Articles from February 2012

February 21, 2012 11:09 am 9 Comments

Channel 4 News Economic Editor Faisal Islam ruminates on the latest Greek bailout deal secured at a meeting of Eurozone ministers

February 20, 2012 5:35 pm 6 Comments

I have just spoken to the Dutch finance minister Jan Kees de Jager, on his way in to today's euro group meeting. Mr de Jager's comments to me in English and some in Dutch made just before caused a marked popping of the europhoria bubble and a sharp move in the foreign exchange markets.

February 15, 2012 9:29 pm 16 Comments

As the Greek president hits back at criticisms of his country from the EU, it looks like the Greek deal could be unravelling.

12:49 pm 3 Comments

The Governor of the Bank of England today predicted further quarters of negative GDP growth this year following the latest -0.2% slump recorded in the last quarter of last year. Britain’s economy is likely to “zig-zag” between positive and negative growth said the Governor, introducing the Bank’s quarterly economic healthcheck. Sir Mervyn said that the [...]

February 14, 2012 9:55 am 7 Comments

The bigger picture here: why on earth are credit ratings elevated to this hallowed status? Moody's pulled off the spectacular intellectual feat of rating the Bank of England as a lesser credit than the European Financial Stability Facility. The answer is that it has been an important piece of marketing for George Osborne, to communicate a tangible benefit from unpopular austerity.

February 13, 2012 9:12 pm 9 Comments

Greece has voted in favour of the EU/IMF austerity package. But why is Germany pushing stability throughout Europe - and what is it hoping to achieve?

February 11, 2012 11:39 am 6 Comments

Greece is being cauterised. The EU, ECB, and others have prepared the ground for Greece to be detached from the eurozone. Greece now has a horrible choice to make, says Channel 4 News economics editor Faisal Islam.

February 9, 2012 1:11 pm 26 Comments

It's not just savers who can no longer live off paltry savings income. The retirement annuity industry has been hit by a fall of 20-30% in the annual income that pensioners will be obliged to live off for the rest of their lives.

February 2, 2012 10:50 pm 7 Comments

British attempts to recoup tax from swiss bank accounts are put in the shade by america's policy of prosecuting swiss bankers reports Faisal Islam.