Further upside to come for the Swedish krona June 15, 2010 EVENTS in the Eurozone periphery have unsurprisingly continued to grab traders’ attention over the past couple of months. But while foreign exchange investors are concentrating on the southern and eastern fringes of the single currency area, opportunities are opening up on the northern edge. The balance sheets of the eastern European and Club Med states [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 9, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES BACKLASH OVER INDIAN FLOAT RULES India is facing a growing private sector backlash against a rule change that will lead to a flood of more than $50bn of new shares being listed over three years. There are concerns that the move could damage the country’s stock market and hamper economic growth. The Finance [...]
Hungary to punish banks and ban home loans in foreign currencies June 8, 2010 HUNGARY’S Prime Minister vowed to introduce a flat income tax and a tariff on banks, cut public pay and ban foreign currency mortgages as he strove to reassure investors he could contain the budget deficit. After sweeping an April election with a two-thirds majority, Viktor Orban unveiled a programme departing from that of the previous [...]
Choosing the right lender is crucial in a tough market June 3, 2010 HOUSES are selling like hotcakes thanks to fierce competition among buyers. The latest monthly survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) showed that houses are shifting quicker than new ones could come on to the market, despite the number of new sellers increasing. Even the dreaded gazumping is back. In such a market, [...]
Q&A: SELLING June 3, 2010 Russell Hunt MANAGING DIRECTOR, PROPERTY HUNT Q. Dear Russell, is it easier to get a mortgage now and what’s the best way for me to go about getting one? A.It is certainly still difficult for individuals to get a mortgage but lending is starting to pick up. However, mortgage lenders are tending to be more [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 2, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES ROLLS-ROYCE SPIRITS BUOYED BY GHOST Rolls-Royce says it will at least double its sales this year, thanks to the launch of its new Ghost model and a resurgance in demand for its high-priced cars around the world. Sales of the BMW-owned brand’s cars in China, where Rolls-Royce has seven dealerships, will for the [...]
Moody’s staff say bullied to give top rating June 2, 2010 FORMER Moody’s analysts say they felt pressure from bosses obsessed with market share to assign rosy ratings to risky debt products, while the company’s current chief executive defended the rating agency’s business model, according to testimony released yesterday. Three former officials at Moody’s described an atmosphere of intimidation and fear, according to prepared comments to [...]
The grocer who says this year will test retailers as well as shoppers May 31, 2010 Much like the rest of the country, the chief executive of the country’s third largest supermarket group is trying to make up his mind about the coalition government. At the start of the election campaign Sainsbury’s boss Justin King was one of many who backed Tory plans to scrap national insurance hikes for employers, a [...]
PERSONAL FINANCE NEWS May 27, 2010 MORTGAGES FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS The Yorkshire Building Society this week launched a new range of mortgages for first time buyers. The products have no up-front product fees and £500 cashback. You can also borrow up to 85 per cent of the value of the property. Borrowers will also get a free standard valuation and free [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING May 26, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES APPLE, HP AND DELL INVESTIGATE FOXCONN AFTER SPATE OF SUICIDES Apple, Dell and HP, three of the world’s largest IT companies, said yesterday they were investigating working conditions at Foxconn after a series of suicides at the huge factory in southern China where Foxconn makes electronic goods. Nine workers at Foxconn’s Shenzhen plant, [...]