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Sunday, December 12, 2010

MORTGAGE exit fees will be banned in all new loans from next year

MORTGAGE exit fees will be banned in all new loans from next year as part of radical reforms in banking laws to be announced today.

As part of a package of reforms, the Treasurer and acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan will also give the Competition and Consumer empowers the Commission to launch an investigation into the price of the signaling between the four big banks.

price signaling that banks likely changes flag your interest rate upfront mortgage lending, which critics say invites rivals to follow suit and reduce competition.

The federal government will also create an official symbol of the smaller banks, credit unions and building societies will be able to show to show customers their deposits are guaranteed by the Government.

The ban on exit fees will take effect on July 1, 2011, but the government will have to get approval from Parliament's decision by amending the law of the National Credit Code.


Mr Swan said the reforms would be less popular with the big banks.

"Competition is the best way to keep interest rates lower over time, and help Australians to walk down the road and get a better deal if your existing lender is not caring for them is central to that," said . "We worked very hard on these reforms with our regulators to ensure they are effective, durable and not let big banks off the hook."

The decision is likely to be popular among the holders of mortgage loans, up 40 percent of whom would like to change lenders, according to a Newspoll survey last month.

However, some non-bank lenders argue that the movement is anti-competitive.

Intouch founder of Home Loans, Paul Ryan, said axing exit fees would force lenders to re-application fees of $ 1000 and $ 1500 or raise interest rates.

"If someone is taking away from your income, you have to find new ways to do that again, a form is an application fee or an increase in interest rates," he said.

The decision will be received by credit unions and building societies, which have low output rates.

non-bank lenders, credit unions and building societies the Government is expected to announce moves to ensure access to funding, similar to measures taken during the global financial crisis (GFC), to keep lenders afloat small.

During the GFC the federal government spent $ 16 million in bonds to buy smaller lenders to give them access to funds from credit markets after drying.

The measure would oblige the competition with the big four banks, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and ANZ, who captured a domain in the mortgage market in Australia after GFC.

"Not everyone will welcome the plans we are announcing this weekend, at least for all major banks but are important steps towards a fairer, more competitive banking system," Mr Swan said.

Election urges ACCC to investigate bank charges

BANKS would be prohibited from charging exorbitant rates for loans, credit cards and ATMs under a plan to reduce widespread fraud.

Consumer choice surveillance has proposed rules forcing banks to charge "reasonable expenses" for all types of spending, not just the mortgage exit fees, and to explain expenditures "plain language."

Banks charge $ 5 billion a year in fees from households, including $ 1 billion in penalties.

Choice has called for an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission investigation to discover the true costs of tariffs in a presentation to a Senate investigation into the bank.

Best bank campaign director Richard Lloyd said it was absurd that some customers are slugged up to $ 30 for overdrawing and $ 2 to use ATMs belonging to rivals.

Customers pay 640 million U.S. dollars a year in fees "foreign" ATM, the suit said.

"Fees of fraud, hidden fees and unfair contract terms are symptoms of a competitive market," said Lloyd.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan is preparing to present a package of banking reforms to make it easier for credit unions and building societies to compete with the dominant of the Commonwealth, ANZ, NAB and Westpac.

The government can take strong action against the banks in signaling changes in interest rates.

It is also believed that taking into account what is easier for dissatisfied customers to ditch banks by allowing them to keep the same account number when transferring to competitors.

Consultations also take place in a classification system of traffic light potential for investment products - red high-risk, medium risk of amber and green for low.

The election filing warns that some suppliers had cut rates on basic savings accounts simply hold of the charges for personal loans and credit cards to make money elsewhere.

Banks have also reaped a wealth of additional loans after gaining huge market share as the global financial crisis.

Mr Lloyd said confusing fine print made "amazing" to consumers, so standardized guidelines in plain language should be compulsory.

NAP clients hit again by accident IT

National Australia Bank's reputation among customers and regulators have taken another blow after another IT failure.

At NAB continues to sort through disaster last month the payments system caused by a "corrupt file" in the processing of transactions during the night, the bank confirmed that there was a relationship, "temporary disruption" to some of their platforms electronic payment, reports from Australia.

Its ATM network was affected, like Internet banking and retail outlets.

Some customers in Melbourne complained that the bank's ATMs were dispensing cash, while others said there were long queues at some branches of NAB in Melbourne, and that the transfer of the account balances accurately record .


A rival bank also said that customers could not use their cards at ATMs network NAB, and NAB cards, in turn, had been rejected at the ATMs of competing banks.

"This is a very serious problem - not as big as last problem NAB, but still very serious," said a banker.

An angry manager Kingsleys, one of the best restaurants in Sydney, said he had to manually take down details of credit card customers after NAB terminal crashed.

He said: "Who has money for a site like this?"

In a statement late yesterday afternoon, NAB confirmed the court, saying that there had been at 3 pm.

A spokesman said services had been restored after an hour.

"NAB can confirm that this issue was related to the processing of recent late payments that the bank has experienced," he said.

The bank could not determine the cause of your latest issue.

The representatives of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and the Reserve Bank of Australia were not available for comment.

But the banks are obliged to inform APRA within 24 hours of major disruptions.

Bond sales for freezing Union Bank

corporate treasurers in India say they are delaying the sale of the bonds after the U.S. tax cuts President Barack Obama and sovereign debt crisis in Europe led to a reference point for their overall borrowing costs to a maximum of four months.

Rural Electrification Corp, the state-controlled lender for energy projects, delaying bond sales of $ 500 million through January, on "adverse market conditions," said Hari Das CFO in an interview Khunteta 03 December. Union Bank of India is carrying out an offer of discount on debt in Swiss francs, General Manager, VK Khanna said in an interview from 06 December. IDBI Bank Ltd. fees are considered, since the schedules issued $ 500 million in the first quarter of 2011.

"The money has to be at a reasonable cost," said Melwyn Rego, Executive Director based in Mumbai and head of international banking in the state-owned IDBI, in an interview from 06 December. "If costs are high, there will be any takers."

Sales of foreign currency bonds has been stalled in December, the income of the Indian companies note dollar rose to 5.12 percent, the highest since July 29 HSBC Holdings Plc indexes show. EU rescue of Ireland and the concern of the U.S. budget deficit helped increase demand for bonds moisture to the BRIC countries. The cost of credit default swaps, tied to the debt of the State Bank of India rose to 179 basis points on December 01, 155 on 8 November.

Offers debt

Borrowers in India have raised $ 8.7 billion in 2010 through international debt offerings, below the record $ 9.3 billion in 2007. It sold $ 2 billion in October and $ 2.2 billion in November.

"I'm sure we'll see back issues," said Philippe Petit, a senior investment manager at Pictet Asset Management Singapore, said in an interview Dec. 10. The firm manages $ 17 billion of emerging market debt. "There's an appetite, definitely in the market."

The perception of solvency of banks in India has held up better than their peers in other emerging markets. Swaps credit-default in the State Bank have fallen 45 basis points in the last six months to 172 on December 9, compared with 20 basis points for the Bank of China Ltd. and 28 basis points for Sberbank, Russia's biggest lender. The swaps are used to protect debt payments last.

