In the past few months global equity markets rose on the hopes of an economic recovery. During that time crude oil prices also steadily increased. However in recent weeks crude oil prices have shot up strongly with the Greek economic crisis and the war on Iran taking center stage again. While an attack on Iran …
This week President Obama reduce the corporate tax rate from 35% to 28% in order to stimulate economic growth. Naturally this has kicked off a political firestorm as some consider this to a classic political ploy in an election year while others strongly support the plan. From an article in the New York Times: WASHINGTON …
Continue reading ‘Total Tax Revenue as a Percentage of GDP Among OECD Countries’ »
Gold prices closed at $1,775.80 yesterday in New York. As a safe haven asset class investors have sought shelter in gold during turbulence in equity markets for years and more recently gold prices shot up after the financial crisis. Over the long-term gold has rewarded investors extremely well. With the introduction of fiat money gold …
The chart below shows the private debt to GDP in the US, UK and Australia: Click to enlarge Source: The Absolute Return Letter February 2012, The Unlikely Bull Market Absolute Return Partners, LLP British households are more leveraged than households in the U.S. Private debt peaked at over 450% of GDP in 2008 in UK …
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UK-based oil and gas company BG Group (BRGYY) split its ADR stock 5 for 1 last week. Some details from the corporate site: Effective 13 February 2012, the new BG Group ADR represents one ordinary share (previously one ADR represented five ordinary shares). As a result of the ratio change, ADR holders of BG Group …