BusinessWeek selected the most ridiculous financial predictions for 2008, from accurate to the contrary

Virtually all of the most influential American experts and analysts were mistaken in their forecasts for the outgoing year. But some predictions about the situation in the economy of 2008 proved to be false simply phenomenal, said with reference to magazine BusinessWeek.

Here's how to look like Top-10:

1. "We are waiting for very strong and long-time recovery market, - said March 27, the influential editor of business publications Profitable Investing Letter Richard Bend. - But to start, maybe need another couple of days. Recommend that all investors hold their positions and not lose faith !. " At the time of the predictions of Dow Jones index stood at 12300 points. By the end of December, he slipped to 8500.

2. Insurance company AIG could announce record earnings in the second quarter, as announced May 9, the analyst company Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Bizhan Moazami. In the second quarter the company announced a loss of 5 billion dollars in the next another 25 billion dollars. Shares of AIG in fact lost almost all their value over the past year, and the government has already uploaded to save the giant 150 billion dollars.

3. "I think that the risk to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae greatly exaggerated - expressed their views July 14, the head of the Committee on Financial Operations of the U.S. Congress Barney Frank. - Before them is not worth the threat of falling ... I think they are in good shape, and will move forward. " Two months later the Government had in tow the two mortgage agencies, investing in each of 100 billion dollars.

4. "The market is on track " - issued its regular pearl U.S. President George W. Bush on 14 March. All subsequent time, the market continued to and and ...

5. "No, no and no again! Assure you that the bank Bear Stearns was not threatened, he has a true case well", - said March 11, an economic analyst Jim Cramer TV channel CNBC. Exactly five days JPMorgan Chase through the White House acceded to a bank Bear Stearns, erasing the value of its shares to almost zero.

6. "In 2008, sales of homes will grow" - read the title of a press release the National Association of Realtors in December 2007. 23 Dec, 2008 Association noted that the November sales fell by 11% on last year's, which has the worst rate since the Great Depression.

7. "You will see that the price per barrel of oil by the end of the year at 150 dollars" - predicted in July, the American oil billionaire Thomas Boone Pikens. Today, oil traded at 36 dollars.

8. "I think some of bankruptcy would be ... But I do not think they will affect international banking assets, which constitute a significant part of our banking system" - said the head of U.S. Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke in February 2008. In September largest in the history of U.S. financial institution - the bank Washington Mutual. In November, the majority of state still needed the bank Citigroup.

9. "In today's level of financial regulation, violate the rules practically impossible", - said in October 2007 financier Bernard Medoff, who is accused of establishing a financial pyramid.

10. "Impossible Candidate: What we took Barack Obama and why he will not be able to win" - under that name in late 2007 book conservative American author Shelby Steel.

He died a young man with stab wounds after allegedly stabbing his wife

A young 26-year-old has been found dead at his home in La Linea de la Concepcion (Cadiz) with multiple stab wounds, after he allegedly stabbing his wife about 20 years old, who remains in serious condition at the hospital in the town of Campo de Gibraltar.

Police open investigation to clarify the circumstances in which the incident occurred, but preliminary data suggest that there may be a case of macho violence, while sources close to the family have stated that the couple could have committed suicide after "attacking his partner."

Sources from the City of La Linea have indicated that the incident occurred at 06:00 am on Saturday, when National Police officers went to an apartment in the neighborhood of Mirasierra and found the corpse of the young man, whose identity has not transpired.

Residents have been assured that the deceased was a habitual drug addict and who came to his home at dawn "very stoned", after which allegedly began assaulting his partner.

His wife is serious

National police found the couple dead on the floor, while her partner, also with multiple stab wounds, fled to the home of relatives. The couple had a child of 15 months, who was on the floor during the attack.

The couple was taken to hospital emergency department of the SAS Line with "a knife wound in the abdomen and two in the chest," while sources close to the family consulted also argue that numerous injuries in the head. He remains hospitalized in serious condition, but stable.

The court has decreed guard the secrecy of judicial investigations and researches the causes and details of this case that has shocked this neighborhood Linens, better known as The Palomeras, one of the most depressed areas socially and economically from the city.

Turkey elects parliament. The deputies will be able to appoint the election of the President

The MPs, who now elect the parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan will have the power to appoint a presidential election. That is why they were crucial to the republic, which launched a legal framework and constitutional reform news agency.

On the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov in September adopted a new version of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, has increased the powers of parliament in October approved a new law on election of deputies of the Majlis.

Nearly 3 million Turkmen citizens eligible to vote (population - 6, 7 million) will come to polling stations to elect 125 deputies out of 288 registered candidates. All of them - the only representatives of the country's Democratic Party, headed by President Berdymuhamedov, and a nationwide movement Galkynysh "(Rebirth).

