http://fundscons.com News and Opinions Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:40:05 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en An unprecedented outflow of New Zealand citizens last year for jobs and better pay in Australia is leaving the nation http://fundscons.com/record-exodus-to-australia-risks-nz-labor-shortage-bloomberg/ Despite bipartisan support on Capitol Hill for extending a temporary payroll tax cut for the rest of 2012, lawmakers have yet to close the deal.The reason? Same ol', same ol'.With just 28 days left before the current two-month Band-Aid version expires, the sticking point for lawmakers is how ... http://fundscons.com/payroll-tax-holiday-running-down/ Manufacturing probably grew at a faster pace in January, a sign the industry will lead the U.S. expansion early this year, economists said before today http://fundscons.com/manufacturing-in-us-probably-expanded-at-a-faster-pace-bloomberg/ Reinsurance Group of America reported a lower profit for the fourth quarter, recording net income of $158.5 million, or $2.15 per share, compared with $196.7 million, or $2.62 per share, in the corresponding period a year earlier. Quarterly premiums rose 13 percent, to $2 billion. For all of 2011, the company earned $599.6 ... http://fundscons.com/reinsurance-group-reports-lower-quarterly-profit/ U.S. economic growth may not top 2 percent this year and a third round of quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve would have little effect, said Martin Feldstein, a professor of economics at Harvard University. http://fundscons.com/harvards-feldstein-sees-slow-growth-while-doubting-effects-of-fed-easing-bloomberg/ An accounting change boosted Ford's fourth-quarter net income, but without the gain the company fell short of Wall Street's expectations. Weak sales in Europe and lower production in Thailand eroded Ford's profits. Investors punished the stock in pre-market trading, where shares fell nearly 5 percent to $12.14. Ford earned $13.6 ... http://fundscons.com/ford-posts-big-profits-but-misses-wall-street/ A government watchdog says U.S. taxpayers are still owed $132.9 billion that companies haven't repaid from the financial bailout, and some of that will never be recovered. The bailout launched at the height of the financial crisis in September 2008 will continue to exist for years, says a report issued ... http://fundscons.com/taxpayers-still-owed-1329b-from-bailout-report/ Ever since oil was discovered in the North Sea off the British coast in December 1969, the Scottish National Party claimed it for Scotland. Now in power and closer than ever to a referendum on whether to break from the U.K. after more than 300 years, the SNP ... http://fundscons.com/scots-independence-cost-may-beat-oil-cash-nationalists-seek-bloomberg/ Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh left his battered nation Sunday on his way to the U.S. for medical treatment after passing power to his deputy and asking for forgiveness for any "shortcomings" during his 33-year rein. But in a sign that Saleh's role as Yemen's top power broker is likely ... http://fundscons.com/yemens-president-leaves-for-us-hands-over-power/ A U.S. official has urged Romanians to avoid the violence that has tarred a week of anti-government protests that have swept the country, injuring more than 60. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in comments broadcast Friday by Romanian media that Washington supported people's right to protest and express ... http://fundscons.com/us-urges-romanians-to-protest-peacefully/