Interest Rates on Thursday

ManAtHome

But the fact (or supposition if you prefer) is that BoE action on interest rates has done nothing to trim inflation, which is why they should have been taking action instead of sitting on their hands gazing into the "CPI will come down" distance.

Wages stats may be manipulated... downwards. Recent quotes I've seen have been along the lines of "wages aren't going up that much when you strip out bonuses". I know several large companies who have increased bonuses faster than salaries - not sure if increases in "performance-related" pay counts as salary or bonus, anyone know?

Monopolies or near-monopolies are usually created by the customers. I remember when buses were de-regulated and a few large companies were operating many routes at a loss purely to drive other companies out of business. Of course the customers went for the 10p fares rather than the 40p fares - then shock/horror, a year later they were paying 60p...

Interesting graph about gas prices (admittedly from BP) - seems that they weren't robbing gits when the price was going down... http://www.investis.com/bp_acc_ia/stat_review_05/htdocs/reports/report_21.html

Petrol at 27p a litre... presumably outside Europe? Can't see how joining the Euro would help unless you're suggesting that we also harmonise all taxes.

nelly_2

ManAtHome wrote: »

Monopolies or near-monopolies are usually created by the customers. I remember when buses were de-regulated and a few large companies were operating many routes at a loss purely to drive other companies out of business. Of course the customers went for the 10p fares rather than the 40p fares - then shock/horror, a year later they were paying 60p...

.

Its cos the country is full of tight thick bastages thats why!

Melissa177

Okay, having spent the evening with one of my FX trader friends at Canary Wharf, we decided that a 12-1 shot on betfair for a +.5% increase was pretty good odds (if somewhat still relatively unlikely). So I've put a tenner on "no change" and also on ".5% + change" on Betfair.

Let's see how "money saving" this is.

roswell

hagler wrote: »

The utility companies are on a big rip off, if you look at the prices of wholesale gas supplies they are not expensive but the companies have raised prices by alot and do not like to decrease them. This winter has been one of the warmest on record and yet gas companies are making record profits even though people are using much less gas and electricity.

raw material costs dont mean anything, ok lets say they sell gas for cost + 5% ... who repairs the broken pumps, who fund exploration for new gas etc.

you can buy 1 oz of 99.9% pure gold for $680, lets say £340
you can buy a 2 oz 9CT gold bracelet for £500 is that good value ?? 9ct gold is only 37% gold the rest is spent on alloy and workmanship and profit.

but back to gas, at the beginign of winter many compnays would ahve purchased X thousands of tons at a set price, the price fell since then, it doesnt mean they paid less they paid what they paid now they can purchase cheaper gas now there stocks are depleted and now reduce prices .. seams fair to me, If you buy a tank of petrol at £0.97 and the next day its £0.95 you dont have more pertol in your tank or cheaper petrol in your tank till you fill up at £0.95

ManAtHome

I reckon 3 for +0.5%, 4 for +0.25%, 1 for no change, 1 for -4% (only joking.. DB may go for no change again).

Generali

Melissa177 wrote: »

Okay, having spent the evening with one of my FX trader friends at Canary Wharf, we decided that a 12-1 shot on betfair for a +.5% increase was pretty good odds (if somewhat still relatively unlikely). So I've put a tenner on "no change" and also on ".5% + change" on Betfair.

Let's see how "money saving" this is.

You're better off laying in this situation. Last night you could lay +.25% at 1.11, i.e. you risk £1.10 (if rates increase by .25%) against a possible win of £10 if any other scenario occurs.

King_Of_Fools

It was up 0.25% to 5.5%

PJD

As expected, - rates have gone up by a 0.25%

lynzpower

sly_dog_jonah wrote: »

oh cripes, i just clicked the wrong one, so take a vote off -0.5% - I meant +0.5%!!!

me too :wall:

AndrewSmith

We got it wrong Lynz :rotfl:

Ah well there will be another one soon lol