Can European banks be saved by mergers and a fresh round of deal making? April 16, 2019 The comparisons with US peers just got a lot harder for European banks after a strong showing from JP Morgan to kick off earnings season. But could there be fresh revenue on the way for European investment banks, even if it is of their own making? There’s a mooted capital raising for Deutsche Bank before [...]
The euro falls as ECB chief Draghi delivers pessimistic verdict on Eurozone economy April 10, 2019 The European Central Bank (ECB) kept up recent tradition today when it announced it would hold interest rates at record low levels and reaffirmed that it will not raise them before the end of 2019. Read more: US threatens tariffs on $11bn of EU goods ECB boss Mario Draghi struck a more pessimistic tone than [...]
The UK is trying to leave the European club – in Italy, the club is on fire January 31, 2019 After Tuesday’s parliamentary showdown, all eyes are on Westminster. Don’t be misled, though – the real existential threat to the EU lies in Rome. In the UK, we are debating how to leave the golf club. In Italy, the golf club is likely to be swamped by an approaching tsunami. There may not be a [...]
The Eurozone is at risk of renewed crisis in 2019 – and this time it’s all about Italy January 29, 2019 After a dismal 2018, December brought further bad news for the Eurozone in the form of the European Commission’s economic sentiment indicator. Despite hopes that last year would see an escape from the ongoing repercussions of the 2011-2013 euro crisis, confidence across sectors has taken a hit, with only retail trade remaining a bright spot. [...]
Eurozone bank lending rate quickens despite growth concerns January 3, 2019 Bank lending to eurozone households and companies accelerated in November despite signs the bloc’s economy is slowing, the European Central Bank said. Corporate loans grew four per cent year-on-year in November, compared with 3.9 per cent the previous month and loans to households grew to 3.3 per cent from 3.2 per cent in October – [...]
Euro at 20: Time for ‘close and candid introspection’ rather than celebration January 1, 2019 The 20th anniversary of the euro should not be cause for celebration but for “close and candid” introspection. European Central Bank president Mario Draghi admitted he was a biased observer when proclaiming the euro had been a success ahead of its 20th birthday yesterday. But he stopped short of celebrating and said the anniversary was [...]
All change in 2019, as Europe heads to the polls December 19, 2018 Just as it is always 5 o’clock somewhere in the world, there are always voters preparing to go to the polls, even when they don’t hit the headlines here in the UK. In the first part of 2019, almost a third of the world’s population will take part in significant elections. In April and May [...]
Europe’s top banker warns of eurozone ‘uncertainty’ November 16, 2018 The European Central Bank will push ahead with plans to roll back its stimulus package at the end of the year, the bank’s chief said today. ECB president Mario Draghi said he still expects the eurozone economy to keep expanding, but warned that there is increasing uncertainty. “If firms start to become more uncertain about [...]
Draghi and easyJet help to boost FTSE to 2pc single-day gain – London Report September 4, 2015 UK SHARES had their biggest one-day gain in a week yesterday, buoyed by a commitment by ECB chief Mario Draghi to boost the central bank’s asset-purchase programme if needed to offset the effects of a riskier economic backdrop. The FTSE 100 blue chip index was up 1.8 per cent at 6,183.09 points at its close. [...]
Euro plummets after Mario Draghi’s dove-bomb as ECB chief cuts inflation forecasts September 3, 2015 The euro lost over one per cent of its value yesterday after Brussels’ top central banker hinted that he could push the button on further monetary stimulus in a bid to boost the single currency area. European Central Bank (ECB) boss Mario Draghi gave an unexpectedly dovish statement, revealing that his organisation has cut forecasts for [...]