The Federal Reserve has finally released minutes from its 2008 meeting February 21, 2014 The minutes from the 16 September 2008 meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee have finally been made public. That meeting took place the day after Lehman Brothers went bust. Then Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke sums up the mood pretty well: Obviously, we started late. We have a lot to talk about. Bernanke didn't [...]
Ukrainian protestors forge deal with President Yanukovich February 21, 2014 President Viktor Yanukovich and three opposition leaders have signed an agreement that is expected to end the lethal clashes of recent weeks. The deal should see early elections and other provisions to improve the democratic functioning of the country. Opposition forces and police have met on the streets of Ukraine's capital city, Kiev, seeing at least [...]
Why anyone who thinks Bernie Madoff owes them money should get to a Post Office. Like, now February 21, 2014 The Financial Conduct Authority has just sent out its very own final reminder notice, warning investors who lost money at the hands of convicted fraudster Bernard Madoff that they have just seven days to file a claim for compensation with the Madoff Victim Fund. Bernie's victims are pointed towards a dedicated Department of Justice [...]
City&Gild: Customers have changed – are you ready to move from need to desire? February 21, 2014 As I watched the tragic plight of the Ukrainian people this week, the arrival of an email entitled “Need state Identification project” made me question further the way that we think about brands and customers. With struggling nations across the globe all battling for their voices to be heard, the contrast between such real and desperate [...]
Market reaction to the Facebook-Whatsapp deal is leaving this investment veteran feeling “old and tired” February 21, 2014 The market loved Facebok's $19bn Whatsapp shopping spree – but it's leaving some feeling confused. Bronte Capital's chief investment officer John Hempton writes that while he once held Facebook stock, he is "no longer so in tune with valuation" of the social media giant. The investment guru works for the Australian and USA licensed global fund [...]
Scorelines didn’t do justice to Bayern and Barca’s dominance against Arsenal and Man City, but these charts do February 20, 2014 English clubs came off a resounding second best in the Champions League this week, even if the 2-0 defeats suffered by the 10 men of Arsenal and Manchester City barely did justice to the dominance of Bayern Munich and Barcelona. But where the scoreline, and the shooting boots of Mario Mandzukic, failed, these passing [...]
European retail investment at 2006 highs February 20, 2014 Investors splurged €15.5bn (£12.7bn) on European retail assets in the fourth quarter of last year – the highest quarterly total since the same time in 2006 and almost double the amount spent in the third quarter. According to the latest research from property advisors CBRE, 2013 was by far the strongest year for retail [...]
Landowners go to court to get protesters to frack off February 20, 2014 A High Court hearing in Manchester tomorrow will decide whether landowners The Peel Group will be granted a consent order to remove anti-fracking protesters from their land, where energy firm IGas wants to start exploratory drilling. Protesters opposed to the hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – technique used to extract shale gas have moved [...]
You won’t recognise your high street bank in five years’ time February 20, 2014 Small branches with more machines than staff are the future of banking for Britain’s biggest lenders, as Lloyds joins Barclays in creating a new kind of store. Lloyds is understood to be looking into opening new branches in London – a radical change from the industry trend of cutting back on expensive stores in favour [...]
Expect rate hikes in spring 2015, says Bank’s Weale February 20, 2014 Households should prepare themselves for an increase in interest rates "next spring", the Bank of England's Martin Weale has told Sky News. Weale, an external member of the Bank's monetary policy committee, said: "I think it is very helpful if we try and explain that the most likely path for interest rates is that the [...]
