Osborne’s growth forecasts slammed by Tullett Prebon May 26, 2011 A CITY broker attacked government growth forecasts as overly optimistic yesterday and warned of an “exceptionally bleak” outlook in a damning assessment of the economy’s progress over the past decade. Tullett Prebon, the brokerage led by investment maverick Terry Smith, issued a doom-filled prediction that government growth forecasts would prove unachievable as the UK weaned [...]
Alex who? Messi not interested in United May 26, 2011 Barcelona’s 52-goal talisman confesses his ignorance of tomorrow’s opponents in eagerly anticipated Champions League final at Wembley BARCELONA v/s MANCHESTER UTD BARCELONA superstar Lionel Messi admits he knows virtually nothing about Champions League final opponents Manchester United. The Argentinian genius says he pays little attention to other teams and does not plan to study United [...]
City bonuses fail to reach pre-slump peak as regular pay boosted instead May 26, 2011 BONUSES in the financial sector have held up this year but remain below their pre-recession peak, with evidence of regular pay being boosted instead. Bonuses averaged £901 a week in February and £760 a week in March this year, it was revealed today, roughly on a par with the same figures from last year (£975 [...]
BBC staff get private healthcare May 26, 2011 The BBC has spent over £2.1m on private health insurance for its staff in the last three years, the Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA) will reveal today. A further £150,000 has been spent by the Welsh language channel S4C, to fund private healthcare cover for some of its employees. “Viewers already pay for the NHS through their [...]
Concerns rise over price pressures May 26, 2011 Inflation expectations sprang back up in May, according to a survey by YouGov. The median for inflation expectations in the year ahead rebounded to 3.4 per cent in May, having fallen from 3.5 per cent in March to 2.9 per cent in April. The consumer price index hit 4.5 per cent last month.
French high street morale lifts May 26, 2011 Consumer confidence edged up in France this month, it was revealed yesterday. A leading index of sentiment rose by one point to 84. Meanwhile the number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell by 6,300, in another positive data release for the country.
German imported inflation slows May 26, 2011 German import price inflation slowed to 9.4 per cent annualised in April, down from 11.3 per cent in March.
Rooney’s mojo is match for Messi May 26, 2011 IT’S the final almost every fan would have wanted: two champions of their respective leagues who have without doubt played the best football in Europe this season. More than that, it throws together two of the most brilliantly unpredictable players on the planet and places them in direct opposition. I can’t wait. Similarities abound between [...]
Banks may benefit from EU easing of Basel rules May 26, 2011 BANKS with large insurance arms could sidestep the toughest elements of the new Basel III capital requirements, according to not-yet-released draft European Union legislation. The draft plans to roll Basel III out across the EU could let banks count more capital held within their insurance arms towards the quota they must hold, than institutions outside [...]
Halting our debt binge will be painful May 26, 2011 WELCOME to the new normal. For years, the UK economy has been fuelled by the unsustainable accumulation of debt, public as well as private. Now that the cheap money bubble has burst, and consumers, firms and the government can no longer go on borrowing as if there were no tomorrow, Britain will have to learn [...]