"Republican Mitt Romney raised more than $170 million in September, aides said Monday — a record for his campaign but shy of President Barack Obama’s $181 million haul for the same period. With the latest fundraising figures, the Romney campaign and the Republican National Committee (RNC) plus state party participants now have more than $191 million cash on hand just 22 days before the general election." Continue reading →
"The 21-page memorandum of understanding that the Obama and Romney campaigns negotiated with the Commission on Presidential Debates establishing the rules governing this month's presidential and vice presidential face-offs shows that both campaigns are terrified at anything even remotely spontaneous happening. They aren't permitted to ask each other questions, propose pledges to each other, or walk outside a 'predesignated area.' And for the town-hall-style debate tomorrow night, the audience members posing questions aren't allowed to ask follow-ups (their mics will be cut off as soon as they get their questions out). Nor will moderator Candy Crowley." Continue reading →
"The Social Security tax withholding rate is expected to return to 6.2% after two years at 4.2%. So far neither party has expressed much interest in another extension, reports WSJ. For someone earning the 2011 median income of $50,054 that translates into $1,001.08 a year or about $40 less in a biweekly paycheck. Below is a WSJ Calculator that will tell you how much more you will pay in taxes." Continue reading →
"Mexican students protesting a new curriculum threw homemade explosives, fired rockets and hurled stones at police in a melee that left 176 arrested and 10 police officers injured, officials said. The protesting students are preparing to become teachers in rural areas, and they are angry because the new curriculum includes English and computer science, which they see as low-priority subjects in poor rural areas of Mexico. The students have been holding more than 40 city buses in their possession since October 4, and during Monday’s protest they set fire to 13 of them." Continue reading →
"The Swiss fiscal policy has infuriated Brussels, as the European Union sees businesses fleeing EU countries to the tax haven of Switzerland. According to Swiss laws, foreign firms which set up in the country pay €51 billions ($66 billion) less in taxes per year than Swiss companies, said a Swiss television report. Setting an ultimatum, Brussels has given Switzerland until December 13th, when a European summit is held, to present a programme aimed at dismantling such privileges which are judged discriminatory and anti-competitive." Continue reading →
"France is sliding into a grave economic crisis and risks a full-blown 'hurricane' as investors flee rocketing tax rates, the country’s business federation has warned. Spending has risen to 55pc of GDP, similar to Sweden but without Nordic labour flexibility. French economic growth has been near zero for the past five quarters. It may have tipped into recession over the summer as the malaise spread from Italy and Spain. New car registrations were down 7.7pc in the third quarter from a year earlier. Unemployment has reached a post-euro high of 10.6pc. The fear is that a fiscal shock in 2013 will tip the economy into a sharp downward slide." Continue reading →
"The parasite is definitely overwhelming the hosts in Spain. In response to the economic crisis ravaging Spain, approximately 420,150 people have emigrated from Spain since January, according to the National Statics Institute (INE). 54,912 of those that have left are Spanish citizens — meaning that over 10,000 have left since earlier estimates this summer. That's also a 21.6 percent increase from 2011." Continue reading →
"In an economy with more than 53% jobless or underemployed recent college graduates, it’s hard to imagine that there are actually careers short on graduates. But it’s true: there are several different fields that simply can’t find enough qualified candidates to fill all of their job opportunities. Health care, skilled trades, and even finance are hurting for graduates — are you cut out for one of these careers with room to grow?" Continue reading →
"This new Libertarian City-State, inspired by New York University economist Paul Romer, has the backing of the libertarian-minded government in Tegucigalpa. It has also received plaudits from noted economists, pundits, and policymakers across the globe since it emerged nearly two years ago." Continue reading →
"Oct 15 - International investor Jim Rogers says he's shorting Treasuries in anticipation of the Fed-fueled bond bubble bursting. He's also thinking about buying the ruble as a way to play the Russian markets." Continue reading →