LE Crunch December 13, 2011 EUROPE is in the midst of a severe credit crunch that has seen the market for bank debt disappear as the continent’s money supply shrinks. The conditions are so tough they have sparked a row between the region’s most senior regulators over how to shore up Europe’s crumbling banking system as politicians fall further and [...]
Supply fears pushes up oil December 13, 2011 OIL prices jumped two per cent yesterday as fears over Iran and threats to major shipping lanes sent US crude above $100 a barrel. Crude futures briefly surged nearly $4 a barrel after a frenetic spell of trading in New York at the start of the day. The rise was also driven by the closure [...]
High streets need more than Portas December 13, 2011 IF you want to see how capitalism has transformed people’s living standards, look no further than supermarkets and most recently their digital offerings. Their online shopping services have improved the lives of millions, especially the elderly, those with mobility difficulties, people with young children and the time-poor. For a modest fee – and sometimes for [...]
Fed: No more QE just yet December 13, 2011 MODEST economic growth means interest rates will be held at “exceptionally low levels” until at least mid-2013, the Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) said yesterday as it decided to hold steady with its current monetary stance. Strains in financial markets pose “significant downside risks” to the economic outlook, the Committee warned, whilst it worried that [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING December 13, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES PEPSICO SIGNALS RENEWED FOCUS ON CORE INDULGENT BRANDS PepsiCo, the US drinks and snacks company, has signalled that it will renew its focus on its core “indulgent” brands. The move marks a shift in strategy after mounting criticism from investors that it had invested too much in less profitable health products. SIX FORMER [...]
Citi to sell final Primerica stake December 13, 2011 Citigroup is set to exit from life insurer Primerica by selling its remaining 8m shares in a public offering. Primerica, one of the cornerstones of Citi’s empire before the financial crisis led to a bailout in 2008, went public in 2010.. Last month, Primerica bought back $200m of its shares from Citigroup, as the bank [...]
Avon to replace Jung as chief December 13, 2011 Avon is looking for a new chief executive to replace Andrea Jung, who has lost the confidence of Wall Street after a myriad of problems, including a federal bribery probe and weak sales in key international markets. Jung will remain as executive chairman, the firm said.
Tories take the lead in polls December 13, 2011 Conservatives have overtaken the Labour party in the opinion polls for the first time this year, enjoying a bounce on the back of Prime Minister David Cameron’s veto of a new European Union treaty, a Reuters/Ipsos MORI poll showed yesterday. Support for the Tories rose seven percentage points to 41 per cent, in line with [...]
Rothschild to snub broker Credit Suisse December 13, 2011 BILLIONAIRE Nat Rothschild is preparing to sideline longstanding adviser Credit Suisse by appointing a new broker for his London-listed mining venture Bumi, City A.M. can reveal. Bumi has held a beauty parade for investment banks that is likely to see either Barclays Capital or Bank of America Merrill Lynch appointed following a decision at the [...]
Corzine denies telling MF Global staff to raid funds December 13, 2011 FORMER MF Global chief Jon Corzine yesterday told US senators he had never authorised a raid on customer funds at the bankrupt brokerage. Corzine corrected his earlier statements about hundreds of millions of dollars in missing customer money but conceded there were “break the glass” contingency plans at the firm. Last week Corzine told the [...]