January 27, 2014
NSA ‘engaged in industrial espionage’ – Snowden
US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has alleged the National Security Agency engaged in industrial espionage. In an interview with Germany's ARD TV channel, the former NSA contractor said the agency would spy on big German companies that…
January 27, 2014
Japan reports record annual trade deficit
Japan has reported a record annual trade deficit after the weak yen pushed up the cost of energy imports. Its deficit rose to 11.5 trillion yen ($112bn; £68bn) in 2013 - a 65% jump from a year ago. Japan has seen its energy imports rise in…
January 20, 2014
China economic growth at 14-year low
China's economy, the world's second-largest, grew at its slowest pace in 14 years in 2013, latest figures show. Its gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 7.7% from a year ago, the slowest pace of growth since 1999. The growth rate was better than…
January 20, 2014
Deutsche Bank reports surprise loss as legal costs mount
Deutsche Bank has reported a surprise loss for the fourth quarter of 2013, after releasing its latest results before they were expected. Overall Deutsche said it posted a pre-tax loss of 1.153bn euros for the final quarter of 2013. The bank said…
January 20, 2014
Experts to debate fiscal policy, debt and growth in the Caribbean
The UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) says fiscal authorities from central banks as well as economy and finance ministries from the region and Spain will this week debate fiscal policy, debt and growth in the region.…
January 20, 2014
Irish debt upgraded from junk status by Moody’s
The credit rating agency Moody's has upgraded Ireland's debt from junk status to investment grade, saying its economy has growth potential. The news is the latest in a run of positive reports for Ireland and comes as investors start to welcome the…
January 20, 2014
Royal Dutch Shell issues profit warning
Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has issued a profit warning after it made less money than expected in the final quarter of 2013. "Fourth-quarter 2013 figures... are expected to be significantly lower than recent levels of profitability," the company…
January 13, 2014
2013 ends with weakest job growth in years
The job market suddenly looks a lot weaker than economists' had thought. Hiring slumped sharply in December, as the economy added only 74,000 jobs, according to the government. This was the weakest month for job growth since January 2011 and came as…
January 13, 2014
EU leaders hail Latvia’s euro membership
European Union leaders say Latvia’s inclusion in the euro bloc has shown that countries can emerge from economic crises stronger and that fears of the common currency’s decline were exaggerated. During his first visit to the country since its…
January 13, 2014
T&T must diversify to be relevant
The recent oil spill in parts of south Trinidad shows the weak infrastructure of T&T’s oil industry, said Gregory Hill, president of the Securities Dealers’ Association of T&T (SDATT). “They (the Government) need to diversify if we are to be…