Treasury yields at record low as Fed mulls new QE August 3, 2010 YIELDS on short-term US Treasury debt fell to a record low yesterday after a raft of negative data heightened expectations that the Federal Reserve may seek to further stimulate the stagnating economy. Two-year note yields, which move inversely to prices, fell three basis points to 0.53 per cent, after touching a new record low of [...]
Let’s stop whining about tight credit August 2, 2010 How unfair. I have a great idea for a new website but my bank doesn’t want to lend me the £50m I need to start it up. It claims not to like my business plan but that can’t possibly be right. What can I do? Oh, I know, I’ll tell my MP. It’s perfect timing: [...]
Dramatic recovery for Britain’s banks August 1, 2010 BANKS will come under renewed pressure to extend credit to small businesses this week as the UK’s five largest lenders reveal combined pre-tax profits of nearly £12bn. With the stronger players returning to pre-financial crisis levels of success, a fresh row is brewing between politicians – who are demanding more finance for enterprises – and [...]
Chinese central bank vows to keep interest rates stable during 2010 August 1, 2010 CHINA will stick to a relatively loose monetary stance in the second half of this year, with an emphasis on implementing policy flexibly, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said yesterday. In a statement on its website, the central bank said it would combine its various policy tools, including open market operations and required reserves, [...]
House price fall fuels fear of double-dip July 29, 2010 FEARS of a sustained double-dip in Britain’s property market intensified yesterday after mortgage lender Nationwide reported that house prices fell this month for the first time since February and the Bank of England revealed that mortgage approvals dropped to a four-month low in June. The latest figures from Nationwide showed that house prices fell by [...]
PERSONAL FINANCE NEWS July 29, 2010 STAYCATION IS STILL IN FAVOUR Britons are feeling the pinch when it comes to holidays with almost 40 per cent of us actively trying to spend less money on our holidays this year. And of those looking to cut back, more than half have decided not to go abroad to cut costs. A survey by [...]
Buy now to take advantage of the Olympic dream July 29, 2010 NEW data released by Lloyds TSB and the Land Registry this week revealed that since London won its bid to host the 2012 Olympic games, property prices in east London have climbed an average of 26 per cent. This compares to a 22 per cent rise across London with houses in the top-performing district, Homerton, [...]
New Fannie rules paying off July 28, 2010 Stricter lending standards adopted last year by Fannie Mae are beginning to pay off as the mortgage finance giant’s “new book” of business is the strongest in a decade, the firm’s chief executive said yesterday. Fannie Mae is emphasising safer, long-term, fixed-rate loans.
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING July 21, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES FIAT CONFIDENT OF BANK FINANCING Fiat’s ambitions to marry off its auto division with Chrysler of the US took a step forward yesterday, as it said banks were ready to provide €4bn ($5.1bn) in loans to help finance the demerger of its non-automotive operations next January. The Italian group also reported better-than-expected second [...]
BNY Mellon earnings triple despite fee falls July 20, 2010 BANK of New York Mellon saw its earnings more than triple in the second quarter, compared to a period last year when the bank was laid low by writedowns on mortgage-backed securities. The US custodial bank reported second-quarter profit attributable to shareholders of $658m (£430.2m), up from $176m a year earlier. That was equivalent to [...]