Fed wins in Dodd shake-up March 15, 2010 THE Federal Reserve would take on a greatly expanded role in financial regulation under new legislation unveiled yesterday by a top US Senate Democrat, in a push to move ahead with the regulatory reform that has been a top priority of President Barack Obama. The bill by Senator Christopher Dodd would give the Federal Reserve, [...]
Stall in US production as Fed meets on rates March 15, 2010 US industrial production braked sharply in February, held back by severe winter storms that slammed parts of the country, while manufacturing activity in New York state stalled this month, figures showed yesterday. Analysts said the data did not alter their views that the factory-led economic recovery remained on track, given weather disruptions and the fact [...]
MOMENTUM IS DRIVING THE MARKETS March 15, 2010 WITH the days getting longer and the Cheltenham Festival kicking off this afternoon, there is a palpable feeling of optimism around. Despite little in the way of bullish news last week, stock indices puffed and wheezed their way higher. The S&P made its highest close in 17 months – breaking back above 1,150, which was [...]
Federal Reserve retains powers March 14, 2010 The Federal Reserve would win sweeping new powers over nonbank financial firms and keep much of its authority over banks, under revised legislation to be unveiled today. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd was poised to release a bill that leans heavily on the Fed, sources said.
2010 is the year for small caps March 8, 2010 AFTER small caps’ excellent 2009, many were left wondering whether such a performance could be repeated in 2010. Neil Hermon, portfolio manager of the Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust, certainly thinks so. Hermon says that smaller companies have the ability to outperform this year thanks to a weak sterling and improved mergers and acquisitions (M&A) [...]
Riverside views and posh Euro nosh March 8, 2010 Battery 34 Westferry Circus E14 8RR Tel: 020 8305 3089 Cost per person without wine: £55 YOU have to really want to go to Battery to make it inside. In the Phillipe Starck-designed space formerly occupied by the now-defunct restaurant Ubon, it’s at the top of a building within the cloistered Four Seasons complex in [...]
Fed retains bank oversight March 7, 2010 The US Federal Reserve will retain regulation of banks with more than $100bn (£66bn) despite calls from Congress for a single regulator to supervise all banks. In other regulatory reform, the government is also introducing a new regime aimed at dealing with systemically important institutions that are failing. New rules would allow it to wind [...]
Election fears continue to weigh on sterling March 7, 2010 I WAS reading the news the other day and a headline caught my eye: “The Pound Plummets”. I couldn’t help but feel that it is too early to use “plummets” in this context. Since the beginning of this year, the pound is down around seven per cent against the dollar, but we have been quick [...]
Crouch targets a World Cup berth as two-goal salvo rescues England March 3, 2010 ENGLAND (3) vs Egypt (1) PETER CROUCH staked his claim for a World Cup starting spot after his two-goal show helped galvanise England at Wembley. The Egyptians gave Fabio Capello’s men a stern test in the first-half and deservedly led through Mohamed Zidan’s 18-yard strike. But Crouch replaced Tottenham team-mate Jermain Defoe at half-time and [...]
Fears over banking rules weigh on US March 3, 2010 US stocks ended little changed yesterday as worries about bank regulation and a setback for drug company Pfizer offset signs of improvement in the labor market and services sector. Pfizer, the world’s largest drugmaker, fell 1.6 per cent after its Alzheimer’s drug did not meet the main goals of a late-stage clinical trial, weighing on [...]