It consists of youth organizations, trade unions, war veterans and labor and the Women's Union of Turkmenistan. Incidentally, the same movement is itself the Democratic Party.

The upcoming elections are already known as historic. For the first time Book this Central Asian country on its own volition has invited foreign observers. With this initiative was made by the incumbent president. When his predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov - Turkmenbashi - this was not even .

Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov came to power as a result of the country's first alternative presidential elections, declared the course of profound reforms in the economy and society, which was named "State to humans." One manifestation of this policy was the opening of the country for a broad international communication and democratization.

The first full-scale foreign observer mission for the Election became delegation from the CIS, which includes more than 40 representatives from almost all countries of the Commonwealth. It is chaired by Chairman of the CIS Sergey Lebedev. My conclusions are read to the press conference in Ashgabat on the morning of 15 December.

In Ashgabat profits and representatives of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). They have also been accredited by the electoral republic, but acted as experts. Their task - to get acquainted with the development of democratic processes in Turkmenistan, and possibly give their recommendations. However, an official report on the activities of the OSCE / ODIHR delegation will be presented to the leadership of the organization in Warsaw.

Just the day before the election delegation arrived in Ashgabat UN to monitor parliamentary elections on the ground. The Mission is headed by team leader in Central Asia Division for Asia and the Pacific UN Department of Political Affairs Viktor Polyakov.

Another important feature of the current parliamentary elections - Participation in Turkmen citizens who are abroad. This innovation is reflected in the new law on elections. For them, with embassies open 27 polling stations in several countries, with vast numbers - in Russia, where learning to tens of thousands of men and women from Turkmenistan.

In accordance with the laws of Turkmenistan elected considered a candidate for the Majlis deputies, won the election with more than half the votes. Official results of the elections shall be published in the press, not later than 10 days after election day.

The deputies of the new, fourth convocation, unlike his predecessors, will have much broader powers. Under the new provisions of the Constitution, Parliament is authorized to appoint the election of the president and even send him to resign. However, final decision on this matter should be decided by referendum. Above that power Niyazov had set up in the People's Council (People's Council), which was abolished by the current President Berdymuhamedovym.

The first session of the Majlis of the fourth convocation, is expected to will be held before the end of this year. One of the first decisions of the deputies will change the text of national anthem of Turkmenistan, which will be removed references to the Turkmenbashi.

Iran National Anthem

Historians have found that the first financial crisis broke even in the Roman republic

Philip Key, a historian from Oxford University, saw an analogue of the financial crisis that is raging these days around the world, in Rome I century BC.

"The good news: Philip Key knows how the Romans got into financial trouble. The bad news: nobody knows how they are chosen," - writes in Friday InoPressa.ru with reference to The Guardian.

"The main thing in common what happened 21 a century ago, and what is happening now, that the ambitious growth of monetary liquidity problems resulted in another country, and this led to a credit crunch ... In both cases, the distance and unnecessary optimism overshadowed danger "- told Kay, in an interview edition.

According to the researcher, the Cicero in a speech pointed to the relationship money market Roman republic with Asian markets.

"In Rome II - the beginning of I century BC, the increased inflow of precious metals, coupled with the growing availability of credit led to a huge increase in circulation of money" that gave rise to "greater economic activity ... and, finally, the credit crisis," explained Kay.

Hamas persuaded radicals in Gaza have not yet bombard Israel missiles

Ruling in the Gaza Strip, Hamas, has entered into an agreement with radical factions in the Gaza Strip to stop launching rockets into neighboring Israeli territory and return to perform the contract for the truce, a prisoner for more than five months ago, reports .

Spokesman of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Ayman Taha explained to journalists that the leaders of Hamas "had contact with the Egyptian mediator, who conveyed the desire of the Israeli side to return to ." In exchange, the Israeli authorities have promised to open border crossings to allow international humanitarian aid, fuel and consumer goods, vanishing from the shops stores Palestinian enclave.

"We met with (Palestinian) factions in Gaza, transferred the request of Cairo. Factions expressed their desire to alleviate the blockade on the people by returning to compliance with calm, which expires in about a month" - said Taha, confirming that the extension of the truce had not been addressed.

In doing so, he said, Palestinian factions reserve the right to respond to every violation by Israel by launching rockets into its territory.

Fragile truce in the Gaza Strip, in force since 19 June this year, was breached on 5 November, when Palestinian militants resumed heavy shelling of adjacent areas of Israel in response to Israeli military incursion into the Gaza Strip.