"The pull factors stimulating emigration to the U.S. have changed, " said Tony Payan, a visiting scholar at Rice University in Houston, who also credits improved border security for reducing emigration.

WSJ: U.S. Immigration Overhaul Tests Mexican Partnership

In response, Home Office minister Mr Harper said the government was looking at the "pull" factors which encouraged migrants to come to the country.

BBC: Airport arrivals sign

Despite the array of special factors helping to pull the deficit down, it wouldn't take much more bad news for Ed Balls to have the last laugh when George Osborne is forced to reveal new forecasts at the time of the Budget in March.

BBC: More red ink for Chancellor George Osborne

As we know, that's not the whole story, because there are lots of one-off factors acting to pull down the final figure for 2012-13, including the Royal Mail pension fund transfer and the debt interest now being transferred to the Treasury by the Bank of England.

BBC: More red ink for Chancellor George Osborne

He said there are several factors that could result in a push-pull on values.

FORBES: METALS OUTLOOK: Volatility To Continue In Gold Next Week

The heart not only beat in the first quarter from pull-forward weather related sales in the U.S., but from structural factors globally that raise the prospect of Wal-Mart shares moving higher in the medium-term.

FORBES: Wal-Mart Shows A Pulse And It's Thumping

There are unique historic, economic and political factors, together with the recent stadium disaster, that combined to cause Port Said to pull away from the authorities in this dramatic fashion.

BBC: Resentment still felt beneath calm in Port Said