Eurozone inflation hits expectations – but it’s still in the ECB’s “danger zone” October 31, 2014 Inflation in the Eurozone ticked up a tenth of a percentage point in October, which will do little to allay fears about the state of the economy in the single currency zone. According to the latest flash estimate (which will be confirmed next month) the rate was 0.4 per cent in October, compared with 0.3 [...]
Draghi’s balancing act: Stress tests can’t paper over Europe’s problems October 26, 2014 European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi has faced an unenviable balancing act recently. He’s had to oversee rigorous stress tests on the Eurozone’s banks – making them sufficiently harsh that investors viewed the process as credible – while at the same time encouraging those same banks to lend to the real economy in order [...]
Brussels court probes Draghi rescue device October 14, 2014 THE EUROZONE’S central bank was challenged in a top Brussels court yesterday over the legality of its bond-buying programme. The European Court of Justice will determine whether a group of German politicians are right to challenge the Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT) programme, devised in 2012. European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi was credited with stemming the economic [...]
Christine Lagarde and Mario Draghi call for German fiscal stimulus to avoid recession October 9, 2014 International Monetary Fund (IMF) boss Christine Lagarde took aim at German policy makers yesterday, suggesting that the Eurozone’s biggest economy must use fiscal stimulus to stave off recession. “We’re not suggesting that the Eurozone is heading toward recession, but we’re saying there is a serious risk that happens if nothing is done. But we are [...]
Eurozone inflation rate: Mario Draghi calls on governments to help fight deflation October 9, 2014 Mario Draghi is determined to tackle low inflation in the Eurozone, and has called upon governments to also play their part in the fight against possible deflation. The president of the European Central Bank (ECB) today announced a new package of credit easing measures, including targeted long-term refinancing operations and a bond-buying programme. [...]
Draghi’s lack of stimulus targets fails to impress October 2, 2014 THE EURO jumped in value against the dollar yesterday as European officials failed to specify the size of their asset purchases, disappointing investors hoping for a substantial programme to try to stimulate the economy. The European Central Bank (ECB) said its plan to purchase private debt would begin over the next three months and would [...]
FTSE slumps to 2014 low after Draghi fails to light up markets – London Report October 2, 2014 BRITAIN’S top equity index yesterday slid to its lowest closing level so far this year on disappointment with the European Central Bank’s latest stimulus measures. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index ended down by 1.7 per cent, or 111.13 points, at 6,446.39 points – its lowest closing level since ending at 6,439.96 points in December 2013, [...]
Mario Draghi: ECB to start buying covered bonds this month October 2, 2014 Mario Draghi, the president of the ECB, has said the Bank will be prepared to take on below investment grade asset-backed securities (to BBB-), opening the door to Greek and Cypriot banks. The central bank will start buying covered bonds and asset-backed securities this autumn, starting with the bond programme in mid-October. The programme will last [...]
ECB leaves interest rates unchanged October 2, 2014 The European Central Bank (ECB) has left its headline interest rate untouched at 0.05 per cent where it has been since early last month. The inaction was widely expected but today Mario Draghi has other big fish to fry. The bank's president is set to clarify the ECB's intentions for the asset-backed security purchasing programme [...]
Weak Eurozone data puts focus on ECB decision on asset purchase programme October 1, 2014 September was a month to forget for the Eurozone as survey data released yesterday shows growth in the manufacturing sector was at a 14-month low over the month. The purchasing managers index (PMI) compiled by Markit scored a 50.3. A score above 50 indicates growth but this very weak growth suggests the Eurozone economy is [...]