Good morning. I knew that Germany was ageing, but that France was not is new to me…

(source: http://www.businessinsider.com/france-to-become-bigger-than-germany-2012-10)

 

…and related to that (from May this year), the 2012 Ageing Report, which gives a lot of interesting data on ageing and pension costs for Europe…

·         http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/european_economy/2012/pdf/ee-2012-2_en.pdf

 

News conveniently ignored by the financial markets yesterday: Spanish bad loans rise…

·         http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/18/us-spain-banks-loans-idUSBRE89H0AS20121018

 

A tax to kill High Frequency Trading. That will teach them!

·         http://www.forbes.com/sites/leesheppard/2012/10/16/a-tax-to-kill-high-frequency-trading/

·         http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2012/10/its-time-for-a-tax-to-kill-high-frequency-trading.html

 

Interesting chart showing that gold has not behaved as a safe haven asset, but much more like a risk-on trade lately

·         http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-gold-correlations-2012-10

 

Goldman quantifies the impact of the housing sector for the total economy

·         http://ftalphaville.ft.com/2012/10/18/1219081/goldman-on-housing-and-the-consumer/

 

Yuan strengthens, while capital has been leaving China: how is that possible??

·         http://ftalphaville.ft.com/2012/10/18/1217881/of-china-the-yuan-inequality-and-the-euro/

 

I am not sure whether this is either shocking or interesting, or just business as normal in a downturn…

·         http://www.businessinsider.com/new-home-supply-outpacing-demand-2012-10

 

Nice on: the Damaged Banknote Policy of the Reserve Bank of Australia. (via alphaville)

·         http://banknotes.rba.gov.au/damagedbanknotes.html

 

A complete overview of all previous editions of Best of the Web can be found here http://tinyurl.com/yb9e5dg. All links provided are collected from public websites, unless otherwise specified. I have not checked the data or information for accuracy used, and therefore do not guarantee that all data provided will be 100% correct. The links provided do not necessarily reflect my personal opinion and should be seen as general interest: oftentimes I do not agree with arguments presented, but nevertheless think it is worthwhile to read them. It is up to the reader to make up their own mind. Suggestions or discussions are more than welcome. Do not quote unless specifically cleared beforehand!