News Goat

There have been many opinions expressed about the current euro crisis. These have differed widely and have in many cases seemed to be based as much on pro or anti-European sentiment as on any kind of serious analysis.

With the year coming to an end, just where are we? According to a hard hitting assessment from Scotland’s private bank Adam & Company, things are still looking sketchy. There is not much in the way of immediate amelioration for the euro crisis as a whole, and there are some specific sticking points.

The most notable failure so far has been the ability of Europe’s leaders to reach an agreement regarding the long term future of ECB bond buying. Rating downgrades are very much still on the cards, with the kinds of measures that would prevent such occurrences held back behind all kinds of political roadblocks. The kinds of austerity measures and so forth that are being pushed for are being held back by the need for parliamentary seals of approval and in some cases even referendums.

Of course there are those that long predicted this kind of impasse would result from the euro project. The different nation states that comprise the eurozone and the wider union have different and sometimes competing interests.

There does seem to be some indication that a certain amount of progress is being made towards a deep level structural reform. In the shorter term however this progress is not doing much good, with a large amount of nervousness and uncertainty in the markets.

It seems as though the general plan for the EU (excluding the UK of course, after Cameron laid down the veto) is not to make an amendment to the Lisbon treaty but to instead come to what is being termed an ‘intergovernmental agreement’. Comparisons between this and the 1985 Schengen Agreement are being made.

In news that will delight home owners, it has been predicted that house prices in Britain will rise by 2% in 2012.

This prediction comes from an analysis published by the estate agency website Rightmove. The reason that they think that prices are going to rise is because there is a shortage of fresh properties coming onto the market. It is thought that the number of new sellers in 2012 will be 1.2 million, even less than this year.

A bullish prediction for house prices is not universal. Others have stated that they believe that the market would in fact stagnate. There are a number of factors that are thought to be keeping prices down.

There is undoubtedly a lot of uncertainty in the economy. It has also proved tricky to get good deals on mortgages for many. The most worrying factor however is the shortage of first time buyers entering the market.

It is considered that for the housing market to be ‘healthy’ that there need to be about 40% new buyers entering the market each year. The percentage of first time buyers has fallen below 25%.

The news that prices are set for  an increase could give the impetus to those that have been holding off from entering the housing market. There are first time buyer mortgages that cater specifically for this market, but having a reassurance that a negative equity trap is not lurking may help make up some minds.

There will also be new restrictions on mortgage lending coming into force in 2012. The effects of these on the market are not known yet, b but long term not lending to those who cannot afford repayments can only be a stabilising factor, and possibly the reduced levels of bad debt in the system will keep the costs of mortgages down for those that can afford to make repayments.

Although it is not as widely know as nearby Dubai, the number of people who are finding out about what makes Abu Dhabi special is growing. Lots of westerners find themselves visiting or staying for a time because of business or for tax reasons, however there is a lot that commends the place as a holiday destination in and of itself. Here are some of the great reasons to go to Abu Dhabi:

Experience a different culture

There are many in the west who have little or now experience of other cultures, their ways of life, and what they have to offer. Abu Dhabi is perhaps the best place in the Arab World for outsiders to come and see because it is both safe and welcoming to outsiders.

See the desert

Nothing can prepare you for how different it is in the desert compared to anywhere else. It is an unforgiving environment, but it is stunningly beautiful. Whether it is going on a peaceful camel trek or blasting through the dunes in a vehicle, getting out into the desert is highly recommended for thrill-seekers.

Hit the beach

Being where it is, there is sunshine year round in Abu Dhabi. There is also no shortage of sand. The combination of these things with the azure waters of the Persian Gulf makes for an ideal beach experience. There are plenty of opportunities for water sports, as well as all kinds of cruise available, including on traditional ‘Dhow’ boats.

Shop ’til you drop

The shopping malls of Abu Dhabi have to be seen to be believed. Gigantic palaces of everything consumer. If a brand is not here, then it is a brand that is not worth owning. It is an intoxicating experience, many is the visitor that has found that they need an extra suitcase for their journey home!

Ice skate in the desert

Where else are you going to get the chance to do this? Worth doing just to say that you have, but for what it is worth the facilities are actually very good, and it makes an ideal activity for families especially.

Learn to shoot

Marksmanship and shooting are not very accessible sports most of the time, and many folks, especially in the UK will have no opportunity to experience them. The Caracal Shooting Club offers well supervised and safe lessons for as little as AED 205 for first time shooters. This is open to anybody aged 12 and up and is a great chance to experience target shooting.

Just about any time of the year is a good time to visit Abu Dhabi. The ‘flag carrier’ airline Etihad Airways is now operating flights to Abu Dhabi from a large number of cities worldwide, including London and Manchester.