Europe Economics Weekly Another tough year ahead We have revised up our near-term forecasts for the euro-zone economy in response to improving global economic prospects and signs that domestic demand may be picking up. But with the region’s... 27th December 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly European policymakers still doing the bare minimum The news that EU leaders reached agreement last week on the treaty changes required to establish a “permanent crisis mechanism” in 2013 is unlikely to ease pressures in the peripheral bond markets... 20th December 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Still no light at the end of the tunnel for the periphery Last week was a mixed one for the euro-zone’s peripheral economies. While it was a relatively quiet week in the financial markets, the economic news did nothing to alter our view that growth prospects... 13th December 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly ECB actions speak louder than words, but for how long? Any disappointment that the ECB failed last week to commit to a major stepping up of its bond purchases was offset by reports that it had nonetheless bought large amounts of peripheral bonds. But it... 6th December 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly German growth amid peripheral peril Ireland’s bailout and four-year fiscal plan have failed to reduce concerns about the euro-zone’s periphery. In fact, they are spreading again, most worryingly to Spain. While the risk of such a large... 29th November 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly What will an Irish bailout package look like? Over the past week, it has become increasingly clear that it is now a matter of when, rather than if, Ireland receives some kind of financial support package. But there are still several unanswered... 22nd November 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Recovery slowing as peripheral woes deepen This week has seen worries about the euro-zone’s periphery escalate again, with Ireland in the spotlight. While the gradually emerging details of a permanent “crisis resolution mechanism” have helped... 15th November 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Is the euro defying gravity? The euro’s further rise certainly has not supported our forecast that it might eventually fall to parity against the dollar. The worries about peripheral debt that we had expected to drive the... 8th November 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Industrial recovery still going strong for now Recent news from the euro-zone industrial sector has provided some encouraging signs that, for now at least, output is merely starting to grow at a more sustainable rate, rather than grinding to a... 1st November 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Still battling to achieve fiscal stability Last week was characterised by fairly downbeat news on economic activity and ongoing struggles to achieve fiscal goals. Although the German business surveys remained positive, October’s fall in the... 25th October 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly ECB sitting stubbornly on the sidelines The latest speech by Governing Council member Axel Weber has highlighted the growing divergence between the ECB and more pro-active central banks elsewhere. We hope that the Bank might yet take bolder... 18th October 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly How much will the strong euro hurt? The euro’s rise to a nine-month high against the US dollar last week suggests that the euro-zone has lost what may turn out to be the opening skirmishes of a global currency war. If the euro remained... 11th October 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Ireland: Closure or Calamity? The Irish Government deserves some credit for coming clean last week on the “horrendous” costs of its banking support measures, although its openness may have been dictated as much by public... 4th October 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Markets' concerns about the periphery spiral higher Last week was another rollercoaster ride for the euro-zone’s periphery. Disappointing Irish and Portuguese data provided a timely reminder of the task that both governments face to put their public... 27th September 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Wage pressures to remain subdued Last week’s data brought further evidence of persistent weakness in euro-zone labour markets, with employment stagnating in Q2 and annual wage growth slowing. Admittedly, while pay cuts continued in... 20th September 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Banking worries continue to weigh on the periphery The recent slide in the euro and rise in peripheral bond yields appears to reflect renewed concerns about the health of the region’s banks. These concerns may only subside once the peripheral... 13th September 2010 · 1 min read
