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The credit crunch has been caused by a couple of factors, but this doesn't invalidate capitalism as a model. In fact, the dramatic failure of socialist systems such as the USSR would point to socialism being an invalid model to build an economy on. Not capitalism, but our current way of doing capit...

Perhaps they were playing Frogger?

Sydney harbour is fantastic. For such a busy harbour its relatively clean, and the surrounds are beautiful. Taronga Zoo is the best zoo in the world that I have seen. The bird show is literally undescribably good. Caving was amazing. Apparently caves stay at the average temperature of the country a...

I usually go to Oz by Singapore Airlines or BA/Qantas and have found BA compares rather unfavourably to SQ in the standard of facilities (they had VOD four years ago - BA only rolled it out last year) and service it offers in economy. The cuzzas you get on the Singaporean carrier are also heaps bett...

To rather less glibly address KayBee's question, the FSA would not investigate short selling practices undertaken prior to the prohibition per se (as these were perfectly legal), only short positions taken where there is suspicion of associated market manipulation. Additionally, even in a hypothetic...

Frankly, if they can let the deal go through despite the flagrant disregard for UK competition law it has prompted, there's no way they'll unwind it for any other reason. Also, on a truly low point for Sinner-related pedantry for which I humbly apologise, there is no such thing as a 'merger' under U...

Quoting Frank from 00:00, 16th Sep 2008 Still, thank to the mild explanations of things as it stands. I think I'm almost ready to start reading about it in a little more detail. Any well known/recommended and free 'teach yourself economics' sites? [hr] "There is only ever one truth. Things are alwa...

Quoting humphrey from 11:57, 16th Sep 2008 Quoting gealle from 19:21, 15th Sep 2008 Trust me... The financial sector has been far less concerned with Lehman Brothers today and FAR MORE concerned with AIG. Not looking good for AIG at the moment. Its credit rating is FUBAR. http://money.cnn.com/2008/...

Quoting James01 from 22:23, 15th Sep 2008 Hey, I was thinking about this a lot today. Do you think that the current financial climate will cause banks like HBOS to pull the credit they currently extend to us poor students in the form of overdrafts? My untutored guess is that this would be doubtful,...

Quoting theshadowhost from 16:26, 15th Sep 2008 well i am just glad that i am a student, and as long as my loan doesnt get recalled or my funding gets pulled i am happy ! i guess the advice is try to borrow as little as you can and be happy house prices will be cheap when you graduate ? -- that's w...

I'm a happy amateur at this lark too but I am given to believe that this high level business analysis of the CDO market begins to explain why everything is heading south: http://docs.google.com/TeamPresent?docid=ddp4zq7n_0cdjsr4fn&skipauth=true This situation is exacerbated by the banks' exposur...

Sorry for banging on about this. HBOS down 34pct, FTSE down 5.22pct so far today (if trading were to close now it would be the largest fall since Sept 11). 5000 threshold could be tested in the next couple of days. New York opening in 2 hours with the dollar sliding back again and Ike probably boost...

Anyone else transfixed with the ticker this morning? Seems to have stabilised for the moment down 180-200 points, though it could go into proper free fall when New York starts trading. Lehman Bros filing for Ch. 11, Merrills snapped up, AIG teetering on the edge and yet all my workmates seem to want...

Seeing as it's the noughties equivalent of the JFK/Princess Di moments, where were you when you found out about the attacks? I was on Easter Island. Thanks to my tenuous grasp of the Spanish language, I was under the impression that a bomb had gone off in the United Airlines offices at the top of th...

Rog is looking a bit useful at the moment, isn't he?

Come on Andy!

Quoting October from 14:32, 8th Sep 2008

Quoting bdw from 11:08, 8th Sep 2008
Hate to be pedantic but this is the sinner after all. He hasn't really outclassed Rusedski yet - Rusedski also reached the US Open final ('98)

I thought it was the US Open in 97.

Oh bugger.

Hate to be pedantic but this is the sinner after all. He hasn't really outclassed Rusedski yet - Rusedski also reached the US Open final ('98) before being well beaten by Pat Rafter. In terms of world rankings, Murray will be no. 4 after this tournament, which is equal to the highest ranking attaine...

Love that this is turning into the Dickensian equivalent of the Firefox or Google Browser threads.

The Raisin Featherie and Ferkin Kate's Bar and Public House?

'You've read Karl Marx
And you've taught yourself to dance'

magic.