Central banks must show leadership to rejuvenate global economy

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div id="main-content-picture" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters. Photograph: Boris Roessler/EPA" data-pin-description="European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters in Frankfurt. Photograph: Boris Roessler/EPA" height="276" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Business/Pix/pictures/2007/12/19/ecb_boris_roessler_epa460.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="460"><div class="caption" itemprop="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters in Frankfurt. Photograph: Boris Roessler/EPA</div> </div> <div id="article-body-blocks" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> The decade and a half after the tearing down of the Berlin Wall was a golden age for central banks. It was a time of strong growth and low inflation presided over by committees of technocrats charged with taking the politics out of the messy business of setting interest rates.</div> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div></div>

Central banks must show leadership to rejuvenate global economy

European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters in Frankfurt. Photograph: Boris Roessler/EPA The decade and a half after the tearing down of...

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FTSE 100 and European indices record best annual rise since 2009

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div id="main-content-picture" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="New York Stock Exchange " data-pin-description="Traders at New York Stock Exchange ended the year on a high note as Wall Street recorded its best ­performance since 1997. Photograph Stephen Chernin/Getty Images" height="276" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Business/Pix/cartoon/2013/12/31/1388516258085/New-York-Stock-Exchange--008.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="460"><div class="caption" itemprop="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Traders at New York Stock Exchange ended the year on a high note as Wall Street recorded its best ­performance since 1997. Photograph Stephen Chernin/Getty Images</div> </div> <div id="article-body-blocks" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></strong></div> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> Traders are toasting the strongest year for the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/ftse" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="More from the Guardian on FTSE">FTSE</a> 100 since 2009 following a bumper crop of new entrants to the stock market.</div> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div></div>

FTSE 100 and European indices record best annual rise since 2009

Traders at New York Stock Exchange ended the year on a high note as Wall Street recorded its best ­performance since 1997. Photograph Ste...

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10 hopeful things from 2013 that will get you inspired for what's to come

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div id="main-content-picture" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="COP19 in Warsaw" data-pin-description="New leaders, like the Philippines' Yeb Sano, emerged in the burgeoning climate change movement in 2013 Photograph: Kacper Pempel/Reuters" height="276" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/11/19/1384878324625/887b7cee-9fdd-42db-97ee-6d8f1f3265e8-460x276.jpeg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="460"><div class="caption" itemprop="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> New leaders, like the Philippines' Yeb Sano, emerged in the burgeoning climate change movement in 2013 Photograph: Kacper Pempel/Reuters</div> </div> <div id="article-body-blocks" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> There was something almost apocalyptic about 2013. Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the Philippines, the strongest storm ever recorded on land. It killed more than 6,000 people and affected millions. But it was just one of the 39 weather-related disasters costing $1bn or more in 2013.</div> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div></div>

10 hopeful things from 2013 that will get you inspired for what's to come

New leaders, like the Philippines' Yeb Sano, emerged in the burgeoning climate change movement in 2013 Photograph: Kacper Pempel/Reut...

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German firms transplant European apprentice model to US

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div id="main-content-picture" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="APPRENTICE" data-pin-description="Third-year apprentice Hope Johnson at the Siemens plant in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photograph: Nanine Hartzenbusch/The Washington Post" height="276" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/GWeekly/2013/12/18/1387380596175/APPRENTICE-008.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="460"><div class="caption" itemprop="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Third-year apprentice Hope Johnson at the Siemens plant in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photograph: Nanine Hartzenbusch/The Washington Post</div> </div> <div id="article-body-blocks" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> As a high school junior in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hope Johnson thought she had things figured out. She'd been hit with wanderlust during an academic trip to Brazil, set her sights on London's Richmond University and hoped to pursue a career in diplomacy.</div> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div></div>

German firms transplant European apprentice model to US

Third-year apprentice Hope Johnson at the Siemens plant in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photograph: Nanine Hartzenbusch/The Washington Post...

