Libor manipulation suit could open the floodgates

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The news that the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is suing European banks in London for manipulating Libor should worry central bankers everywhere.

It’s all hush-hush, with details coming from reports in newspapers, rather than made public officially. The Financial Times reported that the FDIC is suing Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland, Rabobank and UBS, as well as the British Bankers’ Association, accusing them of fraudulent misrepresentation.

Lloyds said it doesn’t believe the claim has any merit, while the others did not comment, according to the report.

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UK household wealth growth about to make a U-turn

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The Bank of England has reason to pat itself on the back. During the financial crisis of 2007-2009, things could have taken a very ugly turn if it hadn’t cut interest rates to record lows and hadn’t started printing money.

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Brexit is no ‘Dunkirk’ movie; it’s real life

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A recent article in Politico says that some European Union policymakers believe that Brexit negotiations are so chaotic on the British side because of a cunning plot to swamp the EU with well-prepared, profoundly thought-out position papers at the last minute.

“Having seen the movie ‘Dunkirk’ over the weekend, history might suggest that the British could turn disaster and disorganization around,” it quotes an European official as saying.

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As Brexit bites, there is little the Bank of England can do

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The Bank of England will publish its inflation report next Thursday, and this time it will get even more attention than usual.

Brexit is being felt in prices more and more now, with the cost of grocery bills jumping and prices for essentials going up. The phenomenon of “shrinkflation” is in full swing as well; many products are mysteriously losing weight, but maintain their price.

No matter how much it would like to help (or to meet its inflation target), the Bank of England cannot do anything to prevent prices from rising. In fact, to be more accurate, it could, but it will not. The central bank could raise interest rates, stopping the pound’s depreciation — but if it does this, the housing market would crash.

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UK proposal for EU citizens post Brexit should worry everyone

The UK’s negotiations with the European Union started with a proposal regarding the status of EU citizens in Britain after the country leaves the EU. One particular point in the proposal gives a flavour of things to come. It should worry anyone, not just EU citizens.

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Market moving info — week starting July 10, 2017

Here’s a summary of last week’s market moving news and a look ahead to the data, events and earnings reports that are likely to move the markets in the week starting July 10, 2017.

Last week:          

  • The US economy created more jobs than expected, with 222,000 new positions in June compared with expectations of 178,000. But wage growth was tepid, at just 2.5%.

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As home prices hit record levels, negative equity looms

A statement from Halifax shares the “good” news: home prices paid by first-time buyers are the highest ever.

In the first half of this year, first-time buyers paid on average £207,693 for a home, the highest price on record. This is 4% higher than a year ago, and 50% higher than five years ago.

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Market moving info — week starting July 3, 2017

Here’s a summary of last week’s market moving news and a look ahead to the data, events and earnings reports that are likely to move the markets in the week starting July 3, 2017.

Last week:          

  • The savings ratio in the UK fell to a record low 1.7% in the first quarter, from 3.3% in the fourth quarter of 2016.

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To understand (or prevent) the next crisis, read ‘The Money Formula’

Do you want to know how the next financial crisis will arrive, and how it could be prevented? In that case, read “The Money Formula“, a book by Paul Wilmott and David Orrell published earlier this year.

It shows you, with mathematical precision, what the financial world did not learn from the previous crisis. It also shows why it is so difficult for the rest of the world to catch them out.

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Market moving info — week starting June 26, 2017

Here’s a summary of last week’s market moving news and a look ahead to the data, events and earnings reports that are likely to move the markets in the week starting June 26, 2017.

Last week:          

  • Negotiations on Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union started in Brussels amid warnings by both Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney that a “soft” Brexit is needed in order to prevent a deep fall in living standards.

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