Greek debt crisis: IMF head Christine Lagarde says Eurozone is “in strong position” June 28, 2015 The head of the International Monetary Fund has expressed confidence in the Eurozone's ability to manage the ongoing Greek debt crisis. Christine Lagarde said Europe is in "a strong position to respond to developments in a timely and effective manner, as needed" in a statement, following the Greek government's backing of a referendum on a [...]
FTSE 100 riding high as Greek deal fuels Eurozone – London Report June 23, 2015 Britain’s top share index edged higher yesterday, lagging a Greece-fuelled rally in Eurozone shares as weak results from outsourcing company Bunzl dragged on gains. There was also little cheer from the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) monthly industrial trends survey, which showed British factory orders grew this month at their weakest pace in almost two [...]
As June PMIs point to continuing recovery, has the Eurozone finally turned the corner? June 23, 2015 Anna Stupnytska is global economist at Fidelity Solutions. @AnnaStupnytska, says Yes The Eurozone recovery is becoming well-entrenched, with Flash Purchasing Managers’ Indices for June pointing to further acceleration in the second quarter. Labour market healing continues and inflation is out of deflationary territory. Crucially, this improvement has been broad-based across the Eurozone. Four main tailwinds [...]
Eurozone business growth accelerates to a four-year high in June June 23, 2015 Eurozone business growth accelerated to a four-year high in June, as factories and services firms reported stronger growth and hiring. The Markit Composite Flash Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 54.1 in June, up from 53.6 a month earlier, and in line with economists' expectations. PMI has now been above the crucial 50 threshold that separates [...]
Greece will only have a fighting chance of revival if it leaves the Eurozone June 22, 2015 There are, apparently, still hopes that some deal can be done with Greece this week so that the final €7.2bn tranche of the current €240bn bailout can be released. If this is the case then, presumably, talks will go ahead for a third bailout and thus the Greek saga struggles on. Sadly, however, all this [...]
Jean-Claude Juncker lays out two-year plan for reforms across the Eurozone June 21, 2015 European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has set out a decade-long timeline for Eurozone reforms. In a report commissioned by European Union leaders, which involved input from the presidents of the European Central Bank, European Parliament, European Council and Eurogroup, the Commission calls for the completion of the euro area’s economic and monetary union, with “immediate [...]
Greece faces a very European problem: Are woes fault of Eurozone designers as much as Greek policymakers? June 18, 2015 Greece's economy is a shadow of its former self. It once had thriving investment banks which attracted cash from all over the world and invested it predominantly in the Balkans, helping countries there to thrive after the collapse of the Soviet Union. These operations are no longer. Its economy produces 30 per cent less [...]
Don’t bank on Greece giving in: The Eurozone has far more to lose than it thinks June 18, 2015 Every good story has its dark moment, a crisis that comes before a resolution. The Greek debt saga appears to be reaching such a crunch point. Both sides are refusing to compromise further and are insisting the other is to blame, while Greece’s impossible IMF repayment at the end of the month looms. But amid [...]
Eurozone inflation rises 0.3 per cent in May June 17, 2015 Eurozone inflation rose 0.3 per cent in the year to May a second estimate released today by statistics agency Eurostat has shown, in line with economists' expectations, and up from zero in April. The largest prices increases came from vegetables which rose 0.09 per cent, restaurants and cafes which increased 0.08 per cent and tobacco [...]
With no deal on the cards, would the Eurozone be able to contain contagion from Greek exit? June 14, 2015 Dr Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, says Yes. The Eurozone won’t let the turmoil of 2011-2012 happen again. It has spent the last three years strengthening its defences against contagion risks. Systemic contagion through sovereign bond markets is now highly unlikely. Investors know that the European Central Bank is the reliable buyer of last [...]