French government dissolved as Hollande goes on the offensive August 25, 2014 His name is rarely written without a negative adjective, usually beleaguered, but Francois Hollande is going on the offensive. The French President, whose approval ratings are unlikely to give pollsters vertigo, has responded quickly to a left-wing revolt in his cabinet. Manuel Valls, ally and prime minister, tabled the resignation of his government paving the [...]
Is the ECB considering quantitative easing? August 25, 2014 European markets are up this morning after European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi gave a doveish speech in Jackson Hole (Friday). The ECB, Draghi implied, could be gearing up for more monetary stimulus, in order to address the ongoing stagnation in the Eurozone economy. Inflation in the Eurozone has been perilously low of late, [...]
Financial markets at risk of cyber attack says watchdog August 25, 2014 In the Batman film The Dark Knight, the Joker ransacks the Gotham city stock exchange with a cocktail of automatic weaponry, knives and laptops. In the real world, the threat to the financial markets from cyber attacks is not so easily spotted. In an interview with the Financial Times, the head of global watchdog the International Organisation [...]
EU referendum: Cameron considers threatening EU with Brexit August 25, 2014 David Cameron is likely to issue an unveiled threat to EU powers by raising the prospect of a British exit. According to information obtained by The Times, the prime minister and his advisors are "actively considering" making a stand, although the timing is yet to be confirmed. The announcement would be aimed at strengthening Britain's bargaining position, [...]
UK house prices may be rising, but it’s better to buy than to rent August 25, 2014 It is cheaper to handle the costs associated with buying a house rather than paying rent according to data from Halifax. While this fact is not new – Halifax's data suggests it's been the case since 2009 – it is interesting that despite a rise in house prices over the last year (up 10.2 per cent [...]
Ebola: Briton with the disease to be flown home August 24, 2014 A Briton who contracted the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone is to be flown back to the UK for treatment. The patient, who is as yet unnamed, is currently on an RAF flight destined for London. Once arrived, he or she will be taken to the Royal Free Hospital in London. According to reports, the [...]
Aviation alerts hit red as Iceland met office says eruption cannot be excluded August 24, 2014 Aviation alerts have been set to red in Iceland as rumblings beneath a glacier betray the some geological malcontent. Although some sources are reporting that eruptions are ongoing, that is not what was on the Icelandic met office's website at pixel time: Presently there are no signs of ongoing volcanic activity. The aviation color code [...]
Independent Scotland’s only plan B would be the Euro says Ed Balls August 24, 2014 With Alex Salmond evading questions on a plan B for an alternative to keeping the pound in the event of a "Yes" vote, Ed Balls has decided to outline a backup for him. According to the shadow chancellor, the "least worst" option for a post-yes-vote Scotland would be to lobby for membership of the single [...]
Notting Hill Carnival 2014: Where to watch the parade and hear the soundsystems August 23, 2014 The weather may have turned a little chilly, but Notting Hill Carnival will bring some welcome brightness to London over the Bank Holiday weekend. The parade kicks off at 10am Sunday and Monday on Great Western Road, but for those who aren't much of an early riser, don’t worry- there’s plenty of time to catch [...]