The 10-year yield U.S. Treasury touched 3.33 percent last week, the highest since June 4 after Obama agreed to extend the U.S. tax cuts to boost growth. German Bund yields rose above 3 percent for the first time in seven months.

Bond Repurchase

India's bonds gained 10 years last week on speculation buyback central bank of 120 million rupees ($ 2.7 billion) of debt on December 9 facilitate a liquidity crisis. The yield of 7.8 percent due in May 2020 fell 9 basis points to 8.08 percent.

Banks borrowed an average 816 billion rupees a day in this quarter with the Reserve Bank of India's window to repurchase auction, compared with 239 million rupees in the last three months.

"Investors are probably taking some comfort in the hope that there will be more buybacks," said Krishnamurthy Harihar, treasurer of FirstRand Ltd. in Mumbai.

The rate of emerging market debt was 5.69 percent on Dec. 9, after reaching a maximum of three months of 5.74 percent on Nov. 30, according to an index compiled by JP Morgan Chase & Co. fell Production percent in 5123 to 4 November, the lowest since the bank began tracking the market in December 1997.

"The highest rates in the country lately not change the fact that it is still cheaper to sell the bonds in comparison with the costs of land," said Alice Chikara, a bond analyst at Elara Capital Plc in Singapore, in an interview on 10 December. "We see a strong line of publications next year."

Borrowing Costs

India's debt in domestic currency has returned 4.1 percent in 2010, according to indexes compiled by HSBC, the Reserve Bank raised borrowing costs by 150 basis points. Investors in China rose 1.2 percent, the smallest in the region, the indices show. Indian dollar bonds returned 9.6 percent, compared with 10.9 percent on average for the dollar debt in Asia, HSBC data show.

The rupee has advanced 3.3 percent against the dollar in 2010, making it cheaper for local companies to borrow abroad. The currency appreciated 0.1 percent last week to 45.0550 per dollar amid a report that showed industrial output rose more than expected in October.

Production factories, mines and utilities rose 10.8 percent in October from a year earlier after increasing 4.4 percent in September, the statistics office said in a statement in New Delhi on 10 December. The median estimate of 29 economists surveyed by us was for a gain of 8.5 percent.

'Far From Over'

The European Union and the International Monetary Fund agreed on a euro 85 billion (113 billion) rescue package for Ireland on 28 November. IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, said in Geneva 08 December that Europe remains a "worrying" situation and the effects of global financial turmoil 'far from over. "

Union Bank to sell bonds "as and when we find the price is right," said Khanna. Rural Electrification Khunteta said the company is "looking at the second week of January" to sell their bonds.

"Going into next year, markets are more volatile than the macro fund is less conducive to the strengthening of the bond markets," Kenneth Akintewe, portfolio manager at Singapore-based Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Ltd., which manages 261 billion U.S. dollars in assets, said in an interview on 10 December. "From the perspective of India, you could see a slight delay."

China risks 'Rush' to tighten in 2011 after inflation accelerated from 5%

China avoidance of tracking its October increase interest rates even as inflation accelerates risks of a more abrupt braking next year's fastest growing economy.

Consumer prices rose 5.1 percent in November, the most in 28 months, a report from the statistics office showed on December 11. the producer price inflation of 6.1 percent was higher than the 28 forecasts in a survey of economists.

The central bank held off the weekend in the movement of the rates predicted by analysts from companies such as UBS AG. and the question of Mizuho Securities Asia Ltd. officials "may be in part a product of China's policy of holding down the yuan, as a higher return on deposits and loans would boost the prospects for speculative capital flows that pressure the exchange rate.

"The only reason to stop is the subject of hot money," said Shen Jianguang, an economist at Mizuho Hong Kong who has previously worked for the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank. "If they feel overwhelmed by this concern and to refrain from taking this step, inflation will be a big risk next year, and then eventually have to run in the adjustment."

Chinese leaders pledged yesterday to give greater priority to price stabilization in 2011 and better management of liquidity, Xinhua news agency reported after an annual conference in Beijing to establish guidelines for economic policy.

Curb investment

The government will also try to prevent those who "blindly" from investment projects in the next plan of the nation enters into force five years, Xinhua said.

The central bank has raised rates once since December 2007, bringing the benchmark rate for one-year deposits to 2.5 percent and the interest rate to 5.56 percent. In Asia, India has been six times this year, three times Malaysia and South Korea twice.

The yuan has fallen 0.4 percent against the dollar in the last month, closing at 6.6556 in Shanghai last week.

Capital is flowing into China due to monetary easing in developed economies, the strength of the recovery of the nation, and the prospects of higher interest rates and a stronger currency. In addition, the November trade surplus was 22.9 billion U.S. dollars and the banks lent 564 billion yuan ($ 85 million), reports last week.

Too much cash

"The global environment of low interest rates prevent China's central bank to raise interest rates," said Wu Xiaoling, a former central bank deputy governor, December 11 in a speech at a conference of hedge funds in Shanghai. He cited the risk of attracting more capital flows, adding that "the excessive supply of money is a major reason for inflation in China," he said.

the nation's outstanding loans in local currency were 47.4 trillion yuan in November, 60 percent more than two years ago, a central bank report showed last week.

economic data from China in November said the economy is resisting the government's campaign to limit energy consumption in industry and housing market speculation, while inflationary pressures are building.

The industrial-production growth accelerated to an annual rate of 13.3 percent. Food prices rose 11.7 percent and costs related to the residence, such as water charges, electricity and rent rose 5.8 percent.

Inflation Outlook

Inflation can be "relatively high" in the first half of 2011, after facilitating likely below 5 percent this month, the National Development and Reform Commission, the state planning agency above, said on 11 December . In the first 11 months of 2010, consumer prices rose 3.2 percent, above the government's annual target of 3 percent.

Analysts focused on the possibility of a rate increase over the weekend due to the publication of inflation data, eight days after the Communist Party's Politburo said the country would go to a stricter "prudent" the monetary policy next year.

In addition, government leaders met December 10 to 12 in Beijing to establish policy guidelines for next year. London-based Capital Economics Ltd. said the rate move symbolically important could be announced after the conclave.

Instead of raising rates, policy makers have spent the money in the financial system over the past two months by setting higher reserve requirements for banks.

Price controls

On 10 December, said the central bank will raise rates a half percentage point, indicating the largest banks must set aside 18.5 percent of deposits, excluding any additional curbs individual lenders not announced publicly. Barclays Capital Asia Ltd. estimates that as locking up 350 million yuan ($ 53 million).

The government also focuses on administrative measures to combat inflation and its effects, including subsidies for poor sales of food reserves of the State and, where appropriate, price controls on "daily needs."

Rising wages are fueling inflationary pressures. Yum! Brands Inc., which owns the KFC restaurant chain, said last week that its labor costs in China may rise 10 percent or more in 2011.

China must "act quickly and aggressively to deal with inflation," before tackling the longer-term tasks, such as strengthening the role of private consumption in the economy, Stephen Roach, executive chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia Ltd . said on 09 December in Hong Kong.

"The painful correction"

The delay in the use of interest rates and the exchange rate can lead to "a painful correction in a later stage," said Chang Jian, chief economist of China Hong Kong Barclays Capital. Vio including risks of asset bubbles.

