Global Economy, Recession Risk Are Bankers

The fragility of the global economy is the greatest threat to the banking industry as a return to recession could mean more losses from bad loans and bank failures, according to an industry survey.
Macro-economic risk rose to become the number-one concern among bankers, the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation, a forum for […]

Dutch minister warns of forced Greek debt losses

The Dutch finance minister says Greece’s private creditors may be forced to take losses if they can’t reach a deal to cut the country’s massive debt pile voluntarily _ the first eurozone finance minister to do so.
Jan Kees de Jager said Monday that “we’ve never said it (the debt restructuring) must be voluntary. Our goal […]

Stock futures rise modestly ahead of economic data

Wall Street futures are rising modestly on hopes the International Monetary Fund will get a cash infusion and ahead of a host of U.S. economic reports.
Dow futures are up 20 points at 12,440. The broader Standard & Poor’s 500 futures are up 3 points to 1,293. The Nasdaq composite is up 9 points at 2,398.
Christine […]

Fed

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Jeffrey Lacker said the U.S. economy will expand at a

Groups lock horns over Missouri’s green energy future

There’s a battle afoot to reshape Missouri’s green energy law.
Renewable energy advocates and utilities are squaring off to establish how much of Missouri’s electricity is derived from renewable resources — with the cost to consumers in the balance.
Renew Missouri, the group formed several years ago to advance the state’s existing renewable energy initiative, known as […]

Irish-Backed Bank Bonds Tempt Buyers Again - Bloomberg

Ireland, whose financial system came closer to collapse than that of any euro nation, may now entice investors back to its bank bonds.
Bank of Ireland Plc (BKIR)

Japan to Double Sales Tax by 2015 as Noda Fights Off Ruling Party Revolt - Bloomberg

Japan

In 2012 race, both sides seek middle-class voters

Fighting to win over unhappy American voters, President Barack Obama and his Republican challengers are seizing on one of the most potent issues this election season: the struggling middle class and the widening gap between rich and poor.
Highlighted by the Occupy movement and fanned by record profits on Wall Street at a time of stubborn […]

Industrial output sees first drop since April

Industrial output declined in November for the first time in seven months as manufacturing activity slumped, countering recent signs of improvement in the economy.
Production in the industrial sector eased 0.2 percent last month, the first drop since April, following a 0.7 percent gain in October. Analysts in a Reuters poll had been looking for […]

Some local holiday sample sales

Bea Crowder’s pop-up store sale
Items