David Stevenson, Associate Editor at MoneyWeek, UK, offers his analysis of the current state of British Banks and the implications for the global economy for the next few years.

Existing US home sales dropped in February, according a National Association of Realtors (NAR).

The NAR pending home pending home sales index, a leading indicator of existing home sales, dropped 1.9% in February. The index is down 21.4% from the February 2007 level.

There has been plenty of shrill calls for government to intervene in the housing crisis, but what can – or should – government do?