Monday, June 15, 2009

IMF sees gradual recovery in U.S. economy

IMF sees gradual recovery in U.S. economy

Jun 15, 2009
By Rex Nutting

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The sharp decline in the U.S. economy may be easing, but the economy remains fragile, the staff of the International Monetary Fund said Monday. The IMF forecast calls for a gradual recovery. U.S. officials have three challenges: Stabilizing the economy, developing an exit strategy to unwind "massive public interventions," and addressing the long-term consequences of the crisis, including reforming the financial system and rebalancing government and household budgets. In separate comments in Central Asia, IMF Managing Director Dominque Strauss-Kahn said officials need to be cautious about overreacting to "green shoots" because "the large part of the worst is not yet behind us."



Stimulus to marginally spur U.S. economy: IMF

Mon Jun 15, 2009

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund on Monday said a heavy dose of stimulus would ease the U.S. recession this year and lift growth marginally in 2010. It said the U.S. dollar was only modestly above the level implied by medium-term fundamentals and its value would depend on foreign appetite for U.S. assets.



U.S. dollar reserve status to remain-IMF official

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar's status as the world's dominant reserve currency is likely to remain that way, a senior International Monetary Fund official said Monday.



IMF projects 'solid' US recovery in mid-2010


WASHINGTON (AFP) — The International Monetary Fund on Monday said the US economy was poised for stronger growth than previously thought, with a "solid" recovery from recession in mid-2010, but cited risks, notably from the housing crisis and rising interest rates.



US recession will be less severe than feared, IMF says

15 Jun 2009

The American recession will be less deep and shorter than initially predicted, according to new forecasts published on Monday by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Sunday, June 14, 2009

A Payday for Barclays's Diamond

A Payday for Barclays's Diamond

By SARA SCHAEFER MUñOZ

London

More than 400 top executives at Barclays PLC will pocket a total of £380 million, or $630.3 million, from the sale of the bank's money-management arm to BlackRock Inc.



BlackRock lands BGI funds, Barclays boosts capital

By Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Steve Slater
Fri Jun 12, 2009

BOSTON/LONDON (Reuters) - BlackRock Inc, the fund manager that has been one of the biggest winners of the credit crunch, has snapped up Barclays Global Investors for $13.5 billion in a deal creating the world's largest money manager.



Independence becoming de rigueur

By Pauline Skypala
June 14 2009

It’s official: independence is a key attribute for asset managers. The combination of BlackRock and Barclays Global Investors, announced last Friday, was driven as much by this consideration as by Barclays’ need for cash to strengthen its capital base, according to Bob Diamond, president of Barclays Bank and chairman of Barclays Global Investors.



How Barclays complements BlackRock

Kathleen Pender
Sunday, June 14, 2009

San Francisco's Barclays Global Investors has become the world's largest investment manager, yet it has never been master of its own destiny.



Fink says BlackRock won't raise iShares ETF fees

By John Spence

BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- BlackRock Inc. (BLK 176.56, -6.04, -3.31%) Chief Executive Laurence Fink on Friday told Fox Business he has no plans to raise expense ratios at Barclays Global Investors' lineup of exchange-traded funds.



Video: Inside Look - BlackRock Buys Barclays Fund Unit For $13.5B - Bloomberg


NYMEX-Crude ends lower on dollar, profit-taking

NYMEX-Crude ends lower on dollar, profit-taking

Fri Jun 12, 2009

NEW YORK, June 12 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended lower on Friday as the dollar's rebound directed investment flow away from commodities, at least for the moment, and as traders took pre-weekend profits, snapping a three-day rally.



OIL FUTURES: Crude Settles -64c At $72.04/Bbl

By Madalina Iacob

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Crude oil futures seesawed on Friday around $72 a barrel as the dollar strengthened amid continued worries about the global economy, especially in the eurozone.



Oil, Gasoline, Fall on Record European Industrial Output Drop

By Mark Shenk

June 12 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil and gasoline fell for the first time in four days as a record plunge in European industrial production prompted speculation that bets on an economic recovery are premature.



U.S. product stocks will cap oil market gains: John Kemp

By John Kemp
Friday June 12 2009

LONDON, June 12 (Reuters) - Crude oil prices have doubled since the start of February, with the front-month light sweet crude futures contract on NYMEX up from a Feb. 12 low of $33 to close above $72 on Thursday. But the rally appears increasingly frothy. While the crude market looks firmer, stocks and prices for refined products tell a very different story.



Crude oil costs sending gas prices up

Drivers may feel a little less confident the economy is turning around each time they pull up to the pump



Gas prices rise for 45th straight day


by Associated Press
Saturday, June 13, 2009

NEW YORK — Gas prices rose Friday for the 45th consecutive day as summer travelers hit the highways and refineries hold back on fuel production.



Video: Global Demand For Crude Oil - Bloomberg


Koenigsegg ready to take over GM's Saab -paper

Koenigsegg ready to take over GM's Saab -paper

Jun 13, 2009

OSLO, June 13 (Reuters) - Tiny carmaker Koenigsegg is ready to take over General Motor's (GMGMQ.PK) loss-making Saab unit, and says it has numerous good solutions to help get the company back on its feet, its major shareholder told daily Dagbladet. A source familiar with the talks told Reuters this week that General Motors is close to selling its Saab unit to Koenigsegg, and that it was backed by Norwegian investors.



GM reportedly nears deal to sell Saab


By Shawn Langlois, MarketWatch
Jun 12, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- General Motors could hand the keys of its Saab Automobile unit to another Swedish company as early as Friday, in perhaps the final piece of the Detroit automaker's plan to slash its brand portfolio and speed its exit from bankruptcy.



Koenigsegg Seems Unlikely Bed Fellow For GM's Saab

By Jonathan Buck

A restructuring of Saab Automobile AB could involve significant downsizing if it is acquired by Swedish luxury sportscar maker Koenigsegg Automotive AB, analysts say.



G.M. Said to Be Close to Sale of Saab


By CARTER DOUGHERTY
June 11, 2009

General Motors is close to a deal to sell Saab, the Swedish carmaker, to Koenigsegg, a manufacturer of high-end sports cars that is also from Sweden, a person close to the negotiations said Thursday.



GM's Saab Picks Koenigsegg As New Owner - Report

June 11, 2009

STOCKHOLM -(Dow Jones)- General Motors Corp's (GM) Saab Automobile AB has signed a letter of intent to be sold to Koenigsegg, a Swedish maker of exclusive sports cars, Swedish television station SVT reported Thursday.



Video: In-Depth Look - Swedish Auto Shake-Up - Bloomberg