WPP profits rise but concerns linger about “grey swan” events August 29, 2013 Advertising agency WPP has seen pre tax profits rise by 19.4 per cent to £524m in the first half of 2013, but concerns for the future remain, and WPP's "operating companies remain cautious" (release). Yet again the firm's management refer to the chance of "grey swan" events. Here are the four they have in mind: [...]
Carney’s liquidity rule loosening could boost bank earnings by up to 10 per cent August 28, 2013 The loosening of liquidity requirements announced by Mark Carney and the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) could be a significant boon to bank earnings, according to market watchers. Bank of England governor Carney said: For major banks and building societies meeting the minimum 7% capital threshold, the Bank of England will reduce the level of required [...]
Mark Carney drops local knowledge with Jake Bugg reference August 28, 2013 Bank of England governor Mark Carney tried to impress with some regional knowledge in his Nottingham speech, dropping the name of local-born singer-songwriter Jake Bugg: Productivity growth has been anaemic and – remarkably – the UK is no more productive than it was back in 2005 – before Jake Bugg got his first guitar. We [...]
Carney’s productivity fixation August 28, 2013 While his predecessor Sir Mervyn King was no fan of uttering "productivity", Mark Carney has delivered a speech peppered with the word. This now appears to be a theme of Carney's public appearances, as he used the word repeatedly at this month's Inflation Report. Ben Southwood, Adam Smith Institute: It's interesting that Carney is putting [...]
Bank of England governor stresses that forward guidance will return inflation to target August 28, 2013 (Source: Bank of England) The governor says that he does intend to raise rates before the unemployment threshold of seven per cent is met. But with Monetary Policy Committee members already rebelling against this (as Martin Weale voted against at the last meeting), it's not clear that Mark Carney will be able to control policy [...]
EU’s Rehn says it’s too early to put a number on the Greek financing gap August 28, 2013 The European Union's Olli Rehn has said that it's too early to put figures on the Greek financing gap, and that there will be a "proposal, possibly in Autumn". Steve Collins, global head of dealing at London & Capital Asset Management: German CDU politicians are going to be furious Rehn has slipped his gag with [...]
Cameron announces draft UN resolution condemning chemical attacks by Assad August 28, 2013 Prime minister David Cameron has taken to Twitter to announce that Britain has drafted a UN resolution, condemning Syria's Assad for use of chemical weapons. 1/3 We've always said we want the UN Security Council to live up to its responsibilities on Syria. Today they have an opportunity to do that — David Cameron (@David_Cameron) [...]
Bank of Japan’s deputy governor reiterates target of two per cent inflation within two years August 28, 2013 The Bank of Japan's deputy governor, Kikuo Iwata, has repeated a "goal to achieve two per cent inflation as soon as possible with a two-year timeline as a reference point". Iwata said the bank is "focused on how we are achieve two per cent inflation. What we want to see is higher wages and an [...]
US consumer confidence beats in August August 27, 2013 US consumer confidence has risen from 81 (revised up from 80.3) to 81.5 in August. Economists had forecast a flat reading at that unrevised figure of 80.3. The Richmond Fed manufacturing index was also strong in August, rising from -11 to 14. Amna Asaf, economist, Capital Economics: We suspect that the slide in gasoline prices may [...]
US house prices up 12.1 per cent on a year ago August 27, 2013 US house prices have risen by 12.1 per cent in the year to June, beating economist forecasts of a 12.0 per cent rise. The data from the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index is slightly lower than last month's 12.2 per cent growth.
