General Motors is back in the black … China is still doing its bit to prop up the US deficit … Countries defaulting? Poll says it’s a chance … Going broke it just about the only growth industry in the US …
UK economy
Business As Usual: UK tax! Now that’s a real tax … China wants America’s bonds … Going broke the only growth sector …
Business As Usual: The UK — oh to be in the black, rather than deep shit … but a bright spot in Nez Zealand …
The UK: oh to be in the black, rather than in deep shit … Good news on the jobs front in New Zealand … Where are the new jobs in the US … Expect mea culpas aplenty at tonight’s Goldman Sachs AGM …
Britain’s broke
Britain is moving into an era of “no-money politics”, says Camilla Cavendish. Time to tighten the budget belt and acknowledge that the UK’s real debt is way larger than the official £950 billion figure.
The Greece basket case becomes a Greek tragedy
The deaths of three people in Athens has taken the story away from the self-interest of politicians, investors, and bankers, and directed it towards a real tragedy.
Business As Usual: Oil spill cost up to $12.5b … the end nigh for Camwest
The split up and sale of the bankrupt Canwest TV and newspaper interests is heading for the end game, The UK gears for unremitting post-election gloom and other business news.
Business As Usual: Questions on Greece … BP oil disaster … China puts brakes on property
BP slow out of the blocks over oil spill … China still tightening the screws on property lending … What happens here if the China economy stumbles? … Mining: it’s all about geography and availability, not taking the profits.
Business As Usual: Skilled CEO to step aside … The Fed closes ranks … CPI confirms Reserve reservations …
Rising jobs numbers, house prices, retail sales and car sales have made Americans more confident … With the UK election looking very close, watch UK bonds for any sign of a raid or sell-off …
Don’t write off another credit crunch if Greece defaults
If Greece was a company, it would be on the verge of administration. Right now it’s three weeks from default, an event that has the potential to derail the global economic recovery, especially in Europe.
Volcano ash clouds Europe’s economy
The Icelandic volcano is costing the UK economy an estimated £100m every day the planes stay grounded. But while airlines, fresh produce and delivery services are losing out, train and ferry services and hotels are raking it in.
Business As Usual: A rival for the ASX? … ready, set, go for iPad … Greece treadmill won’t stop …
The launch of the iPad is expected to create havoc in the US … The ups and downs of the US economy … Greece is still pounding the never-ending treadmill of debt … Toyota finally has something to smile about … Is Shell about to quit Australia?
Australia is stable, but in Greece it’s another story…
The Greek economy has once again shaken global markets, with economists asking: who’s next? Both the UK and the US are sliding towards the bottom of the AAA credit rating criteria with huge deficits, rising debt levels and sluggish economies.
Guy Rundle: Rundle’s UK: The last budget of the first (and possibly only) Brown government
Alistair Darling has delivered the last budget of the first Gordon Brown government. There was fiddling with stamp duty, fags and booze taxes and other bits and bobs — but a startling lack of change or reform.
Business As Usual: Debt still on menu at Seven, Nine as MasterChef fires up ad revenues again…
The return of MasterChef Australia has heralded that the good times are back for the television industry, forecasters predict a sluggish recovery for the British economy, what Westpac chairman Ted Evans didn’t know in Treasury and more business briefs.
Business As Usual: Business as usual: Confidence and the economy … Murdoch on nicking chips … and censorship or not … China crisis. What crisis
James Murdoch has labelled nicking potato chips the same as nicking online content, China imports and exports have jumped, the UK has been warned to slash spending and more business briefs from across the globe.
Is Britain suffering Acropolis sized debt?
It’s Greece that grabs the european economy headlines, but now Britain is battling the debt bulge, unless its government can slash budget deficits quickly. Could a double-dip recession in the UK occur?
Business As Usual: Frosty outlook in US, Germany … worst global trade for 64 years …
Snow business takes on a new meaning, world trade is at its the worst since 1945. Plus, China to rationalise it car market, but plans do not include the gas-guzzling Hummer in today’s business snippets.
Business As Usual: Canwest tricks … Banks down the gurgler … Land of hope and glory
There’s a bunfight going on over Canwest’s TV businness; US banks are still struggling, as is the property market; Ireland is still short of a quid; and the sherry is at the ready as the country waits for the latest economic figures.
UK economists fail to see the recession on the wall
The UK economy is struggling, but not one of the hundreds of the economists in the UK markets picked the 0.40% fall in the UK’s economic growth in the September quarter.
Brits and Greeks move to tax banks
Greek and British governments are eying special taxes on the bank profits to help boost income and reduce debt bills, while Ireland may be forced to go to the IMF for aid if it can’t make deep cuts in spending.
A little government fiscal interference can be a good thing
Tax cuts, stimulus packages, slashed interest rates and car trade-in schemes. Astute government financial action has helped save Britain from the worst of the economic downturn. And it would be churlish to deny this, says Dan Roberts.
UK economy gets pounded
The UK is in a mad rush to stem their bleeding economy, with an increase in borrowing, deficit spending and money printing. But will it increase growth? asks Bloomberg.
Now’s the time to raise taxes
Spending cuts could easily be substituted with tax rises, if only the British government could keep its nerve, argues Larry Elliot. With a budget deficit of 12% of GDP, it needs to do something.
UK GDP takes biggest first-quarter hit in 50 years
The sun may never set on the British empire, but the UK is still facing dark days: Bloomberg reports predictions of increasing unemployment, and mortgage lending is at its weakest ever recorded levels.
The end of the banks, and Britain
The British financial services sector has now collapsed and the country could soon go with it. It’s finished, says John Lanchester.
