February 27, 2013 0

France Unemployment Highest Since 1997

By News Desk

France Unemployment Highest Since 1997 In the easy to see coming category (thanks to the socialist policies of French president Francois Hollande) French unemployment level hits 15-year high . Unemployment numbers in France rose by 43,000 in January to 3.16 million, an increase of 10.7 percent from last year, the labour ministry revealed on Tuesday. The figure is at its highest since January 1997, when it reached 3.19 million.   Rising unemployment is a setback for Socialist President Francois Hollande, who has pledged to curb the unemployment rate from the current level of more than 10 percent to a single-digit figure by December.

February 26, 2013 0

Less Than Useless: Goldman Sachs Lowers Gold Forecast Following Plunge (Purposely Late?); Downside Risks

By News Desk

Less Than Useless: Goldman Sachs Lowers Gold Forecast Following Plunge (Purposely Late?); Downside Risks In the less than useless category, Goldman Sachs lowered its gold price targets by over $200 an ounce following the recent plunge. Goldman now says Gold’s Cycle Seen Turned . The cycle for gold prices, which climbed for 12 straight years, has probably turned as the recovery in the U.S

February 26, 2013 0

Youth Vote Propels Five Star Movement Into First Place as Largest Political Party in Italy

By News Desk

PIER LUIGI BERSANI – PARTITO DEMOCRATICO – 8,399,991 Votes – 27.43% GIUSEPPE PIERO GRILLO – MOVIMENTO 5 STELLE – 7,285,648 – 23.79% SILVIO BERLUSCONI – IL POPOLO DELLA LIBERTA’ – 6,829,135 Votes – 22.30% MARIO MONTI – SCELTA CIVICA CON MONTI PER L’ITALIA – 2,797,451 Votes – 9.13% The center-left received a higher percentage of votes than the center-right by a 31.63% to 30.72% margin. However, Senate seats are assigned based on regional totals and the result will be something like a 119 to 117 spit with the Five Star Movement picking up 54 Seats. A majority takes 158 so no coalition is likely

February 25, 2013 0

Italy Senate "Ungovernable"; No Coalition Possible

By News Desk

Grillo 57 Monti 17 There are 315 total seats and the total above is only 301. Although 14 seats remain, not even a Monti-Bersani coalition in addition to those 14 seats would bring Bersani’s total to 158. Curiously, it appears Bersani received a plurality of the Senate popular vote with 32% compared to Berlusconi’s 30.2%.