Shrinking populations will force nations to compete harder March 2, 2013 In the long run, Keynes used to say, we are all dead, meaning that we should care about fixing today’s problems regardless of any side-effects temporary solutions – such as increased borrowing – might eventually saddle us with. Like many of Keynes’ other soundbites, this one feels clever and self-evidently true – but in fact [...]
How a finance masters could land you a job February 27, 2013 Just don’t expect it to do all the work DEMAND for masters in finance graduates is rising. According to the latest data from the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), 39 per cent of employers will be looking to hire one this year, up from 32 per cent in 2012. And as competition for roles heats [...]
Bernanke has considered negative interest rates February 27, 2013 During questioning at the House Financial Services Committee today, Democrat representative Gregory Meeks asked Fed chairman Ben Bernanke if he had considered zero or negative interest rates. Bernanke said that nominal negative interest rates as a policy was on the table and is an idea that is "discussed periodically" but that the stimulatory effects of [...]
Bernanke soothes US markets February 27, 2013 In the second day of testimonies, Fed chairman Bernanke's remarks are considered less important. However, they do appear to have had some impact on markets as the VIX (a measure of volatility in US markets) has moved downwards during this session before the House Committee. (Source: Yahoo! Finance) Former candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination, [...]
Yahoo’s end to working from home may backfire February 27, 2013 Over at Slate, Matthew Yglesias suggests that Yahoo president Marissa Mayer may not be against working from home per se, but is attempting to cleanly lay off low productivity workers: You think you have some reason to believe that the full-time workers from home on the Yahoo staff are a disproportionately low-productivity cohort. Announcing this [...]
Standard Chartered looks to buy wealth management unit February 27, 2013 Standard Chartered is rumoured to be in talks to buy Morgan Stanley's Indian private wealth management unit according to Reuters sources. The unit manages approximately $1 billion including loans. It was not immediately clear what the price tag might be, but one of the sources said wealth management units in India get bids at 1.5 percent to [...]
WPP-owned Ogilvy & Mather acquires majority stake in Media February 27, 2013 Ogilvy & Mather, the global marketing communications group, has confirmed that it has acquired a majority stake in Strike Media Proprietary Limited in South Africa. Strike is a mobile marketing and technology agency delivering customised mobile strategy, campaigns,design and development services to clients across the financial, retail, consumer and telecommunications sectors. It posted revenues of [...]
Eurozone outlook worsens as retail struggles February 27, 2013 Data from Markit Economics today showed that yet again there has been no expansion in Eurozone retail this February (release). Our economics reporter Ben Southwood comments: The state of the retail sector worsened further, data from Markit showed, with the currency bloc’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) slipping to 44.5 in February, from 45.9 in [...]
Fed governor Bernanke testifies to the House Committee February 27, 2013 Watch live on C-SPAN3. Questions are not known beforehand, so answers can affect the markets. It is worth watching the dollar alongside this session.
Ikea pulls sausages from stores as horsegate continues February 27, 2013 Ikea is pulling its wiener sausages from sale in France, Spain, UK, Ireland & Portugal. The sausages are produced by Dafgaard, the same Swedish suppler as its meatballs. Dafgaard is contesting the results of tests conducted on the meatballs by Czech Republic officials. "Out of 320 tests performed in the last three weeks, none contain [...]