Business Press

Cutting back and selling out?

The pain to come

No matter which party wins the coming election, the British face drastic cutbacks that will change their way of life, according to The Daily Telegraph.

[The] complaint from the European Commission that the Government's deficit reduction strategy is not "sufficiently ambitious and needs to be significantly reinforced" should surprise no one. … The criticism from Brussels was … inevitable, but also fatuous, for this country is not a member of the single currency and the Commission's chiding will have no material consequences. … We are in for a grim few years for which we have not been prepared. To see where that can lead, just take a look at Greece.

Don't sell out core industries

In its latest budget, the Canadian government announced plans to permit more foreign investment in industries such as telecommunications, mining and publishing. The move is a mistake and a threat to the nation’s cultural identity, writes The Toronto Star.

… [T]he Conservative government is veering dangerously off course with its plan to undo historic safeguards on foreign investment in some of the most sensitive areas of the Canadian economy. The first hint of a radical change in direction came in the declaration that Ottawa “will open Canada’s doors further to venture capital and to foreign investment in key sectors, including the satellite and telecommunications industries … (and) Canada’s uranium mining industry.” These strategic economic activities have long been off limits to foreign controlling interests, with good reason. …

20.3. 13:06 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

U.S. Treasury sanctions Iranian construction firms

10.2. 17:45 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed sanctions against four subsidiaries and the commander of the construction arm of Iran's Islamic...

Incoming Romanian PM sets cabinet to calm markets

20.12. 17:34 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

Romanian Prime Minister-designate Emil Boc unveiled a centrist cabinet on Sunday aimed at reassuring international lenders propping up Romania's...

France's ruling party wants more women on boards

2.12. 16:55 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

France's ruling UMP party presented a bill to parliament on Wednesday stipulating that at least half of all company board members should be women...

Czech president wants strong guarantee on EU treaty

23.10. 10:44 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

Czech President Vaclav Klaus will demand a strong and binding guarantee that the EU's Lisbon Treaty does not destabilise property rights before he...

Merkel loses ground to left in German states

30.8. 21:01 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

BERLIN, Aug 30 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party suffered losses in regional elections on Sunday, a disappointment that could hurt...

Fears CO2 cuts hurt economy exaggerated

27.6. 19:44 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

Fears that deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions will harm the economy are exaggerated but Washington's ability to cut is limited by political...

EU states seen blocking 500 mln euro aid facility

15.5. 17:24 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

EU states are expected to block a push by the EU executive to release 500 million euros in aid to support developing countries hit by the global...

EU countries should decide more on state aid at EC's expense

16.4. 22:04 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

Member states of the EU should have a bigger right to decide at a national level about public support at the expense of the current powers of the...

Dutch govt agrees stimulus totalling 17.5 bln euros

25.3. 19:18 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

The Dutch government has approved a stimulus package to cope with the heaviest recession since World War Two.

Market fears of deflation abate

22.2. 10:36 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

A funny thing happened on the road to deflation: the bond market decided it is not becoming more likely.

Crisis means more child soldiers in Colombia

11.2. 21:23 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

Global financial turmoil could drive more children to become fighters for Colombia's rebel groups as the country's poorest people suffer the fallout...

Developing economies to slow sharply

9.12. 21:10 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

The international financial crisis is set to sharply slow growth in emerging and developing economies next year.

Annan, Carter say barred from Zimbabwe

22.11. 21:45 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

Kofi Annan and Jimmy Carter claim they have been barred from Zimbabwe.

Obama and China's Hu exchange views on Taiwan, other issues

9.11. 11:04 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

China's President Hu Jintao told U.S. President-elect Barack Obama had their first telephone conversation.

German manufacturing slumps in October

24.10. 10:08 | business-spotlight.ihned.cz

Germany's manufacturing sector contracted in October at its fastest rate in over seven years, suffering from a sharp decline in new business that...