Why it is time to rename the Bric nations the Bics February 22, 2012 IT HAS been clear for some time that global growth for the foreseeable future will not be driven by Europe and the US, but rather by the so-called Bric countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China. This group of countries, representing around a third of the world’s population, now form a loose but increasingly vocal [...]
Why it is time to rename the Bric nations the Bics February 22, 2012 IT HAS been clear for some time that global growth for the foreseeable future will not be driven by Europe and the US, but rather by the so-called Bric countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China. This group of countries, representing around a third of the world’s population, now form a loose but increasingly vocal [...]
FTSE breaks through 5,900 mark on Greek bailout deal February 13, 2012 BRITAIN’S leading shares index closed higher yesterday, led by commodity and financial stocks, after Greece moved a step closer to securing an international bailout and avoiding a messy default. At the close, the FTSE 100 index was up 53.31 points, or 0.9 per cent, at 5,905.70, in volume just 70 per cent of the 90-day [...]
Construction output jumps as orders rise – but contraction looms in 2012 January 4, 2012 BUILDING work expanded in December, in contrast to the UK’s weaker manufacturing performance, Markit’s purchasing managers’ index revealed yesterday. For the first time in nine months output in all three categories in the sector – civil engineering, housing, and commercial – made gains. The sector as a whole registered a PMI of 53.2 in December, [...]
Construction output jumps as orders rise – but contraction looms in 2012 January 4, 2012 BUILDING work expanded in December, in contrast to the UK’s weaker manufacturing performance, Markit’s purchasing managers’ index revealed yesterday. For the first time in nine months output in all three categories in the sector – civil engineering, housing, and commercial – made gains. The sector as a whole registered a PMI of 53.2 in December, [...]
EU attacks big trade and budget deficits February 14, 2012 COUNTRIES like the UK, France and Italy are being investigated by the EU for allowing potentially dangerous economic imbalances to develop, commissioner Olli Rehn said yesterday. Twelve EU countries have failed to address problems building up in their economies, Rehn said, and after further analysis the European Commission (EC) may send them advice and action [...]
SMEs to bear brunt of new credit crunch February 5, 2012 BANK lending will contract through 2012 for the first time since 2009, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) particularly badly hit, the Ernst and Young Item Club predicted today. Total bank loans will contract by 2.2 per cent in 2012, the report forecast, followed by growth of just 0.9 per cent in 2013. The fall [...]
Upgrades for road, rail and IT take shape March 21, 2012 THE COALITION’S multi-billion pound plans for sweeping infrastructure upgrades are starting to take shape, with £2bn of pension involvement revealed yesterday and new plans to upgrade London’s transport and technology networks. George Osborne said British pension funds have pledged the first £2bn towards a new Pension Infrastructure Platform, first trailed in autumn, with more firms [...]
City success of 2011 fades on euro crisis January 8, 2012 FINANCIAL services firms experienced an unexpected acceleration in business volumes in the final three months of 2011, but remain pessimistic about future conditions, according to the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) survey of the sector, published today. Business activity rose for the seventh consecutive quarter, while incomes rose for the whole year. However employment levels [...]
City success of 2011 fades on euro crisis January 8, 2012 FINANCIAL services firms experienced an unexpected acceleration in business volumes in the final three months of 2011, but remain pessimistic about future conditions, according to the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) survey of the sector, published today. Business activity rose for the seventh consecutive quarter, while incomes rose for the whole year. However employment levels [...]