant Ernst & Young (E&Y) has cautioned. Investors can expect to see a resurgence in bad news from British corporates, E&Y said, after the previous government’s fiscal splurge helped bring profit warnings [...]