London Report: EasyJet carries FTSE close to a one month high September 10, 2013 THE UK’S main share index rose to its highest level in nearly a month yesterday, bolstered by the outlines of an international compromise to avert a US strike on Syria, while budget airline EasyJet also dragged the FTSE higher. There was also strength in the resources sector after an upbeat report from miner Glencore Xstrata [...]
New York Report: Hopes for Syria extend S&P’s winning streak September 10, 2013 US STOCKS rose yesterday, with the S&P 500 index advancing for its longest stretch since early July, as an alternative proposal emerged that could avert a possible Western military strike on Syria. Encouraging economic data from China reinforced the view the world’s second-largest economy was stabilising and gave investors a further reason to buy. All [...]
Euro stocks may be turning a corner September 10, 2013 But investors should not ignore the risks surrounding relatively cheap equities in European markets SEPTEMBER has historically been a volatile month for markets. According to BestInvest analysis of FTSE All Share Index monthly returns since 1986, it is the worst performer for equities, with four major crashes: 1992’s Black Wednesday, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, [...]
New scheme set to make bank switching easier September 10, 2013 Liam Ward-Proud looks at the accounts offered by the bigger challenger banks FROM Monday, the Payments Council’s new seven-day switch guarantee scheme is set to make moving your bank account easier. It will ensure that bank account changes are completed smoothly and within a week, with transferring direct debits and incoming payments now the responsibility [...]
Why it’s wrong to blame Osborne’s austerity for weak growth in Britain September 10, 2013 FIVE years ago, nearly every macroeconomist agreed that central banks determined aggregate demand (total spending in the economy), and that fiscal stimulus was therefore unnecessary to lift depressed economies. Conversely, fiscal austerity was seen as irrelevant at best for overall growth; any impact of austerity on demand can be offset by the right monetary policy [...]
Against the Grain: The tide may finally be turning in the ceaseless struggle against rent seekers September 10, 2013 THE CONCEPT of the “rent seeker” is one of the most valuable in the whole of economics. The activity of rent-seeking involves obtaining money by manipulating the social or political environment in which economic activity takes place, instead of getting paid for creating new wealth. It is a part of public choice theory, for which [...]
Private pensions have become a piggy bank for spendthrift states September 10, 2013 FIVE years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, and the fallout from the financial crisis is far from over. Across Europe, private pensions have become a targets for politicians seeking to reduce the pressure to rein in spending and manage excessive debt after the crisis. While governments are encouraging or forcing citizens to participate in [...]
Letters to the editor – 11/09 – Lurch to the Left, Licence fee, Best of Twitter September 10, 2013 Lurch to the Left [Re: As the Social Attitudes Survey reveals softening views on welfare, is Britain moving to the Left? Yesterday] On certain issues, sometimes associated with the Left, the public has been steadfast over the last 30 years (support for the NHS, a decent state pension and schools funding, for example). But the [...]
Top spots for healthy lunches September 10, 2013 FITNESS & DIET EXPERT laurawilliamsonline.co.uk @laurafitness Business meals needn’t mean a calorie overdose if you know the right places to go ANYONE can russell up a relatively healthy meal in the confines of their own kitchen; eating out and keeping your calorie-count down can be a little trickier. Chefs have a love-affair with butter and [...]
Forget the English rose, start drinking the English grape September 10, 2013 Bottle.opener@cityam.com LAST Friday the day job took me to visit the vineyards of Chapel Down in Kent. The visit left me with no end of ideas and information and spurred me into action. I have always been a sceptic about English wine. Let’s face it, we live far closer to the Arctic than the Equator [...]