The Shanghai Composite Index of stocks has fallen 10 percent from November 08 high, the policy of extending the loss this year to 13 percent, on concern tighter monetary reduce economic growth and profits. Investor reaction to the latest issue of inflation could be silenced when China's stock markets opened today because it leaked before publication, published last week in the Economic Information Daily.

The economists expect an increase of 1 percentage point in the key lending and deposit rates late next year, according to the median forecast in a survey on 2 December. The gross domestic product will grow 9.2 percent in 2011, shows the average projection.

Economists, including Societe General SA, expect the government to establish an objective of lower borrowing for next year.

government's ceiling of 7.5 trillion yuan this year "is almost certain to be breached," according to Bank of America-Merrill Lynch. Banks need to limit new loans in December to less than a tenth of the amount of November to reach the target.

Bond Market Signals No end to deflation for eight years

The Bank of Japan predicts that an end to deflation in 2011 and 35 billion yen (417.8 billion U.S. dollars) in spending did little to change the thinking in the bond market, where investors see eight more years of falling prices.

Bonds designed to protect investors against inflation show that Japanese money managers expect prices to decline at an average rate of 0.6 percent over the next five years and 0.4 percent annually through 2018. Japan is the only country where bonds linked to price changes show entrenched deflation expectations.

"Japan does not go for any combination of aggressive recovery policy and therefore is likely to prolong Japan's deflation," said Tomoya Masanao, who oversees the funds in Japan for Newport Beach, California, Pacific Investment Management Co., which manages the world's biggest bond fund. The Bank of Japan's plan was "rather cosmetic," said Masanao into an e-mailed response to questions.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan has urged the Bank of Japan, Masaaki Shirakawa, to eliminate the deflation that has inhibited growth, enabling China to surpass its Asian rival briefly as the second largest economy in the world. The gross domestic product in Japan grew 15 percent during the 20 years until 2009, while the United States increased 158 percent and China increased 20 times.

During that period, prices of Japanese products, excluding fresh food rose 0.3 percent per year on average, while yields on benchmark government debt to 10 years averaged 2.4 percent. U.S. prices excluding food and fuel rose by 2.7 percent and the yield of 10-year Treasury averaged 5.53 percent.

20 months straight

The Japanese price indicator fell 0.6 percent from a year earlier in October, marking 20 consecutive months of falls. Deflation, a general decline in prices, increases the value of the fixed payments of debt and weak economic growth by dampening investment, spending and hiring.

the central bank's efforts to boost the economy, driven by a bottom in October of 5000 billion yen for the purchase of assets, decreased expectations of deflation, as measured by the gap between bond yields and inflation those not linked to changes in consumer prices. The call equilibrium rate of eight values that represent the expectations of traders in the annual deflation average fell 0.45 percent on 3 December to 1.32 percent in December 2009.

"Sentiment is changing"

The Bank of Japan is "fighting and working," said Hideo Shimomura, who helps oversee the equivalent of 59.4 billion U.S. dollars in Tokyo as investment fund manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. "The mood is changing and people is increasingly optimistic about Japan out of deflation, although it will take a couple of years. "

the inflation-indexed debt has exceeded the government notes in the last six months. An investor who bought securities indexed to five years on June 10 posted a return of 2.9 percent, while a purchaser of similar maturity bonds lost 0.1 percent.

Some 150 lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, who call themselves the league to combat deflation, said last month the Bank of Japan should adopt an inflation target to eradicate the decline in prices and boost employment .

"Political pressure"

"What the Bank of Japan in the past has had little impact," said Akio Kato, leader of the team based in Tokyo for Japanese debt at Kokusai Asset Management Co., which manages the World 35 billion U.S. dollars of sovereign funds Open, the largest in Asia. "Investors are skeptical about anything on the Bank of Japan. It is a debate if they did their best to reach the current situation and took action only after succumbing to political pressure."

The Bank of Japan said on Oct. 28 that consumer prices in the nation, excluding fresh food will increase by 0.1 percent in the year starting in April.

Bank of Japan Governor Shirakawa and his board on October 5 reduced key lending rate overnight to "almost zero, and pledged to keep it there until you can predict the stability of prices, the bank believes that inflation up to 2 percent. In December 2009, he created a 10 trillion-yen loan was extended to 30 billion yen.

"Producing yen will not stimulate demand," said Shinichiro Furumoto, president of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan panel of tax policy and finance, in an interview on 26 November.

The higher yields

The yield on Japan's benchmark 10-year-old arrived at 1,235 percent on December 8, the highest since June, an increase of 40 basis points in a seven-year low in October. U.S. yields are increasing faster because the data indicate that economic growth is accelerating and the agreement of President Barack Obama to expand Bush's tax cuts, speculation was driving the U.S. will have to finance a larger deficit.

The additional yield of 10-year U.S. Treasuries offer debt of similar maturity Japanese government increased to 198 basis points, or 1.98 percentage point, the highest since July. The difference was 146 basis points on September 07.

The yen weakened to 84.31 per U.S. dollar December 9 to 30 November 83.69. Japan's currency hit a 15-year-80.22 per dollar on November 1 and has advanced 11 percent this year, the biggest gain among counterparts in the developed world.

A stronger yen dimming the profit outlook for exporters in Japan and may increase pressure for lower prices, making imports cheaper.

4 billion yen

The Ministry of Finance has issued ¥ 10,000,000,000,000 10 - year bonds indexed to inflation and has not sold any since August 2008. The amount of outstanding debt linked to inflation is about 4 trillion yen, according to Takashi Nishimura, an analyst in Tokyo at Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co. Morgan Stanley

Demand for the securities "collapsed" after the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in September 2008 because of low liquidity, Nishimura said. The ministry has bought back the values as needed to avoid excess supply, improve the accuracy of the equilibrium rate as an indicator of expectations of deflation, he said.

Japanese public debt has given investors a loss of 1.7 percent since Oct. 5, when the Bank of Japan announced its plan to buy assets, according to an index compiled by the Bank of America Corp. ' s unit of Merrill Lynch. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average Index has advanced 6.5 percent in that time.

credit-default swaps on five-year Japanese government bonds fell a basis point to 70.6 on December 9, CMA prices show in New York. That compares with 71.1 for China. The contracts pay the buyer face value in exchange for the underlying securities or the cash equivalent if a government or a company fails to meet debt agreements.

Extra Performance

The extra yield investors demand to own debt denominated in yen of foreign borrowing rather than the Japanese government fell two basis points to 120 points, according to indexes compiled by Nomura Securities Co.

commercial rates to three months' paper companies with lower A2 rating fell to an average of 0.33 percent, up from 0.4 percent on Oct. 4, according to Tokyo Tanshi Co. The rate was reduced after that the central bank said Oct. 5 it would consider buying commercial paper and other assets through funds 5 trillion yen.

Prices are subject to fall in developed countries like Japan, as the growth caps and lowers aggregate demand, said Daisuke Uno, chief strategist at Tokyo-based Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., the second largest lender in Japan deposits of $ 850 million.

"The question is first if deflation can be defeated," the One "I do not think it can be."

