A tale of two crises: How the Eurozone created a 1930s-style catastrophe December 17, 2014 AS THE seventh anniversary of the start of the economic crisis approaches, and as the end of 2014 draws near, it is an appropriate moment to take stock. How far have we come over the past few years, and what lessons can we draw from it? At the time, the recession was simply not recognised [...]
Could the Eurozone soon see a wave of anti-austerity rebellion? December 10, 2014 Adam Memon, head of economic research at the Centre for Policy Studies, says Yes. In Greece, a disastrous combination of sheer incompetence and an inability to grasp the severity of the Eurozone crisis has meant that Syriza, a party of the hard-Left, could soon form a new government. Syriza’s economic programme, which calls for a [...]
Manufacturers’ exports hit by weak Eurozone December 9, 2014 THE UK’s manufacturing output dipped in October due to waning export demand from the Eurozone. Total manufacturing output fell by 0.7 per cent in October compared with September, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics yesterday. Industrial production – which includes mining and quarrying, as well as manufacturing – fell 0.1 per [...]
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 [...]
Oil price drop: How does it affect Russia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, the US, the UK and the Eurozone? December 5, 2014 The price of Brent crude oil has dropped by around 40 per cent since June, at one point falling to its lowest level in more than four years. It's now stablising at around $70 a barrel, but speculators think it could fall further – perhaps down to $65, maybe even as far as $60 [...]
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 [...]
UK manufacturing growth surprises in November while Eurozone disappoints with German contraction December 1, 2014 The UK's manufacturing sector grew more than expected last month according to Markit's latest Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI), as solid domestic demand offset weaker orders from other markets. Markit’s PMI survey came in at a four-month high of 53.5 in November, ahead of the 53 expected and the revised 53.3 in October, offering a much-needed [...]
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 [...]
Mario Draghi: Eurozone’s future at risk if prosperity does not spread November 27, 2014 Eurozone countries could start to consider leaving the currency union if prosperity does not spread across the area, European Central Bank boss Mario Draghi said yesterday. If countries such as Greece remain permanently less competitive than those like Finland, with higher unemployment and lower growth, “this threatens the essential cohesion of the union”, he said. Draghi [...]
Eurozone bond yields plunge to record lows November 24, 2014 Spanish and Italian borrowing costs fell to record lows yesterday as markets began to price in the likelihood of the European Central Bank (ECB) buying government bonds. The interest on Spanish, Italian and German 10-year government debt fell to 1.98, 2.17 and 0.77 per cent respectively yesterday. It is the first time Spanish 10-year yields [...]