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British Retail Consortium yesterday released the results of a survey of retail sales in the State of Queen Elizabeth in March and the fastest increase in a year. The increase was triggered by increased household spending during the Easter holidays.

The survey confirmed reports several British retailers such as Debenhams which yesterday reported that the company recorded a revenue increase of 8.4 percent to 1.42 billion pounds until last March. “Consumers have more money in their pockets compared to two years ago,” said chief executive Rob Templeman Debenhams in London, as quoted from the AFP on Tuesday (13/4/2010).

French statistics office INSEE announced the French inflation rate in March reached 1.6 percent as crude oil prices. One indicator that consumer price inflation increased 0.5 percent compared to February. While the annual consumer price Affairs Fashion in March 2009 rose 1.6 percent.

“The strengthening of prices in March triggered by rising production costs of manufactured goods  with high oil prices,” said INSEE, have copy  from AFP on Tuesday (13/4/2010).

Crude Palm Oil Board, Malaysia (MPOD) declared stocks of palm oil crude palm oil (CPO) in March fell 7.5 percent to 1.65 million tons. This is the lowest level during the last six months, or since September 2009.

“We may see an increase in stocks in April. Exports will remain stagnant and tend to be low because demand is low and the El Nino phenomenon had no impact as bad as we thought,” said a trader in Kuala Lumpur, as quoted from Reuters, Monday (12 / 4 / 2010).

Rate of decline in the stock began to weaken with increasing CPO production in Sabah and Johor.

Shares in the United States (U.S.) on Monday listed crept higher ahead of the unofficial reports of seasonal revenues. Closing the Dow Jones Industrial Average was observed directly above 11,000 for the first time in 18 months. Seed stocks (blue chip) Dow Jones rose 8.62 points, or 0.08 percent to 11,005.97 position.

Quoted by the AFP on Tuesday (13/4/2010), the last time the Dow Jones was at the upper limit of 11,000 level on 26 September 2008, the day after the collapse of Wall Street investment bank, Lehman Brothers, which triggered the global financial crisis. Meanwhile on Friday last week, the Dow Jones nearing the level of 11,000 for the first time since 29 September 2008. The ..read more

Greece may use a safety net of the European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) if necessary. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said this during an interview with Vima, Greece newspaper.

“The question remains on whether this mechanism could ensure the market as a pistol on the table. This is the mechanism that already exists and can be used, “Papandreou said as quoted by AFP Sunday (11/4/2010).

Minister for Euro-zone finance ministers, European Central Bank (ECB) and European Commission will soon issue a proclamation use of this mechanism. The announcement is expected to be issued before the Greek Government Bond auctions conducted 8-12 month period valued at 1.2 billion euros.

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned the public debt the developed countries will increase significantly. This fact will be a major challenge for developed countries.

“This increase will be a major challenge for countries to reduce debt to below the level before the crisis. This should be done immediately so that there is enough space to anticipate future crisis, “Strauss-Kahn said in a conference at Cambridge University told Reuters on Sunday (11.4.2010).

He estimates the developed world debt will rise 35% or 110% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014. “So for one to two decades, the focus should be to reduce public debt financing than increasing spending or cutting taxes,” he explained.