Swan takes in Australia, four big banks with a plan for Greater Competition



Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan suggested the creation of a "fifth pillar" of credit unions to encourage competition in the banking sector in response to pressure to reduce the prevalence of the four largest lenders in the country.

"I am a believer in the fundamental importance of a market economy," Swan said in Canberra yesterday to announce a package of changes. "It provides flexibility and strength. But in a market economy, businesses and, of course, Australian families to be able to get a fair go in the banking system."

The government will strengthen credit unions and building societies that have lost market share since the financial crisis and the prohibition of the owners of "out" against the origination fee in exchange for mortgage providers for new loans from July, Swan said. It also plans to give customers greater flexibility to change lender and expanding the powers of regulatory competition in the nation.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corp., National Australia Bank Ltd. and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. control more than 80 percent of domestic loans. Swan, whose government has no majority in parliament, is trying to appease a public outraged by increases in mortgage rates from banks last month that went beyond increasing the central bank's benchmark, even after it reported earnings record.

"I made it clear then, and I make it clear now, there was absolutely no justification for any bank to raise interest rates above the increases in the cash rate," said Swan.

Slow growth

Australia's largest banks are already facing slower loan growth, a worldwide review of banking regulations, capital requirements more onerous and expensive in the markets for debt financing. country's major banks are the "four pillars", after a law to prevent acquisitions among them.

"The Australian banks have become political footballs, led analysts at UBS AG in Sydney by Jonathan Mott wrote last month. "The political debate surrounding the regulation and competition is now a major driver of performance of banks profitability."

The government said it intends to give the Competition and Consumer Commission the power to act against banks if they send price signals to each other to keep interest rates higher than they would be.

"The ACCC has advised me to believe cases have occurred in banking price signaling," said Swan. "The only responsible to do is move in this direction and give the ACCC the powers it needs."

Government Investment

Australia A will make a new investment of $ 4 billion (3900 million dollars) to support the market for residential mortgage-backed securities that many of the smaller lenders in the nation based on making loans cheaper, the statement said. The Australian Bureau of current financial management program is U.S. $ 16 billion.

The government also aims to enable all banks, credit unions and building societies to issue bonds to expand access to cheaper funding, more stable, said the treasurer. The government will release the draft amendments to banking laws in 2011.

Swan has to be seen to do something to tackle the four big banks, "said Frank Zumbo, a professor of competition in the Australian School of Business in Sydney. "While credit unions and building societies are an alternative, have a long way to go to gain a foothold in the market power of the big four banks."

Banks accounted for 91 percent of new residential housing loans in September, according the Australian Bureau of Statistics. That's up from 81 percent in the same month three years ago, before the peak of the global financial crisis.

Among them, the four largest banks control almost 90 percent of residential mortgages sold by all banks, and write 83 percent of all loans, according to October data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority .

Senate investigation

The public debate on competition in financial services is increasing as key figures in the industry to contribute to a Senate investigation. Central Bank governor Glenn Stevens is due to appear before the committee on 13 December.

Commonwealth Bank, Australia's largest bank, urged caution in recommending other changes in regulations. The industry is already competitive, said in a presentation to a Senate investigation into banking competition.

CEO Ralph Norris said in the document of 03 December that the size of bank profits was often taken out of context of the total assets needed to achieve that performance.

Borrowing costs

Westpac, the second largest lender in Australia, last week published his presentation, calling the government to introduce measures to reduce the dependence of the leading banks in offshore funds, which have become more expensive since the financial crisis. The largest banks to blame for price increases cost of mortgages.

Credit unions and building societies say the country needs more competition and have asked the government to introduce policies to help access funding. In a November 30 submission to the Senate inquiry, the Association of Banks and Credit Unions requested the introduction of a flat rate guarantee of debt financing in bulk to smaller lenders.

Retail sales probably rose in November in U.S. Consumers Driven Recovery

Retail sales probably rose in November for the fifth consecutive month that the Americans began their holiday shopping, showing consumers are playing a greater role in the U.S. recovery, economists said before a report this week .

The projected increase of 0.6 percent followed by a 1.2 percent increase in purchases of October, according to the median of 62 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey before Commerce Department figures for 14 December. Other reports may show industrial production and housing construction rebounded, while the cost of living was stable.

Chains such as Target Corp. and Macy's Inc. has attracted customers with discounts for the weekend of Thanksgiving, the traditional kick off the busiest season of the year sales. While the U.S. economy is picking up the game in 2011, high unemployment and the risk of a prolonged fall in prices remains a concern for those responsible for the Federal Reserve meeting this week.

"The holiday season is running at a strong pace," said Guy LeBas, chief fixed income strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC in Philadelphia. "There is a broad-based upturn in sales support aggressive discounts. The economy is improving, but there are still many obstacles, such as labor market weakness."

The National Retail Federation has forecast sales for November and December holiday will increase by 2.3 percent from a year ago, the most since 2006. A Bloomberg survey taken 2 December-8 December showed economists raised projections of consumer purchases, the bulk of the economy, to 2.6 percent next year, above its estimate of 2.3 percent the previous month.

Improved confidence

Retailers also benefit from consumer confidence, which rose in December to the highest level in six months, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters / University of Michigan report released last week. The optimism may be linked to stock market gains and address the president Barack Obama with Republican leaders to keep tax rates increase next year.

Sales at stores open at least a year rose in November for more than eight months, compared with a year ago and beat estimates of analysts, industry reports showed. Discount retailers began earlier this month that in recent years and continued until Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

Target and Costco Wholesale Corp. led the sales gains discount stores last month, while teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and JC Penney Co., the third largest department store chain in U.S. Increases were also reported better than expected, according to company announcements.

Broad-based gains

The purchases are expanding beyond the Christmas gifts and clothing. Home Depot Inc., the world's leading retailer of home improvement, raised its earnings forecast for the full year on stronger demand in the fourth quarter for the plumbing and electrical items.

"Looking in November and December, we see the force through the store," said Chief Financial Officer Carol Tome December 8 by telephone from a meeting with analysts in Boston. The Atlanta-based company had a "good Black Friday."

Investors have pushed up retail stocks this year as spending accelerates. Supercomposite The Standard & Poor's retail index has gained 27 percent since the December 31, 2009, compared with an increase of 11 percent for the S & P 500.

Sustain the demand can be difficult without an improvement in the unemployment rate, which in November reached a seven-month high of 9.8 percent. Fed officials due to hold its last meeting on 14 December 2010, may renew his strategy to buy an additional $ 600 billion of Treasuries in June to try to cut unemployment and avoid deflation, or falling a prolonged price.

Stable prices

Consumer prices rose 0.2 percent in November for the second consecutive month, according to the Bloomberg survey median ahead of a Labor Department report on December 15. Excluding the costs of fuel and food, core prices rose 0.6 percent from November 2009, according to the median of the survey, corresponding increase in October was the lowest year on year increase in history.

Among other reports, figures from the Fed on 15 December may show production at factories, mines and utilities rose 0.3 percent in November after stagnating in October, economists projected. The New York Fed Empire manufacturing index of the state on the same day, and overall economic size of the Philadelphia Fed on December 16 may indicate factories continued to expand this month.

