Money Matters: Firstline Securities Blog
Country in Focus: Colombia
31 March 2012
Colombia has gone from being an economic and security basket case to a leading investment destination in Latin America. In this second Country in Focus report, Firstline explores Colombia’s outlook and risks, which have not completely disappeared, and also looks at candidates for bond investments.
In T&T: TCL GM: Claxton Bay still making cement
29 March 2012
Cement prices may say otherwise, but assurances are given that TCL is operating.
Trinidad Cement Ltd (TCL) general manager Satnarine Bachew has again reassured customers that cement is being produced at the company’s Claxton Bay facility despite a five-week strike involving most workers. Read more…
In Europe: Euro zone lagging behind in shaky G7 recovery: OECD
29 March 2012
Europe struggles without the luxury of  ”easy financial conditions” seen in the U.S.
Euro zone nations are falling far behind the United States and Canada as a fragile recovery takes root in advanced economies, the OECD said on Thursday, advising central banks to keep easy money flowi
In the U.S.: Jobless claims fall to 4-year low in latest week
29 March 2012
U.S. economy seemingly moving from strength to strength, as state- benefit and jobless claims decline.
New claims for unemployment benefits fell to a fresh four-year low last week, according to a government report that showed ongoing healing in the labor market. Read more…
The Weekly Report: About the Heritage & Stabilisation Fund
28 March 2012
Finance Minister Winston Dookeran has said that the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (the “HSF”) now stands at US$4 billion and that the returns on the Fund have been modest but still positive given what is happening in the international environment in which the Fund invests.
In addition, he has said that the legislation establishing the Fund is currently the subject of public consultation and one of the issues being considered is whether there should be a separation of the Fund and the creation of a Heritage Fund and a Stabilisation Fund.
How much do you know about your HSF?
In T&T: ‘Labour unrest could scare off investors’
27 March 2012
Protests may hurt the nation’s pockets as torrid “industrial climate” may unsettle investors.
THE country’s industrial relations climate, including the ongoing str
In the U.S.: Stock Futures Little Changed Before Confidence Data
27 March 2012
Modest start to the day after yesterday’s high. The discernible trend is clearly upward but expect some bumps along the way.
U.S. stock futures were little changed, following a rally that drove the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to the highest level since May 2008, as investors awaited data forecast to show consumer confidence slipped this month. Read more…
In Europe: Shares rise; RBS among top movers
27 March 2012
Anticipation of QE lifts European markets… policy may be “good for assets prices, but …is in reaction to weak economic growth.”
European shares gained on Tuesday, with banks among the biggest movers on reports of a stake sale at Royal Bank of Scotland, while expectations of another round of monetary easing in the United States also helped give support. Read more…
In T&T: Inflation rises in February
26 March 2012
Food prices comprise major inflationary driver, what about the effect of cement shortages?
THE rate of inflation in Trinidad and Tobago is climbing quickly
Inflation rose to 9.2 per cent for the month of February. This was up from 6.8 per cent in January, the Central Bank said in its latest Repo report yesterday. Read more…
In the U.S.: Bernanke says U.S. needs faster growth
26 March 2012
QE3 hint? Bernanke refers to growth as a “process that can be supported by continued accommodative policies.”
The U.S. economy needs to grow more quickly if it is to produce enough jobs to bring down the unemployment rate, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Monday. Read more…
