On Thursday 15th January 2015, Switzerland’s franc rose by approximately 30 percent against the much-maligned euro, after the Swiss National Bank (SNB) decided to abandon its three-year old cap at 1.20 francs per euro. This marks the most controversial event in Switzerland since the birth of Sepp Blatter. For a nation accustomed to sitting on … Continue reading Soaring Swiss Franc
It’s there; it’s hanging over our heads, no matter how much Ed Miliband forgets to mention it in his speeches. Chancellor George Osborne must have nightmares every time the word “deficit” is mentioned nowadays. You could write books on the topic, but I have near 600 words to cover a selection of the issues – … Continue reading The UK Deficit – Sleepless Nights For Osborne
A few years ago, a dear friend told me about how he’d met the girl of his dreams at a nightclub. They boogied, then woogied. After exchanging drinks, numbers, and addresses, the lady whispered in his ear, "I want you to make me feel dirty and degraded." Naturally, he took her shopping in his local … Continue reading Al-di Cheap Prices Are Insane-bury’s
Investigations into the forex scandal have revealed that six major global banks colluded for at least a decade in order to manipulate exchange rates – for their own gain of course. Time and again banks have proven that fines don’t deter them from doing as they please; sanctions must be stronger. Barclays, Citibank, HSBC, JPMorgan, … Continue reading For Forex Sake
Having previously pledged to do ‘whatever it takes’ to save the euro, it would appear a vacation or some quiet time for Mario Draghi would've sufficed. The President of the European Central Bank (ECB) caused the euro to fall 0.4% to $1.2034 following comments which suggested the bank could start quantitative easing soon. Mrs Draghi … Continue reading EURO VALUE DECREASE: Mario in Drag-hi
For so long the big established supermarket chains have held an oligopoly over the food retailing sector. As years have passed, heavy discounting chains have eaten away at the share, grabbing their piece of the pie. Aldi and Lidl have reached a record combined market share of 8.6% of all shopping done at major supermarket … Continue reading Just A Lidl Bit More, Please
Netflix has developed from a first-class mail customer of the US Postal Service to the biggest source of streaming web traffic in America. Having revolutionised the way TV is watched at home, the Founding Fathers of online streaming are extending their virtual hegemony over Europe. Oh how the tables have turned. September 2014 marked the … Continue reading Netflix’s European Crusade
Yes, ‘tis the season to be jolly. An old man has just finished emptying his sack in living rooms across the land, delivering his presents to kids down their chimneys because Mrs. Claus told him he’d never get in the back door... Wait, can we start again? Indeed, that is precisely what the EU will … Continue reading Sluggish EU GDP – Who is to blame? Das ist the question
Spotify, a moniker for ‘spot and identify’, is a commercial music streaming service accessible in over 60 countries. Since its establishment in 2006, there have been disagreements over the amount artists receive from Spotify in royalties, prompting some to remove their music from the website. Is the furore justified? Each time a song is played … Continue reading Royal-ties Rumble: Artists v Spotify
Shrouded with scepticism and uncertainty, the Sony hacks are the latest instalment in an everlasting feud between the US and North Korea. Beginning on November 24th, Sony Pictures Entertainment went into meltdown quicker than your Christmas snowmen with the first signs of New Year sun after their systems were infiltrated by a group known as … Continue reading Sony Hacks
The Commercial Cartel 