Housing, struggling to overcome a drop in demand and persistent foreclosures grew in November after a fall at the beginning of last month, the Commerce Department can show Dec. 16. Rounding out the week, the Conference Board's leading indicator of indicators can strengthen the evidence that the economy is gaining momentum.

Bloomberg Survey

================================================== ============
Release Period Prior Median
Indicator Date Value Forecast
================================================== ============
Retail Sales MOM 14.12% 1.2% 0.6% in November
Retail ex-autos MOM% 12/14 0.4% 0.6% in November
November PPI MOM 12.14% 0.4% 0.6%
November PPI MOM 12.14% -0.6% 0.2%
Business Inv. October MOM 14.12% 0.9% 1.0%
MOM CPI Nov. 1 12.15% 0.2% 0.2%
MOM core CPI 0.0% 15.12% 0.1% in November
12.15% annual CPI 1.2% 1.1% in November
Ind. Prod. MOM% 12/15 0.0% 0.3% in November
Housing Starts, November 12 / 16 000 519 550
Housing Starts MOM 16.12% 6.0% -11.7% in November
Building permits, November 12 / 16 000 552 560
Building Permits MOM 16.12% November 0.9% 1.5%
Philadelphia Fed Index December 16.12 22.5 14.5
LEI MOM 12.17% 0.5% 1.1% in November

China se compromete a cambio de modelo de crecimiento en 2011

China's leaders pledged to change the pattern of growth of the nation in 2011 and also focus on stabilizing prices after an annual meeting in Beijing to establish guidelines for economic policy.

State radio reported on the outcome of the so-called Central Economic Work Conference, attended by President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. The initial accounts did not give any specific goals for growth, inflation or borrowing. The government reiterated its intention to keep the currency stable, Xinhua New Agency said.

China is trying to move from dependence on industry investment and exports to strengthen private consumption and service industries, a move that could also help the global economy. The nation is tightening monetary policy to cool inflation that accelerated to 5.1 percent in November, the fastest pace in 28 months.

"The main concern for next year government will be to contain inflation, stabilizing growth and stimulate consumption," said Lu Zhengwei, an economist with Shanghai-based Industrial Bank Co., before today's announcement.

The conference, said the nation will hold a "prudent" monetary policy and "proactive" fiscal policy, state radio reported, reiterating a statement of the Political Bureau on 3 December. Wen outlined the economic work next year and presented the goals and macro-economic policies, according to the radio report.

Inflation expectations

The country will seek to balance economic growth with stable and relatively fast adjustment of economic structure and management of inflation expectations, the report said.

Central and provincial government officials, heads of state enterprises, economists and academics attending the working conference, which develops policy guidelines for the following year.

"They should give priority to price stability in general," state radio quoted a statement as saying.

The nation's main economic tasks include strengthening macroeconomic controls, to ensure the supply of agricultural products, changing the pattern of growth, improving basic public services, and then "open" and promote global cooperation, as the report.

The government will steadily increase the area of land used for food production and prices of state for the purchase of food producers and agricultural production subsidies, China News.

China raised bank reserve requirements on December 10 as part of effort to overcome the liquidity and cool prices.

Qatar shares rose for the sixth time in seven days

Qatar shares rose for the sixth time in seven days on optimism the government spending on infrastructure will boost economic growth after the country won the right to host the World Cup. Egypt's benchmark advanced [bn: WBTKR = QGTS: QD].

Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. [], a carrier of liquefied natural gas known as Nakilat, rose the most in a week and Doha Bank QSC, the third largest bank in Qatar, won up to 2 percent. QE Index advanced 0.4 percent to 8781.29 at 12:01 am in Doha, went to the highest close since September 2008.
"The positive sentiment after Qatar won the bid for the World Cup is the persistence of the volumes to improve and restore international investors to the market," said Ahmed A. Hadi, CEO of stock brokerage Dlala Brokerage '& Investment Holding Co. in Doha. "The massive infrastructure spending in 2011 is expected to boost the economy."

Qatar, designed by the International Monetary Fund that the fastest growing economy in the world this year, plans to more than double the number of hotel rooms, build new stadiums and renovate three others, and the construction of a railway network and underground for the tournament. Moody's Investors Service estimates that the country will spend about 57 billion U.S. dollars over the next decade for the development of infrastructure related to the World Cup.

Qatar's benchmark index has soared by 7.3 percent since the country won the World Cup in 2022 on 2 December.

The expense of World Cup

About 22 million shares traded in Qatar to date, more than double the 12-month daily average of 8 million dollars.

The country plans to spend $ 4 billion in stadium construction and renovation. With summer temperatures nearly 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit), each facility will be designed with an air conditioning system with solar energy. A new city of 200,000 people called Lusail, north of the capital, is scheduled to be built in the next decade and the stadium will host the World Cup final.

Qatar Gas rose 5.4 percent, the most since Dec. 5 to 21.6 riyals. Doha Bank rose to 62.7 as far as materials, the highest since September 2008, and was quoted at 62 riyals.

ADX Abu Dhabi General Index rose 0.2 percent, while the benchmark stock index in Dubai fell 0.8 percent, the lowest since Dec. 1. Bahrain Share Index fell 0.1 percent, an indicator of Kuwait fell 0.3 percent and Oman MSM30 index fell to less than 0.1 percent. Saudi Arabia's Tadawul All Share Index retreated 0.2 percent.

The TA-25 rose 0.1 percent to 1,299.49. Israel bonds fell, with the yield of 5 percent bonds due in January 2020 Shiklit Mimshal increased 5 basis points to 4.72 percent. It was 4.73 percent on June 15.

Dubai sukuk demonstrations on the review of S & P, Qatar World Cup plans

Dubai Islamic bonds led a rebound in the Persian Gulf sukuk last week, ending the worst losing streak in 10 months, as Standard & Poor's raised its forecast for DP World, Ltd. and Qatar won the right to host the Cup World.

Average yields of Shariah-compliant bonds of the Gulf Cooperation Council declined 13 basis points, or 0.13 percentage point to 5.71 percent on Dec. 10, according to the HSBC / GCC sukuk Dubai NASDAQ Dollar Index . The performance of DP World's note 6.25 percent Notes due July 2017 fell 19 basis points last week to 6.96 percent, data compiled by us. Yields of sukuk sold by Indonesia and Malaysia rose, tracking U.S. Treasuries.

S & P revised the ratings outlook on the fourth largest ports operator in the world to "stable" from "negative" on December 2, citing improved financial performance and debt restructuring at its parent, Dubai World. winning bid for Qatar's perspective is to attract international investment and a rally in oil prices bode well for economic growth in the region, according to Manama Bahrain based Islamic Bank.

"There is a general upturn in the regional risk appetite," said Hussain Albanne, head of operations in Bahrain Islamic bond, in an interview on 09 December. "There is optimism in Qatar victory will create a boom in construction and extend to the Gulf. I still think there is much of value in regional sukuk."

"Risk Factors"

Investors also sought relatively higher yields as the extension of President Barack Obama for U.S. tax cuts increased appetite for riskier assets.

The performance of the Dubai Department of Finance of 6.396 percent bonds due in November 2014 Islamic fell 16 basis points last week to 6.61 percent, the first decline in five weeks.

