Vericool Articles of 2008
A compendium of articles written throughout 2008 by the Vericool Finance team.
Who Should Pay For Equitable Life?
The Ombudsman says the Government owes policyholders £4bn, but should it really be up to the taxpayer to pick up the tab?
Fannie and Freddie
The near collapse of America's $5.3trn mortgage giants is evidence that the crunch has hit a new and more deadly phase.
Chaos At Bradford & Bingley
The authorities have leaned on the banks to rescue Bradford & Bingley. Has another Northern Rock been averted?
How Much Worse Will It Get?
Stock markets seem to be staring into an abyss. What are they telling us about the economic outlook?
Knives Out At Mansion House
A fall guy has been found for Northern Rock. But who was the real winner of the battle of the banking reforms?
Mervyn King's Letter To The Chancellor
The threat of stagflation provides the Bank of England with its first real test since independence.
Could Oil Really Hit $250?
Speculation in the oil market is rampant, but are the forecasts of ever-higher prices to be believed?
Panic At Bradford & Bingley
The men in bowler hats have got it badly wrong, with disastrous consequences for shareholders.
Why Are Bonuses Not Falling?
In light of the recent credit crunch, should bankers really be receiving record-breaking sums?
Has The Nasty Decade Begun?
The 'nice decade' is over and we face the most serious economic storm in years. So why aren't the markets reacting?
The Economy in Peril
Will the Bank of England's fixation with tackling inflation cause it to loose sight of the greater danger?
Bye Bye Blighty
Is the threatened tax exodus of some of Britain's largest companies just brinkmanship?
How Should Bankers Be Paid?
The City's bonus culture is claimed to lie at the heart of the current crisis. Is reform possible?
Should 'Fred the Shred' Be Axed?
Sir Fred Goodwin has presided over the largest rights issue in British history. Can he really survive it?
The Saudi Arms Deal
The High Court has struck a blow for the defence of the rule of law, but at what cost?
Has The Housing Crash Begun?
The mortgage market has frozen and house prices have fallen precipitously. Is there worse to come?
Have We Avoided A Banking Calamity?
An appalling set of results from UBS has convinced the markets that the only way is up.
How Should The Financial System Be Fixed?
Do the old arguments against the excessive regulation of banks still apply, or are we in new territory now?
What Price Bear Stearns?
JPMorgan Chase has landed a bargain acquiring a legendary bank every bit as idiosyncratic as its former boss.
Third Time Lucky
Central banks are pulling out all the stops to avoid market collapse. Can they succeed?
The Collapse Of Peloton
Does the implosion of one of the City's leading hedge funds mark the beginning of the end of the crunch?
Is There Any Merit In Tax Havens?
Foreign governments have come down hard on tiny Liechtenstein and its secretive banks. Were they right to do so?
Can Northern Rock Compete Fairly?
The bank's cash-strapped high street rivals fear that nationalisation will distort the market. Are they right?
Inflation vs Interest Rate Cuts
Britain is squeezed uncomfortably between slowing growth and rising prices. Which poses the greater danger?
Is "Microhoo" A Deal Too Far?
The prospect of a mega-deal cheered the markets but may be the harbinger of ominous times ahead.
Who Will Pay For Northern Rock?
The Government's cunning finance plan for the Rock leaves the taxpayer dangerously exposed.
Is Nationalisation Inevitable For Northern Rock?
Time is running out for a private-sector solution, but nationalisation could be just the start of the Government's problems.
Will Oil Prices Ever Come Down Again?
The price of a barrel of oil has hit $100: is this a speculative blip, or a reminder that the world is running out of fossil fuels?
Tough Times Ahead?
Economic meltdown looks unlikely, but rising tensions with the East will dominate the year.
All articles within the Vericool Finance website are free to reproduce.