Euro plummets as Draghi hints at rate cuts in June May 8, 2014 THE EUROPEAN Central Bank (ECB) gave the clearest signal yet of even further monetary easing yesterday, prompting a rapid drop in the euro. ECB president Mario Draghi said that the institution is now “comfortable with acting next time”, following his staff’s latest projections of the economic climate, which will be published early in June. The [...]
Keen Steen ruins yesterday’s tie guesses but Draghi’s not playing May 8, 2014 MARIO Draghi’s numero uno press man Michael Steen caused a storm on Twitter yesterday by posting a photograph of his boss ahead of a European Central Bank policy decision meeting, because it revealed the colour of his tie ahead of time. Each month people try to guess what colour the ECB president’s tie will be [...]
Mario Draghi knows about the tie guesses May 8, 2014 Earlier today, Mario Draghi’s numero uno press man Michael Steen caused a storm on Twitter by posting a photograph of Mr Draghi ahead of his European Central Bank policy decision meeting, because it revealed the colour of his tie ahead of time. To the uninitiated it might sound a bit loopy but each month [...]
Euro sinks as Draghi suggests action at next ECB meeting May 8, 2014 Signs of action from the European Central Bank has whacked the euro. President Mario Draghi has said that the central bank could act at its next meeting, in June, and it's whalloped the currency. Draghi's wording: "The governing council is comfortable about acting next time." The ECB is clearly aware of its inflation problem, with [...]
The ECB’s new press chief just killed the Draghi tie guesses game May 8, 2014 It's that Thursday of the month again, and finance Twitter is getting ready for the big event. Many would traditionally have spent the morning making their forecasts. Not on the subject of European Central Bank policy (their monthly decision is out at 12.00pm), but on what colour tie President Mario Draghi would be wearing at [...]
Chinese trade data and dovish Yellen boost Asian markets May 8, 2014 Asian markets have been boosted by a recovery in Chinese exports and imports as well as Federal Reserve chairman Janet Yellen's commitment that the Fed will continue to support the US economy. Chinese export growth rose from -6.6 per cent year-on-year in March to 0.9 per cent in April, outperforming Bloomberg's median estimate of minus [...]
Yellen: Low rates to stay as labour market still unsatisfactory May 7, 2014 Janet Yellen has today defended the US’s central bank’s accommodative policy, saying it still remains warranted – it’s not rushing to raise interest rates. Giving her testimony to Congress, this is Yellen’s first opportunity to speak following April’s improved jobs figures. Dismissing concerns over growth stangation in the first quarter – which, she said, were [...]
Boris slams transactions tax as a threat to the City April 30, 2014 A NEW tax on financial transactions (FTT) will drive business out of London, Boris Johnson warned yesterday, as the European Court of Justice kicked out a British challenge to the tax. Countries like France and Germany want to tax each trade of shares issued in their countries, wherever in the world they are traded. Bonds and derivatives [...]
Mind the snap: Boris poses for a strike selfie April 29, 2014 NEVER one abandon to his people to a morning of queueing at bus stops and squeezing, sardine-like, into Tube stations alone, Boris Johnson trooped down to London Bridge yesterday to support strike-stricken commuters. He was happy to pose for a selfie with a passer-by but deftly maintained a half-grimace to show his displeasure at the [...]
A revue of reviews – everything you could ever want to read about Piketty’s Capital April 28, 2014 You may not have read French Economist Thomas Piketty's near-700 page long Capital in the Twenty-First Century, but there's no need to worry – neither have some of the people who've reviewed it. Below are some of the biggest reviews of the work so far, ranging from praise to scorn, and with a wide range [...]