Europe, Latin America seek unity despite divergent moods
Europe and Latin America are two regions coming together, but they do so in divergent moods and "in different moments of the economic cycle," in the words of European Commission…
Tax, power sectors need reforms
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) team visiting Pakistan on a Post Project Monitoring (PPM) mission a couple of weeks ago emphasised yet again the need for power and tax sector…
Growing strength or brewing disaster?
Pakistan has posted a current account surplus amounting $250 million during the first half (July-December) of the current fiscal year (2012-13) as against a deficit of $2.4 billion in the…
Merkel faces emboldened opposition after state poll loss
German Chancellor Angela Merkel starts an election year facing an emboldened opposition after her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) suffered a bitter defeat in a key state poll. The narrow victory…
FX & Gold weekly outlook January 14-18: 2013 begins on positive note
Year 2013 began on a positive note. After the settling of looming US ''fiscal cliff'' issue, market got the much needed boost. China''s economic growth is a big factor that…
Spaniards brace for tough year as crisis deepens
The unemployed mason bought a cigarette lighter from a kiosk, walked a few blocks, doused himself with petrol and set himself on fire in front of a hospital in the…
Obama may turn Medicare reform into wider health debate
President Barack Obama could seek common ground with Republicans in the looming battle over Medicare spending by broadening the debate over entitlement reform to encompass the spiraling healthcare costs that…
Economic instability
Increasing government expenditure, basic economic theory maintains, is a powerful policy tool useful during times of recession, with low output and low inflation, as it provides the necessary fuel to…
FX & Gold weekly outlook January 07 – 11: US, Europe: 2013 will be better than 2012?
The world financial market did survive, albeit meekly, a scary 2012. The Eurozone sovereign debt crisis that went through a long phase of struggle before making a recovery appears to…
IMF mission in town
At the request of the government, an IMF mission is visiting Pakistan to initiate discussion for a three-year bailout programme. As reported in the press, during their two-week stay in…
