Bernanke bullish on upturn April 14, 2010 THE US economy will continue to recover at a moderate pace in coming quarters, bolstered by a return of business and consumer spending, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said yesterday. According to the Fed’s beige book, the majority of US districts saw a rise in retail, mining and energy, and manufacturing activity levels. The housing [...]
Fed vindicates Goldman over Greek trades April 14, 2010 A FEDERAL Reserve investigation into contracts between Goldman Sachs and the Greek government ended yesterday without any action being taken. The probe, launched by the Fed, alleged that the contracts distorted the country’s debt levels. Fed chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress yesterday the investment banking giant did sell Greece products that lowered its debt-to-GDP ratio [...]
Greece tests bond waters as euro rises April 12, 2010 GREECE will dip its toe back into the European bond market today when it tries to raise €1.2bn (£1.1bn), days after politicians moved to calm investors’ nerves with details of a €30bn funding package on standby. Analysts expect the relatively small issue to get away smoothly following the announcement by eurozone ministers and the International [...]
What the Sound of Music tells us about bubbles April 11, 2010 NOW stay with me on this one – sometimes, insights into the financial markets come from unlikely sources. In my case, I was reminded of the dilemmas now facing policymakers while enjoying a yodel down memory lane, watching The Sound of Music. It was when I reached one particular verse that it came to me: “How [...]
THE WEEK AHEAD April 11, 2010 AFTER a slew of central bank monetary policy decisions last week, this week is dominated by consumer-focused data. In the UK, we’ll get the British Retail Consortium’s March figures and the RICS’ house price balance for last month at midnight tomorrow. Thursday at midnight sees the release of the March Nationwide consumer confidence survey. It [...]
TNT considers mail unit IPO April 8, 2010 DUTCH post and logistics company TNT is considering a listing or partnerships for its mail unit, as investors grow concerned over poor performance. Increased competition due to European mail liberalisation and a rise in electronic communications have seen TNT struggle with volumes and costs at its mail unit. TNT’s management has already held strategy talks [...]
BAILOUT CHIEFS FACE HOLLYWOOD PARADE April 8, 2010 HERE’S betting that the key players in the downfall and rescue of the US banking system never believed they’d have it so good. After countless sleepless nights and stress-soaked days, it’s probably fair to say that policymakers and bank bosses weren’t looking their best when they emerged, battered and bruised, on the other side of [...]
Wall St slides on Fed rate concerns April 7, 2010 US STOCKS fell in a broad late-day drop yesterday after a top Federal Reserve official said interest rates should not stay low for much longer, giving investors an excuse to take profits. A speech by Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Thomas Hoenig drove afternoon selling after he said keeping interest rates too low for [...]
Greenspan defends record April 7, 2010 FORMER Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan came under fire for failing to take measures to prevent the financial crisis yesterday, but defended himself by arguing banks – not regulators – were to blame. In a heated appearance at the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission in Washington, Greenspan insisted reckless mortgage lending and the securitisation of home [...]
Bernanke: US economy is not out of the woods yet April 7, 2010 THE US economy still faces significant headwinds, including a housing sector that has yet to recover convincingly and an ailing employment market, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said yesterday. In a speech that suggested the central bank chief was in no rush to begin raising interest rates, Bernanke outlined a number of challenges to the [...]