"There is international interest in buying Dubai names," said Louis Najem, a bond trader sales Rasmala European Investment Bank in Dubai, in an interview on 09 December. "The idea is that more for your money when you consider relevant risk factors."

More money can flow into the Persian Gulf after Qatar, won the bid to host World Cup in 2022 and the Malaysian ringgit back of a hedge fund 13 years of signals can leave the Southeast Asian nation, the time, according to OSK-UOB Unit Trust Management Bhd

"Hot money"

"This is the hot money that was once the bond money and made money from the currency, to go," said Mohd Noor Hj A Rahman, head of fund management unit of Islamic OSK-UOB Unit Trust, in an interview from Kuala Lumpur, 09 December. "The Gulf market is attractive after Qatar won the rights to the World Cup."

State-owned Dubai World agreed in September with most of its creditors to restructure $ 24,900,000,000 of debt. Sales of Shariah-compliant bonds, which pay returns on the asset base to comply with Islam's ban on interest, was reduced this year as the debt restructuring in the Middle East demand for pressing.

global emissions fell 27 percent to $ 14.5 million in 2010 from a year earlier, compared with a record 31 billion dollars sold in 2007. Offerings of the six GCC countries dropped 34 percent to $ 4.4 billion.

Indonesia, Malaysia Drop

The difference between the average yield of sukuk and interbank offered rate in London fell 32 basis points last week to 315, according to HSBC / Index NASDAQ sukuk. In the GCC, including Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait, the gap narrowed by 32 basis points to 389.

Islamic notes returned 11.9 percent this year, according to the HSBC / NASDAQ U.S. Dollar Dubai sukuk index. Bonds in developing markets rose 13 percent, JPMorgan Chase & Co. 's EMBI Global Diversified index shows.

The yield on the note of Malaysia Islamic percent of 3,928 due June 2015 rose 22 basis points last week to 3.14 percent, according to prices provided by Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc. The bonus rate of Indonesia's 8.8 percent due April 2014 rose 18 basis points to 3 percent.

The extra yield investors demand to hold sukuk Dubai government in place in Malaysia fell 36 basis points to 345 last week, at least two months. The difference with DP World's debt fell 39 basis points to 379 and touched the lowest since the Malaysian sukuk sold in early June.

'Superior' Ratings

Malaysia is rated A-by S & P, the fourth lowest investment grade, while Indonesia and DP World both have ratings of BB, two levels below investment grade. Dubai Department of Finance has not been rated by either S & P or Moody's Investors Service.

"Malaysia and Indonesia are considered more superior credit and thus their yields are closely related to U.S. Treasury bonds," Usman Ahmed, a senior fund manager at Emirates NBD Asset Management, which oversees $ 300 million in bonds to drive UAE's largest lender, said in an email response to questions submitted by December 9.

Madoff Trustee Sues Medici Bank ahead of schedule Clawback Today

Liquidate the company administrator Bernard L. Madoff 's investment made more than $ 50 billion in so-called clawback suits to compensate victims of fraud scammer since his arrest two years ago for planning the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history.

Irving Picard, the trustee, filed hundreds of lawsuits against banks, funds, investors and others who allegedly benefited from decades of Madoff fraud. Among the defendants was Mark Madoff, the son, who was found dead yesterday in Manhattan of an apparent suicide.

The deadline for filing claims expired at midnight Picard. So far, it has recovered about $ 2.5 billion. Last week, who claimed the Medici Bank AG and its founder, Sonja Kohn and Bank Austria, UniCredit SpA and dozens of other parties. He is seeking $ 19,600,000,000 of them, which potentially could triple to 58.8 billion U.S. dollars under the influence of the Crime and Corrupt Organizations Act. This is the biggest by Picard.

Kohn, 62, whom Picard Madoff called "soul mate criminal, uses a relationship with the financier that began in 1985 to help build the Vienna-based bank, the feeding of more than $ 9.1 million dollars money from investors in his company, Picard said in a complaint last week in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York.

"The illegal scheme enriched Kohn, family, and dozens of other individuals and entities, including the largest banks in Austria and Italy, at the expense of mass BLMIS and on the backs of victims of Madoff," Picard said in documents the court, referring to Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC.

Increased profitability

In the 153-page complaint against Kohn, Picard said he told investors he was very close Madoff and could provide a higher return on investments made through your company. Instead, Madoff secret payment Kohn, who knew Madoff was running a scam to funnel money into the Ponzi scheme, Picard said.

According to the president, Kohn spent very complex plot focused on the bank of the Medici, parts of which overlap with the company's own fraudulent Madoff, the release of $ 9,100,000,000 on the Ponzi scheme. Were channeled 4 billion U.S. dollars by the total supply of funds including Primea Thema International Fund, Prime Fund Herald Alpha Fund, the Fund senator and Herald (Lux), which put all the money of its investors Madoff, according to Picard.

Shortly before Madoff confessed in December 2008, Kohn retired $ 536,000,000 of the signing of Madoff, Picard said, and took steps to conceal his connection to the money manager.

Bank Austria

Medici Bank operates as a branch of Bank Austria, which manages its accounts, according to Picard. In return, Bank Austria, which is named as a defendant, was paid at least $ 31 million.

2020 Medici Bank changed its name after Austria Medici Financial Markets AG withdrew the banking license of the company, due to insufficient capital in May 2009.

Andreas Theiss, Kohn attorney and the Medici in Vienna, said in an interview that, "Kohn and Medici are victims of Madoff. What is required in the lawsuit has nothing to do with reality."

UniCredit said in an emailed statement on behalf of himself, Bank Austria and its fund management unit of Pioneer Global Asset Management SpA, which is also a defendant, who will fight the lawsuit.

His "lawyers are reviewing the matter and to take care of it through the normal process of legal tender," the bank said in a statement.

The ousted president

The former chief executive of UniCredit, Alessandro Profumo officer, who was expelled from the Italian lender in September, also is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

"The allegations are totally baseless and will defend itself vigorously," said a spokesman for Profumo.

Madoff, 72, who pleaded guilty, is serving 150 years in federal prison in North Carolina.

At the time of his arrest, his statements reflect the accounts of 4900 with $ 65 billion in balances exist. Investors lost about $ 20 billion in capital.

HSBC Holdings Plc was sued this month for $ 9 billion Picard, who denounced Europe's biggest lender fraud allowed Madoff. Picard previously sued JPMorgan Chase & Co. for 6.4 billion U.S. dollars of bank loans in New York, with the complicity of fraud.

Earlier last week, Citigroup Inc. 's Citibank, Bank of America Corp.' s unit of Merrill Lynch and five other banks were sued by the trustee to recover more than $ 1 billion.

ABN Amro

The banks, which include Natixis SA, Fortis Prime Fund Solutions Bank (Ireland) Ltd., ABN Amro Bank NV, Bank Nomura International Plc. and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, received money through feeder funds Madoff when he knew or should have known, that investment was a fraud Madoff, Picard said in a statement at the time.

Picard also sued UBS AG and Tremont Group Holdings Inc., the hedge fund firm owned by Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., on loans that benefited from Madoff. Picard, along with the settlement operations in the United Kingdom Madoff, sued former directors of the unit in a London court seeking at least $ 80 million.

All banks and companies have denied wrongdoing and vowed to fight the claims.

