The crisis isn’t over: The Eurozone’s laggards still need disciplining July 1, 2014 THE POLISH banking and financial elite gathered last week at a conference in the Baltic seaside resort of Sopot. The proceedings were enlivened by the presence on the platform of Jacek Rostowski, one of the senior Polish politicians recently caught on tape badmouthing David Cameron, in very colourful terms, for his failure to stand up [...]
Why is the Eurozone recovery starting to lose momentum? July 1, 2014 Manufacturing in the Eurozone area eased in June amid signs that the recovery is losing ground. The latest figures from Markit see June's headline purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the Eurozone dip to a seven-month low of 51.8 from 52.2 in May. Growth of both output and new orders slowed in the last month. Any [...]
Eurozone unemployment sees surprise drop July 1, 2014 The euro area's headline jobless rate has moved slightly lower in May, now at 11.6 per cent. Analysts had expected to see that Eurostat would report Eurozone unemployment was at 11.7 this month, after falling from 11.8 per cent in April. April's estimate has now been revised down from 11.7 per cent to 11.6 per [...]
Higher core Eurozone inflation may allow ECB to “wait and see” June 30, 2014 Inflation in the euro area has held steady in June, static at an annual rate of 0.5 per cent, according to data released by Eurostat. Fears over the disinflationary climate in the Eurozone prompted the European Central Bank (ECB) to take action this month, with president Mario Draghi delivering a package of measures aimed at [...]
Eurozone confidence slides on geopolitical fears June 27, 2014 The latest data from the European Commission (EC) has shown a drop in headline Eurozone consumer confidence, falling to -7.5 in June. Analysts had expected to see data firm up slightly, with economists forecasting an increase to -6.7 this month from a reading of -7.1 in May. In a preview of today's release, [...]
Eurozone to hold off interest rate increase until at least 2016 June 23, 2014 European Central Bank (ECB) chief Mario Draghi has hinted that policymakers would likely not hike rates for at least another 18 months. “We have prolonged banks’ access to unlimited liquidity up to the end of 2016. That is a signal. Our programme in support of bank lending to businesses will continue for four years,” the ECB [...]
Eurozone growth stutters as French output threatened by oil price risks June 23, 2014 Preliminary survey data shows that the Eurozone's (still) fledgling recovery has stuttered in June. Purchasing managers' index (PMI) data released by Markit shows that the pace of expansion across the private sector has slowed a little, with a headline PMI of 52.8 in the euro area. Any number above 50 implies that order books are [...]
Lithuania gets green light to join the Eurozone in 2015 June 20, 2014 Lithuania will become the 19th member of the Eurozone on 1 January 2015 after EU finance ministers gave the Baltic state the official go-ahead to join the currency. The announcement, which followed a recommendation by the European Commission a few weeks ago confirming that Lithuania fulfils all the criteria to join the common currency, leaves [...]
Eurozone bond yields dip to lowest levels in history June 9, 2014 THE COST of servicing the Spanish government’s 10-year bonds dropped below the US government’s equivalent during trading yesterday, illustrating the dramatic turnaround for Eurozone sovereign debt – yet also reflecting fears that deflation could haunt the Eurozone. Both of the countries’ bonds were yielding just above 2.6 per cent during the day. The Spanish yield [...]
The European Central Bank just unveiled its plan to save the Eurozone. Here’s what you need to know June 5, 2014 Two years after his oft-repeated "whatever it takes" speech, European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi has finally pulled the trigger. Digging deep into the central bank's arsenal, Draghi has picked out the weapons deemed most suitable to what is now moving from a disinflationary crisis to what could be a deflationary one. Inflation in [...]