Birmingham Post - Business Comment - City View

City View: Quantitative Easing doing little for economy

Birmingham Post — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The minutes of this week’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting will make interesting reading. Not least because they might (just might) shed some light on just what the multi-billion pound spending spree that goes by the name of quantitative easing (QE, for short) is doing to the economy. Not a lot, if third quarter GDP figures are any guide.

City View: GM about-turn welcome news

Birmingham Post — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:15:00 GMT

Unions in the automotive industry are threatening strikes in protest over a decision that doesn’t please them.

City View: UK's banking mess is proving costly

Birmingham Post — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The full extent of the mess that Sir Fred Goodwin and Sir Victor Blank presided over at RBS and Lloyds TSB is now becoming clear.

John Cranage: A conclusion but no answer

Birmingham Post — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It’s probably a symptom of these febrile times but it seems we cannot agree on anything these days - including the significance of a healthy rise in manufacturing output.

City View: Big week ahead on High Street

Birmingham Post — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:56:00 GMT

Predictions about the Christmas retail environment seem to arrive earlier every year...With Halloween barely over, it might seem a bit early to start thinking about the festive shopping but it’s no surprise this year, as Christmas is likely to be make-or-break time on the High Street.

City View: Birmingham needs more independent coffee shops

Birmingham Post — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:21:00 GMT

One of the unusual winners in this recession, along with the usual lipstick manufacturers, chocolate bar purveyors and insolvency lawyers, is the humble coffee shop.

City View: UK has to be leader of video games industry

Birmingham Post — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It’s difficult to talk about video games seriously. For a long time, too much of the common view of the whole sector rested on a stereotype that was outdated 20 years ago.

John Cranage: Hit the banks, not the widow

Birmingham Post — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:16:00 GMT

Neelie Kroes, the Rotterdam-born European Union competition commissioner, is demanding a severe toll of the bust banks rescued by their respective governments (for which, read taxpayers) during the global crisis.

City View: Tata deserved some government support for rescuing Jaguar Land Rover

Birmingham Post — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The prospects for Tata Motors are looking a lot healthier now that the world (with the exception of Britain) is pulling itself out of recession.

City View: Confidence alone not enough to pull away from recession

Birmingham Post — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Confidence is often set out as the shining beacon that will light the way out of recession.

John Cranage: Difficult times of a consumer

Birmingham Post — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

For those not convinced by claims made by the boosters of the cyber world and the promoters of the products (invariably expensive) needed to participate, the postal strike must be worrying.

City View: Labour's desperate turn to the left

Birmingham Post — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Cometh the election, cometh the left-wing rhetoric.

City view: Language basics are a vital tool

Birmingham Post — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The greenback’s descent to a 14-month low last week has prompted much speculation about the potential end of dollar hegemony.

City View: Blues will need results – soon

Birmingham Post — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Any football fan with a few hundred million pounds to spare might do well to speak to Mike Ashley before investing in the beautiful game.

City View: Time for Birmingham to raise its game

Birmingham Post — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

It’s that time of year when the Birmingham corporate world goes in for its annual bout of navel-gazing.

John Cranage: Latest drive against stamp duty unlikely to succeed

Birmingham Post — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Another valiant attempt at persuading the Government to rethink Stamp Duty on house sales is launched today with the Warwick-based National Association of Estate Agents at the fore.

City View: Deal gives Metalrax a lift

Birmingham Post — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Do you fancy Metalrax as a recovery bet? That was the scenario being outlined by house broker Arden Partners yesterday after the restructured, slimmed-down, Kings Heath manufacturer finally put its much-touted refinancing deal to bed.

City View: Housing market recovering but still hospitalised

Birmingham Post — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The housing market is back from the dead but the patient is far from ready to leave the intensive care ward.

Anna Blackaby City View: Urgent action needed on youth unemployment

Birmingham Post — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The West Midland job market has been hit particularly hard by the recession, thanks in part to the presence of a larger manufacturing base than other UK regions.

City View: Bank of England needs to act now

Birmingham Post — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The screens around the bed remain closed, doctors and nurses discuss the case in hushed tones, the ward remains subdued, the patient lingers between life and death.