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By Martin Hutchinson
Friday’s employment report was relatively OK, and good for Obama, with 171,000 job gains. But 32 months from the bottom and only half of lost jobs have been recovered. What’s clear is that each recession is becoming harder than the last, hinting at larger structural problems.

Bank of England probes avoid elephant in room

By Hugo Dixon
The central bank’s reviews into its performance are fine as far as they go. But they weren’t asked to look at the BoE’s culture - particularly, whether it is too hierarchical - and so barely address the topic. The next governor should launch a full cultural audit

Japan risks consumer electronics death spiral

By Peter Thal Larsen
Panasonic, Sony and Sharp all suffered slumping demand for consumer gadgets. Though the economy is partly to blame, so are successful rivals like Apple and Samsung. The temptation may be to cut product development spending, but that could leave the trio ever further behind.

Apple means (almost) never having to say sorry

By Reynolds Holding
The tech giant apologized for a flawed maps app. But it resisted a UK court order to admit that Samsung hadn’t infringed on the iPad. Now the judges are demanding strict compliance. CEO Tim Cook, it appears, has as little appetite for humble pie as his predecessor Steve Jobs.
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Soft approach sadly best for next Greek debt deal

By Neil Unmack
Euro zone officials should haircut Greece’s debt again, because it is clearly unsustainable. But that would be politically dangerous in the current context, and delay economic reforms. The sad reality is that Greece must be kept hanging on a little longer.

China “hard landing” talk abates, but not for long

By John Foley
A return to growth in the key PMI survey, and a pick-up in the Breakingviews Tea Leaf Index, suggests China is on track for above-7.5 percent growth in 2012. Credit growth has been sustained and a property slump avoided. But the fragilities that worry China bears are still there.

Barclays needs a decisive UBS-style strategy shift

By George Hay
The UK bank unveiled weak Q3 numbers in fixed income and two new regulatory probes. Next February’s prelims give CEO Antony Jenkins a chance to review businesses, reform culture and maybe settle with authorities. Unless he is bold, Barclays can’t move on from the Diamond era.
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