News: 2014-04-04

“”We will review the probability of government support for European banks by end-April … we will probably just change outlooks (to negative) on the ratings,” said Arnaud de Toytot, a managing director at Standard and Poor’s told reporters on Thursday, meaning that the rating could be changed in one to two years following the move.”

ECB president takes swipe at IMF over policy recommendations | Business | theguardian.com

“”The IMF has been of recent extremely generous in its suggestions on what we should do or not do, and we are really thankful for that,” Draghi told a news conference after the ECB’s monthly policy meeting. “Frankly, I would like the IMF to be as generous as they have been towards us also with other monetary policy jurisdictions, like for example issuing statements just the day before a (US Federal Reserve) meeting would take place,” he said.”

What ‘Mr Grexit’ Did Next – MoneyBeat – WSJ

Gazprom hikes gas price for Ukraine to $485 per 1,000 cubic metres | Reuters

FRB: Press Release–Jeremy C. Stein submits resignation as a member of the Board of Governors, effective May 28, 2014–April 3, 2014

BMO open to Bitcoin if virtual currency is regulated, reliable, says CEO Bill Downe | Financial Post

Calculated Risk: ISM Non-Manufacturing Index increases to 53.1 in March

GTA house prices hit new record in March | Toronto Star

The 86 richest Canadians have amassed as much wealth as the country’s poorest 11.4 million: study | Financial Post

Philip Pilkington: Misdirection – Galbraith on Thomas Piketty’s New Book on Capital | naked capitalism

Global banks issue alerts on China carry trade as Fed tightens and yuan falls – Telegraph

Nigella Lawson barred from boarding US-bound flight – Telegraph