Euro falls to nine-year low as investors eye ECB policy January 5, 2015 The euro tumbled to a nine-year low against the dollar this morning after the European Central Bank (ECB) hinted quantitative easing could be on the way and disputed reports Germany was preparing for a so-called "Grexit." The common currency slid to $1.1860 in pre-market trade, its lowest level since March 2006. It also pushed the [...]
Doveish Mario Draghi sends Euro tumbling to lowest level since 2010, as dollar rises January 2, 2015 The dollar index rose 0.6 per cent to 90.84 this morning, its highest level since 2006. The index, which measures how the dollar is performing against its trading partners, was nudged up as comments from European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi pushed the euro to a four-year low. Draghi hinted this morning [...]
ECB official Peter Praet hints at quantitative easing amid falling oil prices December 31, 2014 The European Central Bank's (ECB) chief economist has hinted quantitative easing could be on the way, as plunging oil prices threaten to derail price expectations in the embattled eurozone. Peter Praet told German Newspaper Boersen-Zeitung the glut in global oil supply meant inflation rates were likely to remain negative throughout "a substantial part of 2015", something [...]
ECB’s second round of cheap loans disappoint again December 11, 2014 The European Central Bank's (ECB) second round of cheap loans has disappointed again, piling pressure onto the central bank to step up its monetary stimulus measures. The 255 participating lenders took a total of just €129.84bn (£102.6bn) from the targeted longer-term refinancing operation (TLTRO), slightly below the €130bn or more that economists had predicted. This [...]
UK housing crash, Draghi quitting the ECB or “A-choco-lypse”? Here are Saxo Bank’s bonkers predictions for 2015 December 10, 2014 Could there be a UK housing market meltdown? Could Nigel Farage become deputy prime minister? Or worst of all, will there be an "a-choco-lypse"? These could be some of the most outrageous predictions you'll hear this year – or the best warning you ever had. Saxo Bank has just released its 10 scenarios for 2015 [...]
Eurozone GDP sluggish again as pressure builds on Draghi December 5, 2014 If Mario Draghi and the European Central Bank (ECB) left investors frustrated by failing to hint at plans for quantitative easing yesterday, that frustration will only grow as the latest Eurozone GDP figures, published today, again revealed the weakness in the single market. GDP growth for the third quarter was again weak, with quarterly growth [...]
FTSE drops over Draghi’s lack of stimulus news – London Report December 4, 2014 BRITAIN’S top equity index fell yesterday largely due to a drop in commodity stocks and disappointment at a lack of concrete, new economic stimulus measures from the European Central Bank (ECB). The blue chip FTSE 100 index closed down by 0.6 per cent, or 37.26 points, at 6,679.37 points. The ECB slashed its growth and [...]
As the ECB “steps up” stimulus plans, will it do enough to prevent a Eurozone recession? December 4, 2014 Azad Zangana, European economist at Schroders, says Yes. The 2015 outlook for the Eurozone is precarious. Governments are continuing with austerity, while business surveys suggest a downturn is on the horizon. Markets are demanding the European Central Bank (ECB) adds QE to the measures already being used. Despite German resistance, president Mario Draghi has stated [...]
ECB cuts European growth forecasts December 4, 2014 The European Central Bank (ECB) has slashed its forecasts for European growth, saying it now expects GDP in the region to rise by just one per cent next year, down from 1.6 per cent. It also cut forecasts for this year to 0.8 per cent, from 0.9 per cent, while growth in 2016 will hit [...]
All eyes on Mario Draghi as Eurozone inflation slides to a five-year low 0.3 per cent for November November 28, 2014 Eurozone inflation slumped to a five-year low in October, turning up the heat on the European Central Bank to act in order to avoid a damaging deflationary spiral. The flash figure of 0.3 per cent for November was down from 0.4 per cent in October, Eurostat said. This was in line with economists' estimates according [...]