
Boris delivers Brexit body blow for sterling, but long term picture is murkier
Feb 23, 2016 01:01 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy
Most prospective prime ministers would be mildly embarrassed if a boost to their chances made financial markets plunge. But Boris Johnson is doubtless gratified that his backing for Brexit led to the pounds biggest one-day...

National Australia Bank – 30 years of strategy failure
Feb 23, 2016 00:57 am UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks
In its first quarter results this month, the National Australia Bank (NAB), breathed a sigh of relief announcing that the separation of Clydesdale had been successful with an expected loss of approximately A$4.2 billion....
Gap between rich and poor extends to views on retirement age: poll
Feb 23, 2016 00:36 am UTC| Insights & Views
Only a minority of Australians favour current policy settings to increase the Age Pension age, according to the recently released ANU poll on ageing and money. Across the population only 15% of those polled in October...
Thatcher's revenge? The Tories finally get to go to war over Europe
Feb 22, 2016 16:23 pm UTC| Insights & Views
After the announcement from several key figures that they will campaign for the UK to leave the EU despite the governments formal position to stay in, the Conservative Party is in turmoil. But this dispute is not about...
Why we stick our heads in the sand about the risk of unemployment
Feb 22, 2016 16:07 pm UTC| Insights & Views
The British job market is looking refreshingly stable: there were fewer unemployed people in the UK at the end of 2015 than at any time since 2005. The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics showed that the...

Pension problem at the heart of Germany's envied economy
Feb 22, 2016 16:04 pm UTC| Insights & Views
Germany often encourages much jealous muttering. The country found an easier path than most through the global financial crisis and is now even touted as the worlds best nation (at least according to one survey). Besides...

British power stations are burning wood from US forests – to meet renewables targets
Feb 22, 2016 16:02 pm UTC| Insights & Views
Last year, 6m tonnes of wood pellets harvested from forests in Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Virginia were shipped across the Atlantic, to be burnt in renewable biomass power plants. This was almost double the...