Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Budget gap crimps U.S.

Budget gap crimps U.S.
By Marcus Walker
The Wall Street Journal Europe
27 Sep 2006

THE U.S.’S HUGE budget deficit threatens to make the country’s economy less competitive, according to a study by the World Economic Forum, an institute in Switzerland. The institute’s annual study of global competitiveness says the U.S. economy is the... read more...

posted by Bank Report at 6:53 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Triumph for common touch as Lula heads for victory despite scandals (The Guardian, 26 Sep 2006, Page 5)

Triumph for common touch as Lula heads for victory despite scandals
Tom Phillips Vila Irm Dulce
The Guardian
26 Sep 2006

They call it the “red community”, and in less than a week, when the world's fifth largest democracy goes to the polls, there is little doubt which way Vila Irm Dulce will vote. Posters of a grinning Luiz Incio Lula da Silva are plastered on most... read more...

posted by Bank Report at 5:22 AM 0 comments

Monday, September 25, 2006

For U.S., mounting debt spurs global concerns

For U.S., mounting debt spurs global concerns
By Mark Whitehouse
The Wall Street Journal Europe
25 Sep 2006

In the past several years, Americans and their government enjoyed one of the best deals in international finance: They borrowed trillions of dollars from abroad to buy new flat-screen televisions, build homes and fight wars, yet the nation’s payments... read more...

posted by Bank Report at 5:42 AM 0 comments

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Venezuela’s Chavez Pillories Bush, Denounces the U.N.

Venezuela’s Chavez Pillories Bush, Denounces the U.N.
By Maggie Farley
Los Angeles Times
21 Sep 2006

UNITED NATIONS — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called President Bush “the devil” and pronounced the U.N. “worthless” in a fiery speech to the General Assembly on Wednesday, giving a preview of clashes to come if Venezuela wins a seat on the Security... read more...

posted by Bank Report at 10:48 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Sweden faces overhaul

Sweden faces overhaul
By Joel Sherwood And Terence Roth
The Wall Street Journal Europe
19 Sep 2006

Stockholm WEDEN’S MODEL welfare state will undergo some market-friendly tweaks and is set to offload 200 billion Swedish kronor ($27.5 billion) in state-held assets following the election defeat of the ruling Social Democrats this weekend, but the... read more...

posted by Bank Report at 6:03 PM 0 comments

Monday, September 18, 2006

Washington presses currency crackdown

Washington presses currency crackdown
By Michael M. Phillips
The Wall Street Journal Europe
18 Sep 2006

TSingapore HE U.S. AND its major allies are working to give the International Monetary Fund greater power to crack down on countries that meddle with exchange rates to gain an edge in international trade. At a meeting here this weekend, top financial... read more...

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Tuesday, September 12, 2006

EU patents plan sparks outcry

EU patents plan sparks outcry
By Mary Jacoby
The Wall Street Journal Europe
12 Sep 2006

ABrussels PROPOSAL HERE to create a new European patents court has the support of Microsoft Corp., Siemens AG and many other giants ofWestern industry. But can it survive an attack from Hartmut Pilch? A 43-year-old linguist from Munich, Mr. Pilch... read more...

posted by Bank Report at 10:17 AM 0 comments

Friday, September 08, 2006

IMF is still rich world’s viceroy

IMF is still rich world’s viceroy
George Monbiot
Mail & Guardian
08 Sep 2006

The glacier has begun to creak. In the world’s most powerful dictatorship we detect the merest hint of a thaw. The unhurried perestroika is taking place in Washington, in the offices of the International Monetary Fund. Like most concessions made by... read more...

posted by Bank Report at 6:11 AM 0 comments

Thursday, September 07, 2006

World economic outlook favorable: IMF

World economic outlook favorable: IMF

Hindustan Times
07 Sep 2006

Washington: The global economy is expected to log solid growth this year and next, although elevated energy prices and inflation hover as risks, the chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday. Rodrigo Rato predicted that global... read more...

posted by Bank Report at 9:47 AM 0 comments

WTO chides China for seeking separate free-trade agreements

WTO chides China for seeking separate free-trade agreements

The Wall Street Journal Europe
07 Sep 2006

ASSOCIATED PRESS SHANGHAI—World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy warned that China’s pursuit of separate bilateral and regional free-trade agreements would harm its longterm commercial interests. “Free-trade agreements, whether bilateral or... read more...

posted by Bank Report at 9:09 AM 0 comments