Sunday 28 November 2010

Economics

The latest news, analysis and comment on the UK and global economy.

MORE ECONOMICS NEWS

Haircuts for all as vexed Germany takes a firm grip on the clippers

The prospect of "haircuts" for all those who leant money to Irish banks has sent banking stocks spiralling downward across the eurozone's periphery.

27 Nov 2010

Why we need higher interest rates

BoE policymaker Andrew Sentance says it time for interest rates to rise gradually because the global and UK economy has bounced back more strongly than expected and the inflation outlook has changed markedly.

27 Nov 2010

UK to cut 90,000 fewer public sector jobs

The number of jobs forecast to be cut in the public sector – 490,000 – is set to be lowered by 90,000 after better than expected economic growth figures and higher tax returns.

27 Nov 2010

Portugal's young leave as bailout looms

With unemployment high, debt worsening and a bailout looming, the young people Portugal needs to revive its stagnant economy look abroad for opportunity.

27 Nov 2010

50,000 protest Irish bail-out

Demonstrators marched through the streets of Dublin to protest against the government's handling of the economic crisis.

27 Nov 2010

Ireland races to agree aid deal by end of weekend

Ireland is in the final stages of negotiating an international aid package to rescue its financial system before markets open on Monday.

27 Nov 2010

Spain could be forced to seek bail-out 'within months'

Barclays warns the weight of bank debt needing refinancing next year could threaten Spain's solvency and force it to seek a bail-out.

27 Nov 2010

Europe's debt problem has gone from bad to worse

After German Chancellor Angela Merkel's comments on bondholders, the single currency finds itself skidding ever closer to collapse.

27 Nov 2010

Euro will fall to $1.20, says Larry Fink

BlackRock founder warns that Europe's debt crisis will cause the single currency to drop sharply.

26 Nov 2010

The game will soon be up for the euro

The euro will fail because nations still have an identity, and don’t see themselves working to make sacrifices for profligate neighbours, writes Simon Heffer.

26 Nov 2010

Putin: Russia will join the euro one day

Vladimir Putin said it is "quite possible" that Russia will one day join the eurozone and create a currency to eclipse the US dollar.

26 Nov 2010

Why Black Friday matters

Intriguing it certainly is that two families in Florida have been camping for a week at a Best Buy store to make sure they are first in the queue for the “Black Friday” sales - but why does it matter to the rest of the world?

26 Nov 2010

EU announces new budget in attempt to break deadlock

Revised plans for next year's euro-budget were unveiled today - sticking to a 2.9pc increase demanded by EU ministers in the face of continuing efforts by MEPs to win a 6pc rise.

26 Nov 2010

Mervyn King: the wit and wisdom of the Governor

Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has been criticised by a member of the Monetary Policy Committee for the Bank's excessively "political" support of the Government's spending cuts. Its not the first time the cricket fan has found himself on a sticky wicket because of his comments. Here are some examples:

26 Nov 2010

The Governor has been challenged before

Adam Posen’s spat with the Bank of England Governor is not the first example of severe tensions within the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

26 Nov 2010

Treasury Select Committee has turned into a tiger

Just a few years ago the Treasury Select Committee was considered by most MPs to be Parliament’s graveyard slot.

26 Nov 2010

UK retailers confident of Christmas sales growth

The British high street is upbeat about Christmas after sales growth picked up this month, a survey has shown.

26 Nov 2010

Mervyn King's credibility in doubt after row

The independence of the Governor of the Bank of England has been called into question by an embarrassing public row with one of his senior policy makers, Adam Posen.

26 Nov 2010

Banks could pay into 'Big Society' fund in return for less bonus pressure

Banks could put more than £1bn into a fund to support the Government's 'Big Society' agenda as part of a deal to end the 'banker-bashing'.

26 Nov 2010

EU rescue costs start to threaten Germany itself

The escalating debt crisis on the eurozone periphery is starting to contaminate the creditworthiness of Germany and the core states of monetary union.

26 Nov 2010

US retailers expected a red letter day on Black Friday

Analysts will be closely watching what shoppers buy and from where as shops fight for sales on one the most important retail weekends of the year.

26 Nov 2010

Europe denies need to double rescue fund

Brussels denied reports that policy makers are considering doubling the eurozone's €440bn (£373bn) rescue fund to cover more struggling member countries.

25 Nov 2010

Is inflation now beyond the Bank's control?

Mervyn King is powerless to halt the damage to savings and spending power, says Jeremy Warner.

25 Nov 2010

Community sentences do not work as a punishment

Legislation defines two basic sentencing outcomes: a fine or prison. Both are necessary but what exists in between – a community sentence – is neither fish nor fowl: a disposal that does not work as a punishment and is applied too late and to too many serial offenders to work as rehabilitation.

25 Nov 2010