Europe Economics Weekly Banking strains won’t ease soon On the face of it, there were some encouraging signs last week that the euro-zone banking system is becoming less reliant on the ECB for funding and is switching to borrowing from more conventional... 5th July 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Euro-zone divergences widening Last week’s news on the euro-zone economy was fairly downbeat and suggested that divergences within the region have continued to widen. Germany, in particular, still seems to be benefitting from the... 28th June 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Euro’s decline to resume before long On the face of it, the fact that the euro last week saw its strongest weekly gain in nine months might suggest that the worst is past for the single currency. The improvement could partly have... 21st June 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Recovery continues, but fiscal squeeze looms On the face of it, the latest news on the euro-zone economy has been reasonably encouraging, suggesting that the recovery has continued despite the fiscal crisis. National data point to another... 14th June 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Euro-zone banks back in the spotlight The past week’s data have added to concerns that strains in the region’s periphery are spreading to broader economic activity. While business sentiment remains consistent with a continued recovery for... 7th June 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Markets' gloom could soon hit households and firms Recent market developments, coupled with the prospect of a prolonged bout of fiscal consolidation, appear to be starting to have a damaging impact on confidence in the wider euro-zone economy. In the... 31st May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Weaker euro unlikely to solve the region’s woes On the face of it, the recent weakening of the euro should provide the euro-zone’s external sector with a boost over the coming months. But given that exporters have tended previously to respond to a... 24th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Euro heading for parity While some of the forces bearing down on the euro over recent months may now be easing, there are plenty of other reasons to expect the currency to fall further. Indeed, our forecast that the euro... 17th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Contagion concerns will surely deepen The continued turmoil of Greek financial markets reflects a growing recognition that the rescue package - even if delivered swiftly - does not address Greece’s fundamental problems. There is still a... 10th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Greece takes a step back from the brink With signs that Europe is perhaps finally getting its act together and is close to finalising a bailout package, the chances of a near term Greek Government default have greatly diminished. While... 3rd May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Recovery continues, but medium-term worries grow Last week’s euro-zone data will have added to hopes that the recovery resumed at the start of this year, following Q4’s stagnation. But concerns about the region’s medium-term prospects remain, with... 26th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Show us the money! Despite the firmer details provided on the Greek rescue package, markets have made it crystal clear that they have deep reservations about the bailout. Before even considering lending on more... 19th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Modest industrial recovery on track Last week’s further blow-out in Greek bond yields suggests that any slim chances that Greece had of muddling through its crisis on its own have all but evaporated. Some form of rescue - or at least a... 12th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Pick-up in euro-zone inflation unlikely to last March’s stronger than expected rise in CPI inflation, combined with the recent depreciation of the euro, may ignite fears that inflationary pressures in the euro-zone are beginning to build. But we... 5th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Euro to fall further as growth prospects weaken The latest news on the euro-zone has been mixed. March’s business surveys brought hope that the recovery has not ground completely to a halt and the agreement of a Greek rescue package was a relief... 29th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Few signs of hope for the euro-zone’s periphery Developments of the past week have brought very little comfort for the euro-zone’s troubled periphery. There has been only limited progress on aid for Greece and the EC has reiterated the need for... 22nd March 2010 · 1 min read
