Leo Kolivakis's blog

Clearly Bubble Ben has shown his hand but don't be so convinced that the Fed will not raise rates in 2010. If the recovery comes in stronger than anticipated, you might see some significant rate hikes in the second half of 2010. That's when the markets will really get interesting.

“It is alarming to look at what the Europe and Central Asian countries are soon to face as the region continues to age,” said Schwarz. “Future pension system deficits can be threefold than what is currently expected, and are expected to remain at that level for more than 20 years before slightly improving. Policymakers need to use the opportunity of the current crisis to address long-term issues, which could bankrupt pension systems precisely when the numbers of people who need them are growing.”

Large public pension funds in New York, California and Ohio are looking increasingly to alternative investments in hedge funds, private equity and emerging markets in a global hunt for yield, senior managers and trustees said. What does this mean for the rest of us?

Graham Turner is an outsider. In his view, the Japanese experience offers a frightening glimpse into our future, with deflation, where the prices of assets such as houses and shares are locked into a downward spiral, becoming entrenched. If that happens, conventional policy measures, such as reducing interest rates and pushing through huge increases in government spending, can fail, as indeed they have in Japan.

The pace of withdrawing non-standard operations is a balancing act for all central banks that engaged in quantitative easing. If they proceed too quickly and too aggressively, they risk creating another global recession.

For those of you still pondering Dubai or do you sell, you're missing the rally of a lifetime.

$48 billion over 30 years, and it's just the beginning. Don't say I didn't warn you...

The Institute for Fiscal Studies said not only did public sector workers have greater access to so-called gold-plated defined benefit schemes than those who worked for private companies, but the schemes themselves were typically more generous.

In addition to taking a big chunk out of individuals' 401(k)s, last fall's market meltdown left 92% of corporate pension plans underfunded at year's end, according to a study by investment consultant Wilshire Associates. As bad as that sounds, it pales in comparison to the shortfalls in public pension plans.

World trade volumes grew sharply in the third quarter of this year, data from the Dutch CPB research institute showed on Friday, in a further sign that the global economy is pulling out of crisis.

To claim that our pension system is working is simply ridiculous. The bankers will defend their profits but they're not delivering the goods at a reasonable cost.

I think Putin is onto something. Now, if only we can figure out a way to redistribute income from Wall Street crooks back into the pensions they keep plundering.

The global liquidity rally has legs to run, so don't get too flustered by Dubai's debt woes.

What's going on in Los Angeles will soon be going on across the US and developed world. Don't think for a second that tough fiscal measures won't be taken to shore up public finances. And this will certainly mean curtailing pension benefits for new and existing public sector employees.

According to a report from the investment specialist, the schemes have yet to return to pre-crisis levels - although many have posted impressive gains recently.