• Archives

    View previous posts

  • Site terms and conditions

    Please read the important information before proceeding.

  • Content on this website is not directed to, nor intended for distribution or use by, any U.S. person. Barclays services and research available in the Americas are detailed on its dedicated website.

  • About

    Barclays offers wealth and investment management products and services to its clients through Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiary companies - for more information please visit www.barclays.com/wealth. If you are based in the US please visit the Amercicas dedicated website.

  • Insights

    Insights reports provide a comprehensive view of what it means to be wealthy in the 21st century.

Inflation Report Reaction

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Wealth and Investment Management

The February Inflation Report contained no big surprises – as the Bank of England revised up its inflation forecast a little and revised down its near-term growth projection slightly. This combination of changes means that the MPC now judges that the growth-inflation trade-off has worsened somewhat. The expected hawkishness of Governor Mervyn King (following yesterday’s [...]

Filed under: Economics, fiscal tightening, monetary policy, UK | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

UK Economic Update

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Wealth and Investment Management

Trade The UK recorded a trade deficit of £9.25bn in December; the largest deficit since records began way back in 1980. This was a result of a 3.5% increase in imports (from November) and only a 1.5% increase in exports. A geographical breakdown shows that the trade deficit with EU countries narrowed by £0.1bn, but [...]

Filed under: Economics, Exports, fiscal tightening, GDP, GDP forecast, monetary policy, Trade deficit, UK | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Going for growth!

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Wealth and Investment Management

The US fiscal policy deal will be  more supportive of households’ incomes than most had been expecting, and is likely to push up growth next year. But don’t assume that such a policy shift comes with no risks attached. This past week or two has been an interesting one from the point of view of US policy [...]

Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

German and French differences on EMU: cracks becoming a fissure?

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Wealth and Investment Management

Germany wants to increase the short-term pressure on member states failing to reduce their budget deficits. But France favours “soft laws” and puts a greater emphasis on better-placed states boosting demand.

Filed under: Economics | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Cracks in the facade

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Wealth and Investment Management

The establishment of a European Monetary Fund (EMF) would take time, and it would probably be too late to make much of a difference to the key issue facing Europe today – the risk that Greece’s public finance problems percolate through to other markets.

Filed under: Economics | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

An emulous IMF?

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Wealth and Investment Management

A European Monetary Fund risks being a weak son-of-IMF. But, as worryingly, it appears that only belt-tightening will be permitted. It will not be able to force those with big budget surpluses to rein them in by boosting domestic demand.

Filed under: Economics | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Yin yuan

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Wealth and Investment Management

The IMF has said that the yuan is substantially undervalued; a Chinese official has talked of the need to change market expectations.

Filed under: Economics | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

UK update: Mais points to a way through the maze

Posted on February 26, 2010 by Wealth and Investment Management

George Osborne, the shadow Chancellor, has outlined the changes he would make to UK policy, if elected. The Bank of England would retain its inflation mandate, and a new independent institution would be set up to monitor fiscal policy.

Filed under: Economics | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 31 other followers