Tuesday, Dec 30, 2008
pound parity - don't you love alliteration
Bloomberg: Pound Breaches 98 Pence per Euro for First Time on Rate Bets
"Bank of England policy makers voted unanimously this month to cut the benchmark rate to 2 percent and refrained from a bigger reduction on concern it may prompt an “excessive” drop in the pound, according to the minutes of the Dec. 4 decision."......since the 4th December sterling has dropped 17% against the euro. What exactly is the BoE's definition of 'excessive'?
Posted by bystander @ 08:49 PM (842 views) Add Comment
13 Comments
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1. denzil said...
It's actually quite scary being British, these days!
The outside view of the overwhelming weakness of the UK especially in comparison to other economies is a very vocal comment and damning indictment on the competence of the Labour party, especially the one who calls himself their leader. The really scary thing is that the general public have little choice but sit back and watch this same bunch of clowns attempt to sort it out with billions of our money.
2. Trough2010 said...
Don't blame it all on the politicians. We are all guilty of what's enfolding. Simple rule: Spend what you can afford. Some consumers here in U.K. simply overspent themselves and are now paying the painful price of having to repay their consumption 'borrowed on tomorrow'. Politicians should of course be made accountable at the next election opportunity because they created the framework that would allow this binge to take place. I think we are all guilty. Well, more or less.
3. trough2010 said...
Don't blame it all on the politicians. We are all guilty of what's enfolding. Simple rule: Spend what you can afford. Some consumers here in U.K. simply overspent themselves and are now paying the painful price of having to repay their consumption 'borrowed on tomorrow'. Politicians should of course be made accountable at the next election opportunity because they created the framework that would allow this binge to take place. I think we are all guilty. Well, more or less.
4. tyrellcorporation said...
um, I'm not.
5. trough2010 said...
:)
6. enuii said...
I've always spent what I budgeted for but a third party kept helping themselves to more and more and more as over the last 10 years or so. I was told it was for the common good but the complete opposite has become increasingly apparent and I have just realised they have spent my pension and mortgaged my children as well.
Ho Hum.
7. paul said...
Not guilty here either - I think you'll find that the sense of indignation is doubly worse for people who have been careful.
Ask anyone who works for Nationwide. Seriously.
8. crunchy said...
Shafted on the way up and the same on the way down.
Those that are trying to save for a deposit are fighting a losing battle with property prices and the currency diving together.
Banks also want a larger deposit now, another negative factor.
Interest rates @ near zero.
Who will be brave enough to buy even next year with inflation fears and interest rates that will be beyond a joke?
Boy, if I were an estate agent right now I would be dreaming of a spring bounce, rather than the nightmare that awaits.
9. bystander said...
anecdotal evidence of tighter lending criteria - two FTB's I know are desperate to get on the ladder with the 'slightly' cheaper prices around, but every single lender they have been to see are demanding a minimum 40% deposit, so all this bleating from the lenders saying they are raising their LTV's are obviously only for current customers to keep them and not for those people who could, potentially keep prices stable. Good news for those waiting patiently for prices to drop further and also for those FTB's wanting to jump in now (as it will stop them catching a falling knife), bad news for the economy.
10. trough2010 said...
Sooner or later the process of 'recapitalisation' of banks will have completed. Then, slowly, the banks will start lending again. It's like a balance sheet full of bullet holes. Once the holes plugged, confidence amongst bank management will return and you will see more free-flowing money. No one will die from the credit crisis (call it what you want), but many will have to adapt to the new realities - painful as they are.
11. gardeniadotnet said...
10. trough2010
Them there holes will take some pluggin'.
A quadrillion dollars and risin'. Yee Hawww!
12. mountain goat said...
A bit off topic but related to the GBP's value. The dollar is set to collapse IMO. China clearly understands this. China will use the yuan in transactions with neighbouring economies on a trial basis, state media said Thursday, calling it a potential first step to making it an international currency.. When the dollar falls GBP's buying power will increase again.
13. Fingerbob69 said...
MG ...ah ha! The egg fried elephant in the room! If China wants to compete with the US as a global power then it needs to have a global currency. China has been buying US debt in order to allow the US to keep buying Chinesse goods and thus powering China's growth. China holds close to a trillion US $ denominated debt. If China begins to off load this and thus sinking the $ one of the first next moves will be to get commodities, especially oil, traded in another currency. Yuan or Euros?