Katie Couric isn't happy about gossipy new direction for 'Katie,' say insiders … A planned shift to more gossip on 'Katie' does not sit well with star Katie Couric, say insiders. Katie Couric's talk show, "Katie," is taking a turn in the wrong direction — according to her, anyway. Confidenti@l has learned the syndicated daytime show will be "gossi...Read More
Why China's Economy May Be Heading for a Crash … Empty apartment developments stand in the city of Ordos, Inner Mongolia. China's central bank sent global markets reeling when it attempted tighten credit and rein in the country's shadow banking system. But the consequences of China's credit binge may just be getting started, and experts say there could be more pain to come fo...Read More
Obama Calls for New Partnership With Africa … The streets were lined with people as President Obama's motorcade departed from the airport in Tanzania, on Monday … After receiving the most ecstatic welcome of his weeklong trip to Africa, President Obama on Monday called for a new partnership with the continent, one that would help sustain its recent run of tremendous economic growth...Read More
India turns down Snowden asylum request … India said Tuesday that it had refused an asylum request from fugitive US intelligence analyst Edward Snowden, joining Poland in publically rebuffing him as he seeks an exit from a Moscow airport. "Our embassy in Moscow did receive a communication dated 30 June from Mr Edward Snowden. That communication did contain a request for asylum," fo...Read More
7 killed in Afghan attack on NATO firm … Bombings and other violence have been on the rise in the Afghan capital in recent weeks … Militants blew up a suicide car bomb at the gate to a NATO compound Taliban took responsibility for attack 7 people killed, several wounded … Afghan militants armed with explosives and firearms attacked a NATO compound just outside of Kabul early Tues...Read More
Gold Rises Most in Nine Weeks as Physical Demand Climbs … Gold prices advanced the most in nine weeks as demand for coins, bars and jewelry rebounded following the record quarterly plunge. – BloombergDominant Social Theme: Gold is so 'last year.'Free-Market Analysis: The puzzling thing about the decline in the price of gold relative to dollars is that there is demand for the ph...Read More
Why China's Economy May Be Heading for a Crash … Empty apartment developments stand in the city of Ordos, Inner Mongolia. China's central bank sent global markets reeling when it attempted tighten credit and rein in the country's shadow banking system. But the consequences of China's credit binge may just be getting started, and experts say there could be more pain to come fo...Read More
Obama Calls for New Partnership With Africa … The streets were lined with people as President Obama's motorcade departed from the airport in Tanzania, on Monday … After receiving the most ecstatic welcome of his weeklong trip to Africa, President Obama on Monday called for a new partnership with the continent, one that would help sustain its recent run of tremendous economic growth...Read More
India turns down Snowden asylum request … India said Tuesday that it had refused an asylum request from fugitive US intelligence analyst Edward Snowden, joining Poland in publically rebuffing him as he seeks an exit from a Moscow airport. "Our embassy in Moscow did receive a communication dated 30 June from Mr Edward Snowden. That communication did contain a request for asylum," fo...Read More
7 killed in Afghan attack on NATO firm … Bombings and other violence have been on the rise in the Afghan capital in recent weeks … Militants blew up a suicide car bomb at the gate to a NATO compound Taliban took responsibility for attack 7 people killed, several wounded … Afghan militants armed with explosives and firearms attacked a NATO compound just outside of Kabul early Tues...Read More
Gold Rises Most in Nine Weeks as Physical Demand Climbs … Gold prices advanced the most in nine weeks as demand for coins, bars and jewelry rebounded following the record quarterly plunge. – BloombergDominant Social Theme: Gold is so 'last year.'Free-Market Analysis: The puzzling thing about the decline in the price of gold relative to dollars is that there is demand for the ph...Read More
Feldstein: Why Inflation Is Low … Why has quantitative easing coexisted with price stability in the United States? Or, as I often hear, "Why has the Federal Reserve's printing of so much money not caused higher inflation?" Inflation has certainly been very low. During the past five years, the consumer price index has increased at an annual rate of just 1.5%. The Fed's prefe...Read More
Mark Carney goes in to bat for Britain … Governor Mark Carney takes the Tube on his first day … Mark Carney started his first day at the Bank of England with a Tube ride on the central line and a slew of advice on how he might try to fix the British economy. – UK TelegraphDominant Social Theme: Mark Carney, the most brilliant central banker of his generation, takes the subway to...Read More
Historic Mistake Watch … When the Fed began its talk of "tapering" asset purchases, I warned that it might turn out to be a "historic mistake". I guess the historic bit is still up in the air; but the mistake aspect is now glaringly obvious. Bond prices have plunged, and the Fed's attempts to inform markets that they've got it all wrong have only modestly mitigate...Read More
Irish bankers 'hoodwinked' government over bailout, secret recordings show … Tape recordings suggest bankers 'hoodwinked' the government over the size of the bailout. A top banker with the financial institution that almost bankrupted Ireland boasted that he had picked the figure of €7bn (£5.9bn) they told the Irish government was needed to rescue the Anglo Irish Ba...Read More
Danny Alexander: Tories should not waste time on EU referendum laws as Ukip will 'come and go' … The Tories should not be wasting time on an EU Referendum Bil as "Ukip will come and Ukip will go", Danny Alexander, a senior Liberal Democrat minister, has suggested. Labour and Lib Dem MPs are expected to be encouraged to boycott the Tory EU referendum Bill. Mr Alexander, the...Read More
U.S. plays down reports of spying on EU, other allies … Nearly all national governments, not just the United States, use "lots of activities" to safeguard their interests and security, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday, responding for the first time to allegations that Washington spied on the European Union and other allies. – ReutersDominant Social Theme: Hor...Read More
Feldstein: Why Inflation Is Low … Why has quantitative easing coexisted with price stability in the United States? Or, as I often hear, "Why has the Federal Reserve's printing of so much money not caused higher inflation?" Inflation has certainly been very low. During the past five years, the consumer price index has increased at an annual rate of just 1.5%. The Fed's prefe...Read More
Mark Carney goes in to bat for Britain … Governor Mark Carney takes the Tube on his first day … Mark Carney started his first day at the Bank of England with a Tube ride on the central line and a slew of advice on how he might try to fix the British economy. – UK TelegraphDominant Social Theme: Mark Carney, the most brilliant central banker of his generation, takes the subway to...Read More
Historic Mistake Watch … When the Fed began its talk of "tapering" asset purchases, I warned that it might turn out to be a "historic mistake". I guess the historic bit is still up in the air; but the mistake aspect is now glaringly obvious. Bond prices have plunged, and the Fed's attempts to inform markets that they've got it all wrong have only modestly mitigate...Read More