Big government may be dead but iDemocracy will reshape our lives October 2, 2012 IT’S over. The West’s big government way of doing things is coming to an end. For six years, the financial crisis has rumbled on. The longer it does so, the clearer it becomes that we are not watching a global crisis, but a Western one. From Spain and Greece to Britain and America, we are [...]
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles can teach us more than economics textbooks October 2, 2012 CHRISTMAS is coming and retailers are beginning to push their offers hard. The first page of a Google search for “Christmas Toys 2012” is full of sites announcing the hot must-haves of the year. In total, there are over 75m results to be perused. Last year it was Mishling Tree Monsters and Doggie Doo that [...]
EU banking report raises prospect of bailout divisions October 2, 2012 THE EU’s Expert Advisory Group, chaired by Erkki Liikanen, reported yesterday on whether to legally separate retail from investment banking – as considered by the Vickers Commission and discussed at the weekend by Ed Miliband. The Liikanen Report proposes five things. First, although the report suggests investment banking could be done within the same banking [...]
As the FSA proposes changes to listing rules, will it be enough to help the London market? October 2, 2012 YES Daniel Bellau The FSA proposals are a timely example of tightening regulations in order to protect investors and attract quality issuers. Seeking to ensure independence at board level if there is a powerful majority shareholder, and regulation of that shareholder’s relationship through a relationship agreement, already reflects the market. Codifying this within the regulations [...]
Rapid Responses October 2, 2012 Cost of statistics [Re: Time for MPs to summon statisticians over endless revisions, Friday] There are two main reasons why GDP is now revised more than it used to be. Allister Heath is right that the initial estimate comes out too quickly. But this is at the insistence of ministers, not statisticians. Secondly, ministers now [...]
Few compromises on this eco Ford October 2, 2012 With fuel economy figures of 78.5mpg, Ford’s Fiesta Econetic model is not just the most economical model in Ford’s range but one of the most frugal cars on sale anywhere. This is one reason why I am not overly excited to drive it: in my experience, most super-economical and green cars are lacking enjoyment-wise. Which [...]
UK construction contracts in September October 2, 2012 UK construction activity contracted for the second consecutive month in September, a closely-watched survey revealed today. The construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 49.5 in September from 49 the month before, leaving it below the 50 mark that indicates growth. “The principal take out from September’s PMI survey is that underlying construction weakness is [...]
EU review wants to ringfence investment banking October 2, 2012 EU advisers have recommended that banks should separate deposit taking activities from trading and other riskier operations in a report released today. Proprietary trading of securities and derivatives should be legally separated from retail banking with the objective of reducing “systemic risk” in banking activities, it said. The advisory group led by Bank of Finland [...]
Exclusive interview with Homeland’s Mandy Patinkin October 2, 2012 IN a small, dark ante-room, with a one-way pane of glass, Mandy Patinkin is wearing a set of headphones and a highly concentrated expression. On the other side of the glass, in a CIA interview room, Clare Danes, businesslike in a dark blue trouser suit, and Damian Lewis, one of his fists bloodied and bandaged, [...]
FTSE 100 weak on Eurozone concerns October 2, 2012 The FTSE 100 opened down this morning, losing yesterday’s strong gains, as concerns over the health of the European economy and whether Spain might apply for financial help weighed on sentiment. A mixed bag made up the loserboard. Property group LSL Property led the fallers, shedding 4.61 per cent in early deals. Intellectual property firm [...]