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Where in the world to invest for a happy new year

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div id="main-content-picture" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="Chinese stockmarket Shanghai Composite Index" data-pin-description="An investor views stock prices at the Shanghai Composite Index. Photograph: China Photos/Getty Images" height="276" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2013/12/27/1388149888244/Chinese-stockmarket-Shang-009.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="460"><div class="caption" itemprop="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> An investor views stock prices at the Shanghai Composite Index. Photograph: China Photos/Getty Images</div> </div> <div id="article-body-blocks" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> The start of the new year is a time to focus on making a few changes in your life. And for savvy investors that should mean an opportunity to rejig your portfolio. </div> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div></div>

Where in the world to invest for a happy new year

An investor views stock prices at the Shanghai Composite Index. Photograph: China Photos/Getty Images The start of the new year is a ...

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US states await key drones decision – and the billions that could follow

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="block" data-id="52bc44e4e4b09f9df01d1be9" id="mainblock" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="block-elements" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <figure class="element element-image" data-media-id="gu-fc-e68d8d6e-fb0b-4c6f-83e6-474253dc7248" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Drones Raptr" class="gu-image" height="276" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/12/26/1388072737040/Drones-Raptr-008.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 0px;" width="460"><figcaption style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 0.858em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">Full military-grade autopilot allows the Raptr to be pre-programmed to fly to hundreds of points on a map within a range of 10 miles under its own control. Photo: Guardian</figcaption><figcaption style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 0.858em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"></figcaption></figure></div></div></div>

US states await key drones decision – and the billions that could follow

Full military-grade autopilot allows the Raptr to be pre-programmed to fly to hundreds of points on a map within a range of 10 miles unde...

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US consumer spending rises at the fastest pace since June

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div id="main-content-picture" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="Bank of America branch" data-pin-description="US consumer confidence is rated high in new figures Photograph: Daniel Barry/EPA" height="276" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/12/23/1387826845187/Bank-of-America-branch-008.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="460"><div class="caption" itemprop="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> US consumer confidence is rated high in new figures Photograph: Daniel Barry/EPA</div> </div> <div id="article-body-blocks" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> US consumer sentiment hit a five-month high heading into the end of the year and spending has notched up its strongest month since the summer, in the latest signs of sustained vigour in the world's largest economy.</div> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div></div>

US consumer spending rises at the fastest pace since June

US consumer confidence is rated high in new figures Photograph: Daniel Barry/EPA US consumer sentiment hit a five-month high heading ...

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Expiration of unemployment benefits threatens US recovery, adviser warns

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="block" data-id="52b85eb0e4b053cde70cf70a" id="mainblock" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="block-elements" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <figure class="element element-image" data-media-id="gu-fc-4d6f9356-c2e2-442a-9b27-2cf801d10e78" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Nancy Pelosi" class="gu-image" height="276" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/12/23/1387814571143/7777463b-77a3-444d-9de4-3c9c4de7f119-460x276.jpeg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 0px;" width="460"><figcaption style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 0.858em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">Democrats are planning a fresh push this week to highlight the issue, including a media conference call with Nancy Pelosi. Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP</figcaption></figure></div> </div> <div class="flexible-content-body" data-display-hint="" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> The expiration of benefits for 1.3 million jobless Americans this weekend will exacerbate the worst period of chronic unemployment in post-war history, the chairman of the White House council of economic advisers warns.</div> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div></div>

Expiration of unemployment benefits threatens US recovery, adviser warns

Democrats are planning a fresh push this week to highlight the issue, including a media conference call with Nancy Pelosi. Photograph: J ...

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American consumer spending and incomes increase in November

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="block" data-id="52b861fce4b09f9df01d1ab4" id="mainblock" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="block-elements" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <figure class="element element-image" data-media-id="gu-fc-a9ab0496-7874-41bf-9618-5ae812b6246a" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Shoppers in Chicago browse through coats during Black Friday shopping at Macy's." class="gu-image" height="276" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/12/23/1387815415367/00ae452a-4a1d-4dcd-9d68-6ffcacfbc915-460x276.jpeg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 0px;" width="460"><figcaption style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 0.858em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">Shoppers in Chicago browse through coats during Black Friday shopping at Macy's. Photograph: Andrew Nelles/AP</figcaption></figure></div> </div> <div class="flexible-content-body" data-display-hint="" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> Americans increased their spending in November by the most in five months, and their income edged up modestly.</div> </div></div>

American consumer spending and incomes increase in November

Shoppers in Chicago browse through coats during Black Friday shopping at Macy's. Photograph: Andrew Nelles/AP Americans increased...

