Hi °C | Lo °C How much longer can the banks carry on stealing from savers?
The world's central banks are going to go on printing the money. I think we pretty much knew that already, but it has become even clearer in the past few days.
Of course Scotland can stand on its own two feet. And here's how
Scotland's voters will be asked to make a political decision in its referendum on independence, but it will be a decision coloured inevitably by economics – or at least economic perceptions, for the long-term economic impact of independence is far from clear.
Europe and inflation will be key to UK's fortunes in 2012
It is time to look forward – and not only because 2011 has been a deeply disappointing year.
£75 billion of quantitative easing may increase the risk of inflation but it should help the UK avoid a recession
Just print the money! One of the things that a central bank can do and do without limit is to flood the markets with liquidity. To give you an order of magnitude, this latest £75 billion of quantitative easing is equivalent to 5 per cent of GDP – maybe not quite a flood of money but a decent wodge none the less.
The debt crisis will change the way we live
This is not just about the indebtedness of Greece; nor that of the other weak eurozone countries; nor about the future of the euro; nor, as we will learn today, that the liabilities of the British Government are far higher than the official figures suggest; nor even the real possibility that the US itself may default in the next three weeks if Congress cannot agree to an increase in its borrowing limit.
Hamish McRae: Republic of Ireland may have hit rock bottom – and survived
Economics always eventually trumps politics, as the Republic of Ireland's experience shows.
Hamish McRae: The shift of global power from West to East needs careful management
The Group of Twenty meeting in Seoul is important – but not because anything important is likely to come out of it.
Hamish McRae: Ireland is taking a beating from the markets, but it's not a Greek tragedy yet
The Republic of Ireland has taken a lot of stick from the market in recent months and last week the beating ratcheted up a few more points. Not good. The headlines said the country now had to pay around 8 per cent for its debt, way up from levels of even a week or two ago.
Spending review: When will it be safe to go back in the water?
So now we know. The cuts are indeed deep, and – more important – will become progressively deeper as we move through this Parliament.
Hamish McRae: Don't give up on the Irish economy just yet
It will be a close-run thing but the Republic should make it.
Why the EU has been unable to create jobs
Unemployment is Europe's catastrophe. Many aspects of the European economy over the past half-century have been a triumph: rising standards of living, good working conditions, high productivity and good leisure provision.
Hamish McRae: Signs are the UK tourist industry has had a good summer holiday
So how has the summer been for the tourist industry?
Hamish McRae: The debt mountain is the backdrop to the bankers' bash in the Rockies
Hols are over, so welcome back to the world of work and to whatever autumn may hold.
Hamish McRae: The subtle hand we must play on trade
The Government is seeking to rebalance Britain's trading relations away from slow-growing Europe to the emerging economies, of which Brazil, Russia, India and China are the largest, and that makes obvious sense.
Budget 2010: The mountain we all have to climb just got steeper
Think of the next five years as a mountain that we as a country have to climb.
Hamish McRae: Newspapers aren't dead yet – it's there in black and white
Something nearer home: The Future of News and the Internet. That is the title of a new report by the OECD. Its main message is that "large country-by-country and title-by-title differences and the data currently do not lend themselves to make the case for 'the death of the newspaper', in particular if non-OECD countries and potential positive effects of the economic recovery are taken into account".
'Budget will be savage – but we'll be back on road to normality'
This Tuesday we get the emergency Budget with its tax increases, cuts in public spending and all that.
A future without the euro is a distinct possibility
Fears about the future of the euro have helped plunge global markets into chaos, with share prices around the world reacting to the possibility that the eurozone will break up and that several of its member countries may default on their debts.
Hamish McRae: Winds of change are blowing over the eurozone – and the UK
And now to that disagreeable process called “fiscal consolidation”. That will be the governing theme of public affairs for the next decade throughout the developed world.
Hamish McRae: So, what on earth should investors do with their money?
Second day thoughts on Budgets are usually better than initial ones, for the devil is usually in the detail. But this year it is different.
Latest Business News
Pub gloom deepens as Belfast nightclub put on market for just £300,000
A well-known Belfast nightspot has gone on the market with a price tag of £300,000.
Ryanair tells pilots that passenger safety fears letter is ‘gross misconduct’
Budget airline Ryanair pilots have been told not to sign a letter to airline regulators expressing concern that the airline’s employment practices could jeopardise passenger safety.
Look to emerging markets: RICS chief
NORTHERN Ireland's construction firms should continue to look to emerging markets for opportunities, the head of a professional organisation said.
Thomas Cook in debt cutting move
THOMAS Cook took another step towards calmer waters be announcing a £425m fundraising with shareholders in a bid to cut debt.
Coach tour firm destined for growth with air travel bid
A local independent specialist tour operator has launched a new dedicated air holiday division.
A change of place but not of pace at Balmoral Show
Not actually Balmoral in Belfast – that's the smell of leafy streets and manicured lawns – but the new, vast Maze site where the show of the same name was in full swing.
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