Economic News

US markets soared like the eagle this morning, jumping 1% at the opening bell. Good news for all, US unemployment figures, surprisingly beat forecasts. The number of people filing for initial unemployment benefits fell to 366,000 in the latest week — the lowest level since May 2008, and well below analysts’

Worries are rippling through debt and stock markets despite  the insufficient measures taken by European leaders last week to help restore investor confidence. Reflecting the tension, rates that banks charge each other for short-term borrowing in dollars continued to balloon, hitting new highs not seen since 2009. Italian government bond

Today seemed to be the day that investors wanted to make sure they were heard loud and clear. They were shouting at the top of their voices to the leaders of the EU, who continue to turn a deaf ear.Today David Cameron went on the attack, defending his position and

A leading member of Iranian parliament’s National Security Committee said that the military was set to practice its ability to close the Gulf to shipping at the narrow Strait of Hormuz, the most important oil transit channel in the world, but there was no official confirmation.By volume, the Strait of Hormuz leading out of the Persian Gulf

European exchange markets opened mostly flat on today, as banks continue to declining.The Stoxx Europe 600 index increased slightly 0.3% to 236.76, with shares of Barclays down 2.4% and BNP Paribas SA losing 2.4The German DAX 30 index moved 0.4% to 5,808.88. The French CAC 40 straight lined at 3,088.47. The

Moody’s said yesterday that they still intend to revisit the ratings of all European Union countries during early 2012, given “the continued absence of decisive policy measures.”Also the ratings agency placed eight Spanish banks and two holding companies on review for possible downgrades.Yesterday, rating agency Fitch stated the inability by

I will admit that most of this comes directly from CNN. I was going to write this article myself, when CNN beat me to it. I have been asked recently by a lot of investors, friends and economists if I could give easy definitions or explanations to terms that are popping up in the news.

Early this morning, Moody’s downgraded the financial ratings, and long-term debt and deposit ratings for BNP Paribas, Societe Generale and Credit Agricole.Moody’s reduced the long-term debt rating of BNP Paribas, France’s largest bank by market capitalization, to Aa3. Societe Generale, the second-largest, was downgraded to A1, and Credit Agricole to

Asian markets shot up this morning in response to Friday’s announcements from the EU Summit and the ECB. Asian exchanges were closed by the time final decisions were became public on Friday. Following the release of the “fiscal plan”, US markets rebounded on Friday.Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average jumped 1.3%, Australia’s S&P/ASX

It was a crazy week. Markets Up and Markets Down, the EURO up and the EURO down. Oil hits highs, and gold falls. All week no one knew exactly what to expect. As the week, drew to the grand finale, the EU Summit, investors nerves were frayed. Traders did not

I’ve noticed but one pattern in the euro area summit syndrome that developed the Merkozy phenomenon. There was a brief Merconti moment too following Berlusconi’s unceremonious fall in Rome. And that is a feverish rush forestall imminent euro collapse, stimulating sharp risk appetite and bid in the euro, only to

European Union summit has failed to secure the full backing of the 27 nations for treaty changes to help fight the region’s debt crisis by coordinating fiscal policy, according to reports. Citing unnamed diplomats and senior European officials the reports said that the summit talks would now concentrate on forging

Fear is spreading throughout the markets today. Fear is spreading among government officials. Fear is spreading though business and corporations. Fear is spreading Bank to Bank.With each hour, the possibility of a collapse of the EU becomes a stronger possibility. Merkel and Sarkozy, have an interesting proposition, a new treaty

In a surprising announcement this morning from India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma after a meeting of all political parties, “The decision to allow foreign direct investment in retail is suspended till [a] consensus is reached with all stakeholders,”Just two weeks ago, the Federal Cabinet voted to allow multinational

It is Wednesday morning, the markets have not opened in Europe as of yet. Asian markets have climbed this morning after a report that more rescue funding may be available to help the eurozone.The markets are totally reactionary, responding to every bit of news. Investors aren’t looking at charts and

Monday morning, the markets opened with good intentions. The weekend had brought positive progress from the French and German leaders. Monday’s meeting brought good news. The euro, which was predicted to fall after the Friday speeches from Merkel and Sarkozy showed huge disparity in their views for a future eurozone

Is this the equation to save the Euro or to for the destruction of the Eurozone ? (Greece + Itay + Spain) + (Ireland + Portugal + Belgium )/ Germany + France =ECB + IMF (Russia + China + Mexico + USA) With the prospect of defaults by Greece, and the more remote

The European Union is an amazing attempt at merge many governments and economies that are not only seperated by religion, politics and social reforms, but also by cultural differnces. All 17 members of the Euro agree there are major economic and political pressures facing each individual government. They all agree

Christine Lagarde, President of the IMF, indicated yesterday that the G-20 countries we willing to come to the aid of the EU to increase the funding to the IMF. Currently, the IMF has 390 billion euros available in their emergency fund, which would most likely not be enough to assist

Data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration this week shows the U.S. sent exported 753.4 million barrels of everything from gasoline to jet fuel in the first nine months of this year, while it imported 689.4 million barrels. The US is slowly becoming an energy exporter, the recession and