Before the open – 21/08 August 21, 2013 Traders are expecting European markets to open lower after a mixed US session as it goes ex dividend today. The big action in today's markets will come at 19.00 as the Federal Open Market Committee publishes its minutes. #FTSE called around 5 points lower. #EURUSD bedding in above 1.3400 – release of #FOMC minutes [...]
Any Other Business – 21/08 August 20, 2013 ■ With the annual Edinburgh comedy festival now in full swing, what better for City delegates than a little political light relief in the form of Confessions of Gordon Brown, a satirical monologue about the former Prime Minister – played by Ian Grieve (pictured). The Capitalist hears that at least one of Brown’s former cabinet [...]
IoD warns Labour that without zero-hour contracts job creation will suffer August 20, 2013 As Labour MP Chuku Umunna holds a summit on zero-hour contracts today, business group the Institute of Directors (IoD) has slammed claims that those on these flexible jobs early £6 less per hour than other workers. Alexander Ehmann, head of employment policy at the IoD, says: Claims that employees without guaranteed hours are paid less [...]
Index of US economic activity negative for fifth month August 20, 2013 Optimism for the US economy has improved slightly, as the Chicago Fed national activity index moved from -0.23 to -0.15 in July. That's the fifth consecutively negative read for the index. Last month's figure was better on release, now revised from -0.13 to -0.23, and analysts had been hoping for an improvement to -0.10.
Bank of Japan’s Kuroda says they will do whatever it takes to beat deflation August 20, 2013 Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda has pledged that the central bank will do "whatever it takes" to beat deflation, as Japan's economic improvement steadily proceeds. Kuroda cited signs of positive cycle of output, income and spending, but claimed that a proposed sales tax hike wouldn't derail Japan's economic recovery. The central banker also warned [...]
Capital Economics hikes UK growth forecast to over one per cent this year August 20, 2013 Capital Economics has nudged up its GDP forecasts for this year from 0.8 to 1.2 per cent this year as business surveys, retail sales figures, news on the housing market and consumer confidence indicate growing momentum in the second half. Growth next year is expected to accelerate, with Capital Economics now forecast growth of 2.0 [...]
Home Office says opposition to detention without charge implies support for terrorism August 20, 2013 The Home Office has said that the government has a "duty to protect the public and our national security" in the wake of the detention of David Miranda at Heathrow airport. If the police believe that an individual is in possession of highly sensitive stolen information that would help terrorism, then they should act and [...]
German finance minister says Greece will need another aid program August 20, 2013 German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has said that Greece will need another aid program, saying that the first was "unique". Initial reports from Bloomberg suggested that Schaueble believed another program would not be necessary. Classic day in euro loony land with Bloomberg's help — deltahedge (@minefornothing) August 20, 2013 This is a bit of a [...]
Eurozone construction output improves in June August 20, 2013 Eurozone construction output has seen a good print today, up 0.7 per cent in June. There were also hefty revisions to the last month's figure, up from -0.3 per cent to 0.5 per cent growth. Despite two months of good news after revisions, the sector as a whole has contracted by three per cent in [...]
Adoptions up nearly 10 per cent in just one year August 20, 2013 Adoptions are up 9.8 per cent in just one year according to the Office for National Statistics (release). The number rose from 4,740 in 2011 to 5,206 in 2012. Outside of marriage adoptions were up from 82 per cent to 85 per cent in the same period, with most of those adopted in 2012 (63 [...]