Also last week, one of the first clients of Bernard Madoff, along with 19 family members, potential lawsuits settled by agreeing to forfeit $ 625 million in profits from investment fraud scammer.

Son in Law

Carl Shapiro, a Boston philanthropist, had an account in principle Madoff firm in 1961. His son-in-law, Robert Jaffe, is the former vice president of Cohmad Securities Corp., a power back who share offices with the signing of Madoff.

Picard also sued the owners of the baseball team New York Mets for the return of the profits from their investments in Madoff. Defendants and Picard confirmed that talks are under.

On December 10, Picard said in a statement that Frank sued Michael Avellino and Real, two certified public accountants and members of the family, more than $ 900 million, in search of money to be withdrawn from Madoff firm . Avellino & Real Picard asked "one of the first facilitators" Madoff.

Picard December 10 announced that it had made more than $ 80 million against a group of charities and nonprofit organizations that benefited from its investments in Madoff.

Announced an agreement with Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America Inc., add $ 45 million for distribution to victims of Madoff, Picard said in a statement.

former chief financial officer of Hadassah, Sheryl Weinstein wrote in a book published last year about a romance she had with Madoff.

Australia Introduces Plan to Increase Competition Within Banking Industry

Australia plans to strengthen credit unions and a ban on homeowners facing charges in exchange for mortgage providers, as the government responds to public pressure to reduce the prevalence of the four largest lenders in the country.

The changes are aimed at enhancing competition, maintain the lowest interest rates in time and ensure that "the Australians get a fair go," Treasurer Wayne Swan said in Canberra today.

A new "pillar" is built into the banking system by supporting credit unions and building societies that have lost market share since the financial crisis, Swan said. Australia will scrap exit fees on new mortgage loans in July, giving customers greater flexibility to change lender and expand the powers of the competition regulator of the nation, he said.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corp., National Australia Bank Ltd. and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. control more than 80 percent of domestic loans. Swan, whose government has no majority in parliament, is trying to appease a public outraged by increases in mortgage rates from banks last month that went beyond increasing the central bank's benchmark, even after it reported earnings record.

"The first aspect is to empower consumers to give them the ability to shop around, but also to help smaller lenders to compete with larger banks and to ensure that credit flows to Australian families and Australian businesses "said Swan.

Slow growth

Australia's largest banks are already facing slower loan growth, a worldwide review of banking regulations, capital requirements more onerous and expensive in the markets for debt financing. country's major banks are the "four pillars", after a law to prevent acquisitions among them.

The government said it intends to give the Competition and Consumer Commission the power to act against banks if they send price signals to each other to keep interest rates higher than they would be.

"The ACCC has advised me to believe cases have occurred in banking price signaling," Swan said today. "The only responsible to do is move in this direction and give the ACCC the powers it needs."

Australia A will make a new investment of $ 4 billion (3900 million dollars) to support the market for residential mortgage-backed securities that many of the smaller lenders in the nation based on making loans cheaper, the statement said.

The government also aims to enable all banks, credit unions and building societies to issue bonds to expand access to cheaper funding, more stable, said the treasurer. The government launched a project to amend the banking laws in 2011.

Market power

Swan has to be seen to do something to tackle the four big banks, "said Frank Zumbo, a professor of competition in the Australian School of Business in Sydney. "While credit unions and building societies are an alternative, have a long way to go to gain a foothold in the market power of the big four banks."

Banks accounted for 91 percent of new residential housing loans in September, according the Australian Bureau of Statistics. That's up from 81 percent in the same month three years ago, before the peak of the global financial crisis.

Among them, the four largest banks control almost 90 percent of residential mortgages sold by all banks, and write 83 percent of all loans, according to October data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority .

Commonwealth Bank, Australia's largest bank, urged caution in recommending other changes in regulations. The industry is already competitive, said in a presentation to a Senate investigation into banking competition.

Earnings Assets

CEO Ralph Norris said in the document of 03 December that the size of bank profits was often taken out of context of the total assets needed to achieve that performance.

Westpac, the second largest lender in Australia, last week published his presentation, calling the government to introduce measures to reduce the dependence of the leading banks in offshore funds, which have become more expensive since the financial crisis. The largest banks to blame for price increases cost of mortgages.

Credit unions and building societies say the country needs more competition and have asked the government to introduce policies to help access funding. In a November 30 submission to the Senate inquiry, the Association of Banks and Credit Unions requested the introduction of a flat rate guarantee of debt financing in bulk to smaller lenders.

Dismisses $ 90 OPEC oil price as a "bump" Keep the new production targets

OPEC last week's discount price of $ 90 oil and kept its production targets unchanged yesterday, betting on storage supplies and a fragile global economic recovery will prevent oil from rising.

Supply and demand "balance" and $ 70 to $ 80 is a "good price" for oil, Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said the group's meeting in Quito, Ecuador. OPEC expected demand growth will slow the economy struggles to recover amid ample supplies, according to a statement from the group.

"The subject looked at was whether $ 90 is a blip or a trend," said Bill Farren-Price, founder of oil consultancy Intelligence Policy, based in Winchester, UK "They have taken the view that there exceptional factors such as the cold wave, a weak dollar, is not maintained in the new year. "

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has kept the production limits of 24.845 million barrels per day since December 2008 when it announced the largest reduction in production quotas increasing demand collapsed and prices plummeted the onset of global recession. Oil fell more than $ 100 in the second half of 2008 to $ 32.40 a barrel.

Oil prices rose to the highest level since October 2008 last week in cold weather forecasts for the U.S. and Europe and the U.S. speculation may extend the stimulus, causing the dollar to weaken. A falling dollar increases the appeal of commodities as an alternative investment.

Oil Price

Crude futures fell 58 cents on 10 December to $ 87.79 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the lowest close since Dec. 1. The contract touched $ 90.76 on 7 December. Futures fell 1.6 percent last week, while they have increased 24 percent from a year ago.

"The market is better than before, but not good because the rate of global GDP growth is low," said Iranian Oil Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development lowered its 2011 global growth forecast last month to 4.2 percent from 4.5 percent in May, predicting a "soft spot" as the stimulus spending fades before investment drives a 2012 revival.

"Right now the market is very convenient for consumers," said OPEC Secretary General Abdulla El-Badri. There is "plenty of oil" in the market, OPEC will take steps to increase production to levels decline. Compliance with the quota is about 60 percent, he said.

OPEC supply

OPEC has 6 million to 7 million bpd of spare capacity, El-Badri said. OPEC supplies about 40 percent of the world's oil.

The International Energy Agency said on 10 December that the world oil supply rose by 400,000 bpd to 88.1 million bpd in November, its highest level in history, largely on increased non-production OPEC. World production has grown by 1.6 million barrels a day over the previous year. Half of this comes from non-OPEC producers, the Paris-based group said in its monthly oil market.

"The market is well supplied and does not require a price of more than $ 90 a barrel," said Edward Morse, director of commodity research at Credit Suisse Group AG in New York, in an interview.

Global growth in demand for oil is projected to slow to 1.6 percent in 2011 from 2.8 percent this year, according to the IEA.

