Menu

Nearly 13 million Americans aged 18 or older who are on social networking sites will accept any social media connection request from a member of the opposite sex, regardless of whether or not they know that person, according to a recent survey. The survey of 1,011 U.S. adults, of whom 387 have joined an online social networking site, conducted via telephone by Harris Interactive® on behalf of ID Analytics last month, also found that men on social networking sites are more than twice as likely as women to accept any and all invites from someone of the opposite sex (18 percent compared to seven percent for women).

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for Germany increased 0.4 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) increased 0.4 percent in January.

With signs of a strengthening U.S. economy evident in declining initial jobless claims, rising business and consumer confidence, and growing employment figures, the PwC Real Estate Barometer, a new feature in the just-released first quarter 2011 PwC Real Estate Investor Survey, indicates that the fundamentals of the commercial real estate industry are slowly improving and supports the consensus among surveyed investors that the industry is moving past the bottom of the cycle.

With analysts speculating that checking fees may soar, consumers face big decisions ahead. This month's Financial Security Index, released by Bankrate Inc., shows that nearly two-thirds of Americans say they would bolt over increased bank fees.

In January 2011 the seasonally adjusted current account of the euro area recorded a deficit of EUR 0.7 billion. In the financial account, combined direct and portfolio investment recorded net outflows of EUR 7 billion (non-seasonally adjusted).

In January 2011, the amount outstanding of shares/units issued by euro area investment funds other than money market funds was EUR 10 billion lower than in December 2010. This decrease was due to a decline in share/unit prices, which was partly offset by net issues of shares/units.

Fitch Ratings says that the safety issues around the Japanese nuclear plants affected by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami will result in additional scrutiny of new nuclear plant proposals in the EMEA region. Furthermore, negative public perceptions of the industry will also likely influence public policy across EMEA on existing nuclear operations and the permitting of new plants that are currently under review for approval. As a result, Fitch believes these developments may adversely affect the future credit profiles of nuclear plant sponsors and technology providers.

The first estimate for the euro area (EA17) trade balance with the rest of the world in January 2011 gave a 14.8 bn euro deficit, compared with -9.7 bn in January 2010. The December 2010 balance was -0.5 bn, compared with +3.2 bn in December 2009. In January 2011 compared with December 2010, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 3.6% and imports by 5.3%.

The latest Harris Poll finds that President Obama's positive job rating has slipped for the second month running. In January he recorded his best rating (44%) since 2009, but it edged downwards to 42% in February and 39% now. The public's rating of Congress has also slumped, with fully 90% of all adults now giving it a negative rating, compared to 86% in February and 84% in January.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for France increased 0.9 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) increased 0.1 percent in January.