Don't you get the feeling that for the past year or so political leaders and leading bankers have been rearranging those deckchairs on this our global financial market Titanic, while the hull of the big ship is balefully scraping along that big, fat, menacing iceberg?   Read More

Europeans shouldn’t be sitting on the sidelines urging the Americans to come up with solutions. They should be rolling up their sleeves, spitting on their hands and pitching in to help.   Read More

Sell-off, close down or take into public ownership. These are the options facing Europe's financials. There is no comprehensive US style package for buying up toxic debt and no prospect so far that one will emerge over the horizon to re-liquefy balance sheets. Is that a good thing?    Read More

Want to start an altercation at Oktoberfest? Inform the people in your tent that Germany does not lead the world in beer consumption.   Read More

Talking to the beer producer at Oktoberfest there is definitely angst, as they say in Germany.   Read More

The brewing industry has faced tough times of late. Traditionally a defensive sector, brewers are facing stiff competition from wine and spirits.    Read More

There are two types of seating at the Oktoberfest tents: reserved and unreserved. My attempt at entering the reserved seating was blocked by security, press pass notwithstanding.   Read More

Oktoberfest is in full swing in Munich Monday and there are few signs that the credit crunch and Germany's economic slowdown is impeding the celebrations. But traveling tells a different story.   Read More

The developed markets are likely to continue to underperform, while the commodity and emerging market indices will generate better returns.    Read More

Romanian growth play Banca Transilvania, headquartered in the Transylvanian city of Cluj, is among those recommended by Erste Bank analysts.   Read More