Keep the Blackberry Charged for August Vacation: Matthew Lynn Put your feet up. We're in the dog
days of August. And even in turbulent times, we can be sure of
one thing: Nothing of any importance happens during this month.
Russian Assault in Georgia Threatens New Cold War: Matthew Lynn After sending tanks, troops and
warplanes into Georgia last week, Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev yesterday ordered a halt to the ground offensive.
Business Moguls at Orgies Deserve Their Privacy: Matthew Lynn Max Mosley makes an unlikely standard
bearer of individual rights. The head of Formula One car racing's
ruling body is probably better known as the son of Oswald Mosley,
who led the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s.
Oil Price at $90 Is Enough to Save Global Economy: Matthew Lynn There is nothing harder to
distinguish than a bull market pause and a turning point. It is
only in hindsight that you can tell one from the other.
Obama's Plans Must Be Louder Than Europe's Cheers: Matthew Lynn The Brandenburg Gate would have been
the perfect backdrop for Barack Obama to give his first major
speech on trans-Atlantic relations tomorrow.
Britain Is in No Shape to Cope With a Recession: Matthew Lynn There is no longer much dispute that
the U.K. is heading for a recession later this year. The economic
news gets gloomier by the day, and with prices still rising fast,
there is little prospect of the Bank of England heading off the
coming storm with reductions in interest rates.
Trade Embargoes for Zimbabwe Won't Fix Anything: Matthew Lynn Everyone is shocked by the chaos that
has befallen Zimbabwe. President Robert Mugabe has brutally
suppressed opposition to his regime, overturning an election in
which he was clearly defeated. Once a prosperous African country,
it has been reduced to bankruptcy.
Buyouts for Banks, Avoid Property, Lunch With Buffett: Timshel As the credit crunch unfolds, banks
appear to accept that they need to change the way they do
business. They should fix pay structures so that employees take a
long-term interest in the company. They need closer relationships
with clients. And the horizons on which they operate have to be a
lot longer than the end of next week.
Lloyds and Dresdner, Wigley's Task, Ronaldo's Bubble: Timshel We all know that business, much like
warfare, favors the brave. Still, there must be a point where
valor morphs into stupidity. Many investors will have suspected
that point had been reached on the news that Britain's Lloyds TSB
Group Plc may buy Germany's Dresdner Bank AG.
King, Darling, Brown Can Hang Together Separately: Matthew Lynn ``Dear Chancellor, there is an old
saying that you can hang together, or hang separately. Although
central bankers usually set great store by traditional wisdom, in
the present circumstances I think it preferable that we hang
separately. Yours sincerely, Mervyn King.''