Key trends are:
POLITICAL:
- Greece debt deal agreed (27/10/11) but ‘Closer political union’ still undefined (17/10/11)
- “Countries with a strong welfare model seem to have weathered the crisis best” (10/10/11)
- Increased legislation proposed for banks and financial markets (26/9/11, 10/10/11 ) May have unintended consequences (26/10/11)
- Increased taxation proposed for financial markets (28/9/11)
- Tougher European auditing and tax rules on horizon (27/9/11)
- British government lacks a long term strategy (13/10/11)
- New taxes for US rich (7/10/11)
- Political ‘turmoil’ forecast during major election years of 2012-13 (3/10/11)
- Struggle between US and China becomes increasingly overt (4/10/11)
- Stagnating defence budgets — Capabilities weakened — Activities outsourced (28/9/11, 3/10/11, 10/10/11)
- US Congress nearing agreement on fiscal deficit (10/10/11)
- But divided over international economic policy (11/10/11)
- UK Government deficit worse than thought (19/9/11)
- ‘Tech City’ being established in East London (28/9/11)
- French Senate now controlled by Left (26/9/11)
- Arab Spring continues, in Middle East (26/9/11, 10/10/11) & Wall Street (3/10/11) and Burma (13/10/11)
- Monetary Policy loose in US and UK (12, 22/9/11)
- FTSE 100 companies increase size of dividends returned to shareholders (17/10/11)
ECONOMIC:
- Greece debt deal agreed, but European banks remain weak and economies stagnant (27/10/11) (Previous stories 27, 26/9/11)
- ‘Bellwether’ group ABB publishes Q3 results slightly up (27/10/11)
- Challenges ahead in 2013 as new US President addresses budget deficit(28/10/11)
- China growth slows to 9% (20/10/11)
- Foreign investment in India “plummets” (14/10/11) Banks saving rates deregulated (26/10/11)
- European recession “likely” or “already here” (17/10/11)
- Financial markets volatile, politicians and traders ‘desperate‘ at times (26/9/11)
- Emerging markets being affected by troubles (and ‘solutions’) in developed nations (28, 26/9/11, 13/10/11)
- Extent of global inter-dependence becoming clear (14/10/11)
- Oil price matching gold, as new currency; price also volatile (16,19/9/11)
- Pessimistic outlook for economy including China (3, 10/10/11)
- Manufacturing and mid-sized companies are unexpected sources of growth(4/10/11)
- Difficult to invest way out of gloom (21/9/11)
- Shift to the East (21/9/11)
- Gap opening stores in China while it closes them in USA (14/10/11)
- World salaries are equalising, slowly (13/10/11)
- Do new fundamentals make Italy lower risk than UK? (11/10/11)
Other specific trends will affect individual businesses.
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