This whole vote is being portrayed as a test of Brown’s leadership. But it’s far more important and fundamental than that. This debate concerns one of the most basic freedoms we have — the freedom to not be locked up if there’s no evidence to prove we’ve done something wrong.

Let’s hope those backbenchers don’t sacrifice basic freedoms just because they’re trying to save a drowning politician from himself.

It’s hurricane season. Where will oil go next?

Last year the meteorologists got it wrong. Hurricane gurus predicted a more-active-than-normal season. It didn’t happen.

But what about this time round? Well, as Garry White explains in today’s Smart Commodities, in an average season there are 11 storms that are big enough to be given a name. Of those, 6 go on to become hurricanes.

This time, though, we’re looking at between 12 and 16 named storms. And if just one of these is a) big enough and b) hits in the wrong place, it will create a major oil crunch.

Of course, they could be wrong again. But what if they’re not?

In 2005, Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina caused a 93% evacuation of oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Now, with oil hitting record highs, any repeat will have an even bigger impact.

Find out what this means for oil investors in today’s FREE edition of Smart Commodities.

Until tomorrow

Ben Traynor

Source: How Housing Market Will Affect Economy

Pages: 1 2

Pages: 1 2