BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink has said that economic growth in Europe has been “locked up” since the financial crisis because the trading block’s capital markets are underdeveloped.
Fink told Frankfurt’s Deutsche Börse that the economy had been held back by “excessive reliance” on banks and insurers for investment.
“In the years since the crisis, much of Europe’s economic potential has been locked up. Strengthening capital markets and retirement systems can help unlock that potential, and doing so will be vital to Europe’s economic future,” the Financial Times quotes Fink as saying.
Bank lending accounts for around 70 per cent of funding to European companies, while Fink said that varying insolvency laws across the EU made bond markets more complicated.
He said: “The lack of a unified European corporate bond market raises costs for companies, deters investors and holds down liquidity.”
However, Fink warned against stifling the ability of insurers to lend too soon before capital markets had matured through regulations such as Solvency II.
“While a long-term objective is greater funding from capital markets, limiting insurance companies’ capacity for investment before capital markets are fully developed could significantly damage growth.”
The Government has proposed allowing the Prudential Regulation Authority to approve liabilities insurers feel are less exposed to market volatility and so require less capital to be held against them. Introduced as part of Solvency II, the “volatility adjustment” mechanism is intended to reduce the capital required to be held against those liabilities that are […]
Pressure is mounting on the European Commission to abandon “reckless” Solvency II-style proposals for pensions which could cost UK defined benefit schemes £450bn. The Commission is considering raising the level of capital DB scheme sponsors are required to hold in reserve in an attempt to protect members’ savings. The European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority, […]
Wifi Map is a free app to help users find free wifi anywhere in the world. It shows the locations where free wifi is offered on a map, together with the password for the hotspot.
It incorporates a speed test so the user can understand how fast the wifi hotspot connection will be. It can even work offline so the user can obtain wifi passwords without a network connection, otherwise you could be stuck knowing where the hotspot is but unable to get the password.
A free version is available for iOS and Android, as well as a premium version available for £4.99 which provides details of wifi hotspots in more remote areas across the globe.
The app works like a social network, where members can share passwords for hotspots they know and it has a really nice feature which will update the passwords for hotspots near your location so you can be confident you have the latest credentials. I am going to be using this a lot.
Regulator will take a different view of firms that have “deliberately flouted” the EU directive The FCA will not take enforcement action against firms that do not meet all Mifid II requirements by the day it comes into force where they can show they have taken steps to comply with the regulation. In a speech […]
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nationwide, watering your lawn or garden is estimated to account for almost one-third of all residential water use, totaling more than 7 billion gallons per day. Lawn watering experts estimate that up to 50 percent of water used for lawn and garden watering may be lost due to over-watering, evaporation, or bad irrigation system design/maintenance.
Install drip irrigation systems around your shrubs, hanging baskets, and flower and vegetable gardens. Delivering water right to the plant roots is the most efficient way to conserve. Drip irrigation uses up to 70% less water than conventional sprinklers.
Install a home irrigation system. Watering efficiently, and only when your plants and lawn need it, can save a great deal of water.
If you already have a home irrigation system, make sure you’re getting the most out of your timer. New technology makes it easier than ever to program and monitor your watering needs. Consider upgrading your timer and check with your local water agency to identify systems that offer water-saving technology. Automatic, programmable timers save more water than mechanical models.
If your irrigation system is more than five years old, consider upgrading. Outdated and poorly designed systems can waste water, or miss important areas in your landscape.
Make sure your irrigation system has a rain sensor that shuts off the watering program when it rains.
Don’t fertilize during hot, dry weather – applying fertilizer can enhance drought problems. When you do feed your lawn and garden use a slow release fertilizer.
Make sure you’re watering early in the morning to reduce evaporation. (Before 6:00am is best if your city regulations allow.)
Recycle your grass clippings back into your lawn by using a mulching mower. You’ll not only conserve water, but you’ll save time while mowing.
Choose drought tolerant plants for your landscaping. Picking plants that are native to your climate can reduce watering needs.
Put a layer of mulch around your plants to retain moisture. A generous amount of 3 to 5 inches is best.
Monmouth Vinyl began operations in January of 1990, out of the family aluminum siding business which dated back to 1974, founded by Mr. Steven LaPietra. The backbone of the company has always been siding, but we have also been installing roofing, windows and doors for over 40 years. As the exterior remodeling industry evolved, so did we. Other services were added, always with top of the line products as our feature. We now offer professional installation of Azek & TimberTech decks, a variety of stone veneers, and our exclusive RainPro gutter and leader system. We continue to grow as the industry does, and our latest service addition is Metal Roofing products from Englert and Atas.
Steve LaPietra is a lifelong local, growing up in the Wanamassa section of Ocean Twp. He attended the Engineering school at Dayton University, then returned to Monmouth county and started his own business at 20 years old. He started with aluminum siding and eventually grew the business to offer a full line of exterior renovation services. He moved to Howell, where the company’s home office has been located since 1990. In Steve’s own words: “I always tell my customers to do their research when they’re choosing a home improvement company to do work on their home. It’s important to compare the quality of materials used in installations and observe the company’s installation process. Also make sure to find a company with a good reputation. Think of your home as an investment. Don’t forget that you get what you pay for.”
Joe LaPietra, Steve’s son, has been involved in the business since his early teens. He worked for the company throughout and after high school, up until he enlisted in the US Army as an infantryman. After his service he returned home and picked up where he left off. He has years of experience at the installation end, and studied Business Management at Brookdale while he was doing so. He now runs the jobsite operations, as well as performing other management duties. He was born and raised in Howell and currently resides in Manasquan. Joe’s younger brother, Jack, is also involved in the business and is currently in the field as an installer.