Cameron flies the flag
27 Jul 2010 [0 Comments | 90 views]
The shambolic banking stress tests say it all. The eurozone is stuck in the lane marked denial. If the UK is going to expand it needs to look beyond Europe, which is why David Cameron’s tour east is so interesting. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research reckons we will have to wait until [...]
Japan – central bank finds the plan that UK needs
15 Jun 2010 [0 Comments | 209 views]
Inflation dipped in the UK in May, falling from 3.7 to 3.4 per cent. Markets celebrated because the official figures were a full 0.1 per cent better than expected. Yes, that’s right, markets had anticipated an inflation rate of 3.5 per cent, tut tut. It does seem to us that quantitative easing (QE) is not [...]
Brazil and India turn on China, as IMF predicts Indian and Brazilian boom
22 Apr 2010 [0 Comments | 223 views]
Now India and Brazil have called on China to appreciate the yuan. China dismisses their calls. Meanwhile, according to IMF projections India is closing in on China for topping the growth league. China doesn’t like it; “It smacks of protectionism,” said China, in a strange attempt to prove black equals white. The governor of India’s [...]
The cost of the volcano
21 Apr 2010 [0 Comments | 619 views]
The economic cost of Icelandic volcanoes won’t just be damage to airlines and tourism; trade could be the casualty. When Vesuvius exploded, a cloud of ash filled the sky and hovered above the bay for some time before it rained fire, destroying Rome’s playground. By contrast, the volcano in Iceland has merely created economic fire [...]
From Singapore to Argentina, and US to Greece, stunning is the word, but for different reasons
16 Apr 2010 [0 Comments | 313 views]
The last few days have seen important developments across the world. In fact, some of the figures unveiled recently are quite simply stunning. Stunningly good as far as growth in Singapore is concerned, stunningly bad as far as inflation in Argentina is concerned. Meanwhile, news on the US housing market should be enough to shake [...]
All change, please: China’s trade goes into reverse
14 Apr 2010 [0 Comments | 197 views]
In March this year, something really odd happened. China posted a trade deficit. It was the first time this had happened in six years. There’s more news on the yuan–dollar row too, and then Uncle Sam chipped in with news on US trade. Exports over the last year to China rose 24.3 per cent, but [...]
The bail outs begin
26 Mar 2010 [0 Comments | 686 views]
And so it came to pass that Dubai World and Greece were saved. As ever with these things, there was rumour and counter rumour, and no shortage of feet put in it. The question is, what will the rescue packages achieve, and will a double dip recession in the eurozone be avoided? The best example [...]
Inflation dips; mortgages see double dip; US house prices drip; and Japan’s exports follow trajectory of big dipper
24 Mar 2010 [1 Comment | 442 views]
What with it being budget day and all, we are guessing you don’t want to read reams on the economy. After all, the economy is all that will be on the news tonight. And yet yesterday saw a string of interesting announcements. In the UK there was good news on inflation, and worrisome news on [...]
Warning to all Greeks: beware of the IMF bearing gifts
19 Mar 2010 [1 Comment | 454 views]
It’s happening; no, it isn’t. The great Greek rescue orchestrated by Germany and France is on and off like traffic lights on speed. But now there’s talk that the IMF will come riding in instead. The latest about turn, this time from Germany, is a turn-up all right. Can Greece be saved, or will the [...]
The blame game gathers new head of steam
15 Mar 2010 [0 Comments | 189 views]
It’s your fault; no, it’s your fault. France’s Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has launched an extraordinary attack on Germany. It appears the Germans are working too hard, and that’s why Europe has got problems. Meanwhile, in China, Premier Wen Jiabao has pretty much said the precise opposite. The US spends like there’s no tomorrow, and [...]