2011 Demand

The "increase in average annual oil demand in 2011 is likely to be lower than in 2010, according to the statement of OPEC. Accompanied by lower demand "challenging risks for the fragile global economic recovery, including the negative effects of possible conflicts currency and banking crisis fears of a second in Europe, all of which have a negative impact on oil demand."

Europe to the debt crisis has led to bailouts of Greece and Ireland this year and EU leaders are discussing plans for a permanent financial support. The European Central Bank has increased the purchase of bonds of the most indebted countries in the region to avoid loss of market goes.

Oil prices rise to $ 100 per barrel next year, a "fair" price for producers and consumers to offset the weak dollar, Venezuelan Energy and Petroleum Rafael Ramirez said. Prices "are recovering, the economy is showing a slow but steady recovery we must reach these levels at some point next year."

12 members of OPEC are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Venezuela. Iraq is exempt from the quota system. The next meeting is in June at the OPEC headquarters in Vienna.

"If they start producing more, that implicitly or explicitly start sending a signal to the market who want to slow down the prices," said Mike Wittner, head of oil market research at Societe Generale SA in New York. "They seem to have enough oil inventories remain high and crude inventories in the U.S. in particular are still quite broad."

Climate talks back $ 100 billion Relief Fund

Sent to the United Nations talks agreed on a package to limit global warming by protecting forests, advice on the adaptation of the nations at higher temperatures and the opening of a 100 billion U.S. dollars climate Green Fund.

The group representing 193 nations aside the differences between rich and poor nations over how to limit emissions of greenhouse gases after 2012, when the restrictions in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol expires. This issue may muddy the talks next year.

"There is still a long road ahead, a difficult journey," said Connie Hedegaard, the European Commission envoy at the talks in Cancun, Mexico, in an interview. "But we've shown in recent days that compromise is possible. That's the kind of spirit we need."

Cancun Agreements help heal a rift that led to the collapse of negotiations last year in Copenhagen, where 144 nations led by the U.S. and China were separated from the rest of the group to register for voluntary measures to limit pollution from fossil fuels. Bolivia, which was among the six countries that blocked an agreement in 2009, opposed the program this year.

"It's a pretty good balance," said Jennifer Morgan, director of climate and energy program at the Washington-based World Resources Institute. "We've got all the big emerging economies in a fragile UN agreement."

U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, described the agreement as "a significant step forward and balanced."

Elements of the package

Offers on the text of the UN, delegates received with cheers and standing ovations from many, including:

- A "Green Climate Fund" that would manage a "significant proportion" of the $ 100 million pledged last year in helping the climate of the richest to the poorest countries. The World Bank was invited to manage the fund.

- A mechanism of technology was created to help developing countries take advantage of low-carbon products, such as wind turbines, solar panels and energy saving devices. Other market mechanisms will be discussed at next year's conference in Durban, South Africa.

- A forest plan known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, or REDD. It would fund projects in developing countries use plants to absorb carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas. A mention of the use of carbon markets in the program was removed from the agreement.

- A "Cancun Adaptation Framework" to help assess the needs of most vulnerable nations adapt to the effects of high temperatures, such as rising sea levels, increased droughts and melting glaciers.

- A packet of information about how to monitor, report and verify emissions reductions for developed countries and climate protection measures taken by the poorest, or MRV in the jargon of the UN.

"Very substantive"

"These projects represent a real and substantive progress well," said Patricia Espinosa, Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs who is leading the talks, the delegates, who received a standing ovation for their efforts.

The text did not pose more stringent emissions targets of any nation, referring instead to the figures published in late for the pieces of the industrialized and developing countries.

The lack of an extension or replacement for the Kyoto treaty may increase the cost of combating climate change, said David Hone, president of the International Emissions Trading Association, a lobbying group based in Geneva,

"No international cohesion makes it more difficult for a response approach based on the market for development," said Whetstone, also Royal Dutch Shell Plc climate advisor. "Ultimately, it leads to a higher cost solution for everyone," he said in a telephone interview from London.

Kyoto differences

The dispute about how to replace or extend the Kyoto crashed two weeks of talks and nearly derailed them. China, India, Brazil and South Africa pressed the industrialized nations to accept new restrictions on fossil fuel emissions once the Kyoto finishes. Japan, Canada and Russia refused, saying the agreement excludes the world's two biggest polluters, the U.S. and China.

"Negotiations are not completely fulfilled," said the head of the delegation of China, Xie Zhenhua delegates at the conference. "The negotiations in the future will remain difficult."

compromise text, which keeps alive the possibility of extending Kyoto without making any country to make new promises. The UN document said countries move as soon as possible to ensure there is no difference between the period of the Kyoto treaty, the first commitment expires in 2012 and the next round of cuts. It suggests "further work will need to make.

Confidence in the Process

"They seem to have solved the riddle of Kyoto," said Tim Gore, policy adviser at Oxfam. "They seem to have a system that will give enough confidence to developing countries to the Kyoto Protocol going forward."

The document notes that developed countries should reduce their combined emissions in the range of 25 to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. That compares with a target of 5.2 percent of 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012 in Kyoto.

"This is a good role, and a good basis for moving forward," said Kuni Shimada, the Japanese envoy, in an interview, praising the work of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico.

The UN text suggests that the world continues to gain in temperature below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and consider the possibility of making the promise of 1.5 degrees. Current commitments to reduce emissions could lead to higher temperatures of up to 5 degrees by the year 2100, the United Nations Environment Programme said 23 November.

"I'm very disappointed, because we are playing around the edges," said Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana, in an interview on 9 December. "The positions are diluted. The greenhouse gases are pumped into the atmosphere."

Copenhagen Close

Last year, Bolivia joined Venezuela, Sudan, Cuba, Nicaragua and Tuvalu to block the Copenhagen agreement, an agreement negotiated by about 30 leaders, including U.S. Barack Obama President and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China, if adopted as the official text of the United Nations. Developing countries feel frustrated that the industrialized countries are reducing emissions.

This year Bolivia also said he would not join the consensus. The chair of the meeting ignored the objections and approved the text, taking note of the concerns of Bolivia.

"Bolivia is not ready to sign a document that puts more lives near death," said Pablo Solon, ambassador of the nation at the talks, delegates at the meeting this morning.

The U.S., which has not ratified Kyoto, sat on the sidelines of the debate about extending the treaty. Prefer a new system to limit emissions that requires rapid growth as China and India to join. Todd Stern, head of U.S. delegation in Cancun, said the package was "balance."

A failure in Cancun have led to a loss of confidence in the UN-led effort to curb global warming. And the dispute over how they will replace the Kyoto pact is also threatening the process.

"Kyoto is the central axis," said Alden Meyer, who has attended the UN talks for the United States-based Union of Concerned Scientists for more than a decade, in an interview. "If the message out there is that Kyoto is dead or on life support with no possibility of resuscitation, then developing countries to block anything in the future that the U.S. needs a new treaty."

Final Build America Muni could raise costs to $ 29.6 billion

U.S. issuers municipal debt can pay an extra $ 14.8 billion to $ 29,600,000,000 in interest on bonds sold in 2011 if the Build America program ends, said California, Bill Lockyer, Treasurer.

Securities sold next year to pay an extra 50 - 100 - penalty points on their mandate, Lockyer said in a statement today.