This is not just a collapse – this is an M&S collapse

I’m screwed. Some time in the next few weeks i’m going to receive a politely worded yet patronisingly sinister letter complaining about my having downloaded ’House of the Rising Sun’ online for free. I will read it apprehensively and calmly yet at the same time with fear that my front door will be battered down and agents with white gloves will search my house and destroy everything in their path until they have found that song. I have no way of keepin them out. I would buy a safety catch but inflations driving up the prices of metal. I was going to run away with Sam Israel until i got the news.  I guess i’ll have to try and weather the storm. I’m screwed.

Henry Paulson, US treasury secretary, warns that ’inflation is world’s biggest worry’.

Former Bayou Group hede fund manager, Samuel Israel III, hands himself into police having spent a month on the run and is due to face New York judges today.

Asian stocks fall and Japanese stocks post longest losing streak in half century, on fears of stagflation.

Marks and Spencers profit warning causes collapse in retail market as City loses faith in Rose.

Oil prices continue to rise above $145 a barrel.

Game groups shares fall despite profits due to concerns that demands had peaked.

“Merrill advises Fortis on sale of businesses to Deutsche.”

The standard of living for British families will fall for the next year at least.

How to save money and still have an enjoyable 4th July.

 Story of the Day 

Gold mine found in Ireland. Unbelievable. I spent half my childhood trying to find a gold mine and now i find out that i was looking in the wrong place…I’m off now, i’m catching the 10:50 to Dublin from Gatwick to see some relatives…Its been planned for a long time…seriously…

Loose Foundations

I’m tired. I was rudely awoken this morning by a fox who was having difficulty trying to sell his home and on the verge of a communication breakdown with his wife, Mrs. Fox. The kids had left the den to achieve greater things whilst he was left with issues to solve: how to pay the mortgage, how to save for his pension and what to eat for supper. His problem, not mine. Until he starts barking outside my window. Seems like noone can avoid the credit crunch…

Tuesday Reading

Yahoo release PowerPoint presentation in attempt to win over shareholders, about what went wrong in the attempted Microsoft takeover although it will be disputed by some… 

Oil prices rise again, over a dollar, due to Iran and Israel tension.

FTSE starts week on a high as metal groups like Anglo American and Rio Tinto boom, despite ‘a spate of horrendous corporate news’.

The UK’s largest car dealer, Pendragon, has had to cut 500 jobs in the wake of poor sales.

UBS are planning to sell Paine Webber, its US wealth management to raise ‘a significant amount of cash’.

Germany seem to be resistant to stagflation as unemployment levels reach lowest in 16 year, just 7.8%.

Why did Bear Stearns collapse?

5 things to do whilst in a ‘financial panic’.

42000: The number of UK mortgage approvals, down to a fifteen year low.

Initial public offerings fall to lowest in 5 years as signs of an economic slowdown play on companies’ minds.

Four of the longest serving directors quit UBS leaving it poised for a shake-up.

Storms and floods damage crops in US leaving panic over bio-fuels.

Story Of The Day

HMV records full-year profits due to surge of buyers in video games. OK, this could be the reason, or it could be due to their extortianate prices. I made the mistake in buying The Best Of Blur, the other day at HMV. There was no mistake in my choice of record but the £15 i paid for it was. To my horror, 5 days later i walk into the Zavvi, formerly Virgin Megastore, in Piccadilly Circus, and spotted the same CD for just £6. I walked home in a huff having been charged 250% more. This is why people download musi illegally, spite.