Fed to keep interest rates on hold again April 25, 2010 A GROWING economy, a rising stock market, and rising employment suggests that normality is returning to the United States. Indeed, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, appeared notably upbeat about the economy earlier this month. The US economy is forecast to grow at an annualised 3.5 per cent in the first quarter – [...]
Author of Dead Aid signed up to join Barclays bank board April 22, 2010 DAMBISA Moyo, the Zambian-born economist who last year made headlines with the publication of a controversial book arguing the inefficacy of aid to Africa, has joined the board of Barclays as a non-executive director. Moyo made her name in the financial world, working for the World Bank’s Europe, Central Asia and Africa departments and then [...]
Car production sees 90pc rise in March as confidence rises April 22, 2010 LENDING to British firms fell at a slower pace in February than January but still recorded the second biggest annual percentage drop since records began, figures from the Bank of England (BoE) showed yesterday. There was better news for the housing market, however, with mortgage approvals rising for the first time since November and lenders [...]
Flow of lending to UK firms remains weak, warns BoE April 22, 2010 LENDING to British firms fell at a slower pace in February than January but still recorded the second biggest annual percentage drop since records began, figures from the Bank of England (BoE) showed yesterday. There was better news for the housing market, however, with mortgage approvals rising for the first time since November and lenders [...]
FTSE 100 hits one-month low as Greek deficit fears weigh April 22, 2010 The London Report FTSE 100 hits one-month low as Greek deficit fears weigh BRITAIN’S top shares fell to a one-month closing low yesterday after news that Greece’s deficit widened more than expected hit investor sentiment, sending commodity and bank stocks into reverse. A downgrade of Greece’s debt rating from Moody’s Investors Service added to investor [...]
GOLDMAN AND GORDON HAVE SEEN BETTER DAYS April 21, 2010 GORDON Brown’s savage attack on Goldman Sachs for being “morally bankrupt” must have come as a surprise to those who can recall a time when the Prime Minister’s attitude to the bank was rather different. BGC’s veteran market commentator David Buik yesterday reminisced about a fundraising gala dinner he attended years ago in aid of [...]
Northern Rock director quits over FSA probe April 21, 2010 Northern Rock’s finance director quit yesterday after becoming the focus of a Financial Services Authority (FSA) probe. The watchdog is investigating allegations David Jones was aware of a deal struck between executives to hide almost 2,000 problem loans from investors. The FSA confirmed he is the subject of an investigation. Jones was the last surviving [...]
LISTED PRODUCT NEWS April 21, 2010 FIRST LISTING FOR RBS’S ETC PLATFORM Standard Commodities, the Royal Bank of Scotland’s exchange-traded commodities (ETC) platform, launched its first product on the Frankfurt Xetra stock exchange this week. Its physical gold ETC gives investors exposure to the performance of the London gold market fix price and the ETC is denominated in euros. The ETC [...]
Lower commodity prices and concerns over Greek debt weigh on FTSE stocks April 21, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index ended down yesterday as lower commodity prices hit miners and oil stocks and concerns over Greece’s debt returned to haunt banks, though positive broker comment boosted food retailers. The FTSE 100 index closed down 60.26 points, or 1 per cent, at 5,723.43, giving back Tuesday’s one per cent gain. “Equity sentiment [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS April 20, 2010 Merrill Lynch The bank has appointed Patrick Ramsey as chief executive of Merrill Lynch Bank Suisse, the Swiss wealth management division. Ramsey, who will report to Merrill’s EMEA head of wealth management David Jervis, joined the group in 2002. He most recently held the role of head of European private banking. Prior to joining Merrill, [...]