World GDP map: How will the UK’s economy compare to France and Germany in 2015? October 9, 2014 It wasn't great news from the IMF this week. Global growth looks weak, the Eurozone faces the prospect of a triple-dip recession, and hovering over the single-currency zone is the spectre of deflation. In its half-yearly report, (which also showed China to have a bigger economy than the US for the first time) the IMF [...]
Britain climbs to fifth place for women on boards October 8, 2014 The UK is a world leader in female representation on boards, with women making up a quarter of board roles. On a continent-wide basis, Europe comes out on top, with 20 per cent of directors at major European companies being women, a substantial increase from the 15.6 per cent two years ago. European companies now [...]
Rouble falls to a new low against dollar and pound as sanctions bite October 8, 2014 President Putin celebrated his birthday yesterday, but it's just as well he is a tee-totaller because Russia's currency is probably giving him enough of a headache to worry about. The rouble has fallen to a new low against both the dollar and the pound today, as sanctions and falling oil prices continued to hit [...]
EU approves tar sand oil import October 7, 2014 THE EXPORT of “dirty oil” tar sand crude to Europe has been approved after the EU abandoned attempts to have it barred following lobbying by major exporter Canada. A proposal published by the European Commission yesterday removed what could have been an EU obstacle to shipments of the crude. The proposal comes at a time when [...]
Kazakhstan government returns to bonds with $2.5bn debt sale October 6, 2014 OIL-RICH Kazakhstan yesterday announced it was selling 10-year and 30-year US dollar debt to investors, marking the central Asian state’s return to the bond market after a break of more than 14 years. Russia’s neighbour, which is also a major exporter of industrial metals, uranium and grain, will price the 10-year paper at an implied [...]
Russia optimists are making an increasingly implausible case October 6, 2014 A potential economic outcast is a bad place to invest money. Russia's economy has taken a battering this year. The conflict in Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions tit-for-tat with the West has delivered an enormous blow to confidence, with some of the country’s largest companies now all but locked out of dollar debt refinancing [...]
One country, two cultures: There’ll be no happy ending to the Hong Kong protests October 5, 2014 “We claim nothing but the liberty and privileges of Englishmen… we can not be deprived of them without our consent.” – George Mason, a founder of the American republic, 1776 “There is no room to make concessions on important principles.” – The People’s Daily, the official paper of the Chinese Communist Party, 3 [...]
Hamilton’s title boost but win is overshadowed October 5, 2014 BRITAIN’S Lewis Hamilton last night admitted that Jules Bianchi’s crash left him unable to enjoy a victory at the Japanese Grand Prix that tightened his grip on the drivers’ championship. Hamilton overtook pole-sitting Mercedes team-mate and main title rival Nico Rosberg on lap 29 of a rain-hit race cut to 44 laps following Marussia driver [...]
JPMorgan cyber attack may have also hacked nine other financial institutions October 5, 2014 The cyber attack on JPMorgan which compromised the data of 73m households and businesses may have also hit nine other banks and brokerages. According to the New York Times, who did not disclose the names of the affected financial institutions, the scale of the attack may have stretched far beyond users of Chase.com, Chase [...]
How do I get a Rugby World Cup 2015 ticket? Fans who miss out in official ballot could face prices 400pc higher October 3, 2014 Rugby fans who miss out on World Cup tickets from the official ballot could end up paying four-figure sums just to watch group games. The application period for Rugby World Cup 2015 tickets closed on Monday, leaving scores of rugby fans nervously waiting to find out if they have struck lucky later this month. [...]