Euro, dissolve?

First Greece, then Ireland, and now? The eurozone is in a bit of a mess, and the way out is unclear. European leaders who met for a crisis summit mid-December felt the pressure to create a permanent debt mechanism for 2013, when the temporary European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) will run out. This sounds rather productive [...]

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New York Market Commentary – 23 Nov 2010

Today’s New York Pre-Market Commentary I have written for S&P European MarketScope: New York Market Commentary – original published 23 November 2010, 14:03 GMT US stock futures are sharply lower, as concerns over tensions on the Korean peninsula add to ongoing woes over eurozone debt and global currency issues. Reports of an exchange of fire between North and [...]

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Is Ireland next?

Is Ireland next? Ireland’s costs of borrowing rose sharply yesterday, as 10-year government bond yields jumped to highs of 8.64%. Meanwhile, President of the European Comission Jose Manuel Barroso announced that the community would step in with support if the green isle needed it. Reportedly, Brian Cowen government has refrained from asking the EU for [...]

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The sick man at the Balkan

Greece is in a pickle. That’s a fact. The Hellenic republic dug itself into sovereign debt of over £250 billion. Therewith, Greece’s budget deficit adds up to 12.7% of its GDP – more than four times higher than eurozone rules allow. The situation is critical. This spring, Greece has to refinance a big chunk of [...]

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