Financial markets cannot make up their minds about the outlook. As this month’s IeC Boom/Gloom Index shows, sentiment (blue column) remains exactly at the dividing line between optimism and pessimism. This parallels the behaviour of the S&P 500 Index (red line). It had recovered strongly from March 2009, but has since found it very difficult […]
Chemicals and the Economy
Barclays CEO finally resigns
Bob Diamond, Barclays CEO, has finally resigned this morning. It is a scandal that he, or any of the Bank’s Board, ever thought that he could hold onto his job. He was, after all, head of Barclays Capital when the fixing of LIBOR rates took place. It is also a measure of the confused sense […]
The unacceptable face of banking
Banks are essential in any modern society. Their role is two-fold: • To take in deposits from companies and individuals • To lend out this money prudently to other companies and individuals Both are difficult roles to fulfil. Banking therefore requires employees who have both talent and integrity. They must be able to look after […]
Weak chemical markets suggest difficult times ahead
Over Christmas, the blog spent some time considering whether its IeC Downturn Alert had served its purpose. By luck, or possibly judgement, it had been launched at the exact market peak on 29 April. And hopefully it had helped to alert companies to the difficult times that lay ahead. But by December, most analysts and […]
Jump to page: