Letters to the Editor – 01/07 – Not a new normal, Best of Twitter June 30, 2014 Not a new normal [Re: Is Mark Carney right that the “new normal” for interest rates will be 2.5 per cent?, yesterday] Mark Carney has pointed to financial market expectations to support his assertion that the “new normal” for rates will be around 2.5 per cent. He is wrong. Financial markets do not forecast the [...]
3 reasons not to hold your breath for an investment boom June 30, 2014 Even as global growth strengthens and with interest rates still at historically very low levels, capital investment will continue to stagnate and decline during the foreseeable future, according to a depressing report from Standard & Poor’s this morning. Stronger growth, the enormous hoards of cash held by corporates worldwide (which more than doubled in the [...]
Risk tolerance: Why decadent Europe is whistling as chaos reaches its gates June 29, 2014 WILL the US ramp up its involvement in Iraq? And if so, on what terms? Will Europe build on its new partnership agreements with Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia to draw an effective line over which an expansive Russia would not dare cross? Will Israel persist in rattling its sabre, while Western powers search for a [...]
Finding strength in numbers: Meet SBD Apparel founder Ben Banks June 29, 2014 Peter Spence talks about the powerlifting business with SBD Apparel’s Ben Banks If you've ever come across the extreme world of strength sports, you’ll probably have got your first introduction stumbling through the TV channels on a Boxing Day morning. Last year, more than a million of us tuned in to watch the competitors of [...]
New sanctions against Russia could come on Monday June 27, 2014 Russia has until Monday to take steps to improve the situation in eastern Ukraine or face further sanctions, European Union leaders meeting in Brussels today announced. The measures that the EU has asked to be in place by Monday are: agreement on a verification mechanism for the ceasefire and effective border control the release of [...]
Why Ukraine’s free trade agreement with EU puts all eyes on Moscow June 27, 2014 Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have signed landmark free-trade pacts with European leaders this morning, binding the former Soviet states closer to the west. The agreement slashes import tariffs between the countries and the European Union and is considered a watershed moment for the region: a marked shift away from Russian influence and Moscow's proposals to [...]
World Cup: Russia bow out of World Cup as Algeria return to haunt Capello June 26, 2014 RUSSIA 1 ALGERIA 1 ALGERIA reached the last 16 for the first time in their history last night, proving the scourge of a Fabio Capello team for the second World Cup in a row. Russia looked set to join Belgium in the knockout phase having taken a sixth-minute lead through Aleksandr Kokorin. But Islam Slimani’s [...]
World Cup in brief June 25, 2014 Ghana’s $3m cash delivery THE GHANAIAN government have flown $3m (£1.75m) in cash to Brazil in order to help their Football Association distribute World Cup appearance fees. Players from Ghana, who play their final Group G match against Portugal today, were said to be ready to strike at having not received promised bonuses. GAMES ON [...]
Russia could face new US sanctions June 25, 2014 Russia could face more economic sanctions from the US amid the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine. The new sanctions would affect exports, reports the FT. According to industry executives, US companies would be required to apply for licences if they wish to export technology to Russia. The rules would apply to new projects rather than existing [...]
Rouble firms on Ukraine hopes June 24, 2014 THE RUSSIAN rouble shot up against the dollar yesterday, reaching its highest level since January, as Moscow gave stronger indications that the conflict in Ukraine would be de-escalated. Russian President Vladimir Putin asked the country’s legislators yesterday to rescind permission he had been previously granted to intervene militarily in Ukraine. The dollar dropped below the [...]