Greece bailout gets seal of approval from Eurozone finance ministers April 1, 2014 Long-delayed bailout aid for Greece has today been agreed on by Eurozone finance ministers, reports the FT. The deal, which will see €8.3bn divided into three payments, ends a six-month standoff between Athens and its international leaders, says the paper. It comes in the nick of time; the country needs to pay a €9bn bond [...]
Draghi’s sleeping at the wheel as Eurozone inflation hits 0.5pc March 31, 2014 Inflation in the Eurozone has fallen by more than expected in March, to 0.5 per cent year-on-year – that’s the lowest it’s been since November 2009. Although the number probably captured, in part, temporary factors relating to the timing of Easter this year, it's still weaker than was hoped for. Analysts had expected a reading [...]
Why investors are right to fear Eurozone deflation March 18, 2014 While soaring inflation tends to grab headlines, the dangers of deflation often get less coverage. Perhaps because the different kinds of deflation – good and bad – are so poorly understood. The good kind, says the Adam Smith Institute's Ben Southwood, comes from productivity improvements. There you see the falls in prices mirrored by increases [...]
Eurozone annual inflation falls to 0.7pc in February March 17, 2014 Latest Eurozone inflation figures show a fall in the annual rate to 0.7 per cent in February – hitting its lowest ever level again. More than a quarter of the euro area's in deflation, with half the bloc's economies with rates of 0.5 per cent or less. Howard Archer has described the numbers as "uncomfortable and [...]
George Soros says Eurozone is now like a debtors’ prison March 13, 2014 George Soros has been holding court at the London School of Economics today on the state of Europe, how the Ukraine crisis could bring the continent closer together, and why the UK should stay a part of it. Here are some of the billionaire investor’s most interesting comments. On the state of the Eurozone You [...]
Eurozone investor confidence reaches near-3-year high March 10, 2014 Investor confidence in the Eurozone has gathered more strength in March – reaching a high last seen in April 2011. The Sentix Investor Confidence index, which surveys 1,600 financial analysts and institutional investors, rose to 13.9 this month from 13.3 in February. Estimates had been for a bigger pick up, to 14.0, though. Sentix called [...]
Eurozone inflation will hit 1.7pc in 2016 says ECB March 6, 2014 European Central Bank President Mario Draghi has confirmed he sees rates at present or lower levels for an extended period of time, but has opted to do nothing when it comes to taking action. The bank revealed this afternoon that it expects annualised inflation to hit 1.5 per cent in 2016, and 1.7 per cent [...]
A 32-month high for Eurozone economic growth March 5, 2014 Manufacturing and services activity in the Eurozone hit a 32-month high in February, with Markit’s composite purchase managers’ index hitting 53.3. Analysts had expected a reading of 52.7. The Eurozone service sector improved in the month, also beating estimates at 52.6 (expected 51.7, just above January’s reading). The readings, says IHS Global Insight's Howard Archer, [...]
Job growth in UK manufacturing fastest since 2011 as Eurozone activity eases back March 3, 2014 The UK’s manufacturing sector saw strong growth last month, with job creation reaching a 33-month high. Markit and CIPS’ purchasing managers’ index hit 56.9 in February, after analysts forecast 56.5. From Markit’s release: The strong upswing in the UK manufacturing sector was maintained during February, as levels of production and new business continued to rise at robust and [...]
The €400bn question: Will the Eurozone go for QE? February 27, 2014 A Eurozone quantitive easing (QE) programme is now anticipated by BNP Paribas, one of France’s biggest banks. It follows Fathom Consulting, which has been suggesting a similar scheme since January. BNP Paribas suggest the programme would be around €300-500bn (£246-410bn) – small in comparison to schemes in Japan, the UK and US, but a major [...]