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Ben Bernanke's tenure at the Fed wasn't net positive

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div id="main-content-picture" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="Ben Bernanke Testifies" data-pin-description="Outgoing Federal Reserve charmain Ben Bernanke before the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Photograph: Ron Sachs/CNP/Corbis" height="276" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/3/13/1331664307102/Ben-Bernanke-Testifies-007.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="460"><div class="caption" itemprop="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Outgoing Federal Reserve charmain Ben Bernanke before the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Photograph: Ron Sachs/CNP/Corbis</div> </div> <div id="article-body-blocks" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/federal-reserve" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="More from the Guardian on Federal Reserve">Federal Reserve</a> Board Chairman <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/ben-bernanke" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="More from the Guardian on Ben Bernanke">Ben Bernanke</a> gave his last press conference as chair and already the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/18/this-is-how-history-should-judge-ben-bernanke/?hpid=z4" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">retrospectives have begun</a>. One item that should be corrected off the top, Bernanke did not just inherit an economic disaster from Alan Greenspan.</div> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div></div>

Ben Bernanke's tenure at the Fed wasn't net positive

Outgoing Federal Reserve charmain Ben Bernanke before the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Photogra...

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'Superman' Ben Bernanke prepares to fly out of US Federal Reserve

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br> <div id="main-content-picture" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"> <a class="mask" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2013/12/21/1387621389030/Ben-Bernanke-cartoon-by-D-001.jpg" id="show-big-picture-link" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; clear: left; color: #005689; display: block; float: left !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="View larger picture"><img alt="View larger picture" class="mask" height="83" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/10612b51319c78b6c2e5ac444e0a1664d6b86c24/common/images/magnifying-glass-mask.png" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; bottom: 0px; left: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: auto; vertical-align: bottom;" width="83"></a><div class="caption" itemprop="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> .<img alt="Ben Bernanke cartoon by David Simonds" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2013/12/21/1387621300128/Ben-Bernanke-cartoon-by-D-008.jpg" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"></div> </div> <div id="article-body-blocks" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> Central bankers never look like superheroes. Has US <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/federal-reserve" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="More from the Guardian on Federal Reserve">federal reserve</a>boss <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/ben-bernanke" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="More from the Guardian on Ben Bernanke">Ben Bernanke</a> even tried on the blue tights, </div> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div></div>

'Superman' Ben Bernanke prepares to fly out of US Federal Reserve

. Central bankers never look like superheroes. Has US  federal reserve boss  Ben Bernanke  even tried on the blue tights, 

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Barack Obama rejects claims 2013 has been worst year of his presidency

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="block" data-id="52b57c25e4b09f9df01d18db" id="mainblock" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="block-elements" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <figure class="element element-video" data-canonical-url="http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/dec/21/barack-obama-defends-healthcare-reforms-video" data-show-ads="true" data-video-id="2017264" data-video-name="Barack Obama defends healthcare reforms - video" data-video-poster="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/audio/video/2013/12/21/1387623804913/Barack-Obama--016.jpg" data-video-provider="Reuters" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><figcaption style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 0.858em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">Barack Obama conducts his final press conference of 2013 at the White House on Friday, assessing the successes and failures of the past year</figcaption></figure></div> </div> <div class="flexible-content-body" data-display-hint="" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> Barack Obama rejected suggestions that 2013 had been his worst period as president in a year-end press conference dominated by criticism of his handling of healthcare reforms and the NSA surveillance scandal.</div> <div style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div></div>

Barack Obama rejects claims 2013 has been worst year of his presidency

Barack Obama conducts his final press conference of 2013 at the White House on Friday, assessing the successes and failures of the past y...

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The Fed's route to the end of quantitative easing looks tricky

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div id="main-content-picture" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.98714256286621px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="(FILES)Dr. Janet Yellen speaks during he" data-pin-description="Janet Yellen is a step closer to taking over from Ben Bernanke as chair of the Federal Reserve. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images" height="276" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2013/12/20/1387567774907/FILESDr.-Janet-Yellen-spe-009.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="460"><div class="caption" itemprop="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Janet Yellen is a step closer to taking over from Ben Bernanke as chair of the Federal Reserve. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images</div> <div class="caption" itemprop="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </div></div></div>

The Fed's route to the end of quantitative easing looks tricky

Janet Yellen is a step closer to taking over from Ben Bernanke as chair of the Federal Reserve. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty ...

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