New American house construction falls to second lowest level in over 50 years January 19, 2011 HOMEBUILDING in the US recorded its second lowest rate in over half a century last year, according to data released by the commerce department yesterday. New house starts totalled 587,600, only a small improvement on the 554,000 begun in 2009 – the two worst years since records began in 1959. December saw a 4.3 per [...]
Protectionist barriers to trade a main risk to German growth, says ministry January 19, 2011 GERMAN economic growth is expected to hit 2.3 per cent this year, official forecasts said yesterday. Germany’s economy ministry increased its forecast by half a percentage point. Yet while some economists think growth will be close to last year’s 3.6 per cent expansion, the ministry lowered its forecasts for exports and imports — and said [...]
BANK’S GOAL IS NOT ALWAYS TO LOWER INFLATION, SAYS POSEN January 19, 2011 CENTRAL banks should not simply look to lower inflation, but rather ensure price stability, the Bank of England’s Adam Posen said last night. “You need inflation a little above the zero measure to keep there being a lot of lock-ups in the economy,” he told a meeting at Aston University. Posen has been pushing for [...]
IEA: Liberalise for lower prices January 19, 2011 The price of essential goods is more important to levels of poverty than differences in income levels, a leading think tank said today. Governments’ obsession with misleading poverty targets has led to an ever increasing welfare budget that simply imbeds dependence, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) said. Instead, protectionist measures like the EU’s common [...]
Factory pay settlements edge up January 19, 2011 Despite the boom in manufacturing seen last year, wage growth remained stable in the three months to December, it was announced yesterday. Pay settlements increased to 2.2 per cent from 2.1 per cent in the three months to November, manufacturers body EEF reported. One in five settlements are still ending in a pay freeze, reflecting [...]
Polish interest rates nudged up January 19, 2011 In a bid to tackle above target inflation, the Polish National Bank increased interest rates to 3.75 per cent yesterday.
Diversity on MBA courses means that everyone’s a winner January 19, 2011 DIVERSITY is important for MBAs, not just because a class made up of people from varied backgrounds makes for a better learning experience but because it improves your prospects afterwards. For many MBAs the most valuable thing is a global network of contacts, and the more diverse, the better. Schools have been aware of this [...]
Rankings are not the best way to choose your MBA January 19, 2011 WHICH is the best MBA course in the world? According to the FT’s rankings it’s the one at London Business School, followed by those at Wharton, Harvard and Stanford. Argument over? Not quite. If you had instead chosen the Economist’s list, you would be under the impression that Booth School of Business at the University of [...]
A lack of funds doesn’t have to scupper your business education January 19, 2011 SOME of the most common questions I am asked by prospective students are about how to pay for their post-graduate degrees. With the cost of education coming under scrutiny more than ever, it is entirely reasonable that students are concerned they are getting value for money. What you do need to keep in perspective when [...]
FTSE 100 falls back as bank, mining and retail stocks slide January 19, 2011 BANKING and mining stocks weighed on London’s top share index yesterday as concerns over the global economic recovery resurfaced, while sentiment among retailers was dented after some disappointing updates. The FTSE 100 closed down 79.73 points, or 1.3 per cent lower at 5,976.70, ebbing away from Tuesday’s fresh 31-month high. “The market moved a long [...]
