Euro Crisis

Late surprise news that the Bank of Japan was to follow the ECB and Federal Reserve in providing more stimulus measures for its economy saw US markets rise yesterday, and a postivve effect was also seen in European markets this morning. Japan’s central bank announced it is to both extend and increase its bond purchasing programme. Today however, investor focus is shifting –  once...

European markets were today posting modest losses, as the rally sparked by news of renewed central bank stimulus measures ground to a halt meanwhile Spain’s resistance to request a full bail-out prompted worries about a spike in bond yields. In droves, traders were today moving capital to safe haven assests, such as German bonds. The […]

Just for a change it may be best not to get involved in the Euro/Eurozone/European Union quagmire. Instead, the theme here today is the recent rise of the single currency and the sentiment attached to the cross versus the U.S. Dollar. Indeed, from trading perspective over the past two years there has been only one […]

I have for months argued here that the experts have got it wrong. City analysts tell you that by slashing interest rates and by investing $99 billion in new infrastructure projects China can avoid a hard landing and its economy can “land softly” before growing again rapidly next year. The experts have already been shown […]

What is it that the banking industry doesn’t understand?  What is it that Barclays doesn’t understand?  There are days when the news is absolutely befuddling.  This is one of them. What the FSA is Saying to Barclays Just reading the morning headlines about Barclays ought to be confusing to UK banking customers.  “Regulator warns Barclays: […]

Today’s Update: Thirteenth Month of Eurozone Contraction Eurozone manufacturing output has fallen for the thirteenth month in a row. New figures show that the Performance of Manufacturing Index, PMI, for the Eurozone in August rose from 45.1 from 44 in July. PMI figures measure manufacturing output with any figure below 50 indicating a contraction and […]

Unemployment figures have risen in Germany for the fifth month in a row. Whilst remaining at a post-reunification jobless low the employment market has suffered following a second quarter of falling GDP figures. Down to 0.3 per cent GDP growth 9,000 more people were added to Germany’s unemployment figures taking the total to 2.901 million […]

I argued a few weeks ago on t1ps.com that AIM listed solar wafer producer PV Crystalox (LSE:PVCS) should shut its operations at once and return all its cash to shareholders. The share price is 7.9p valuing PV at £32 million and the company (as at the half year) had net cash of 122 million Euro,   […]

August 1st US treasury secretary Timothy Geithner has argued that Europe has the means and commitment necessary to resolve the continuing euro debt crisis. August 2nd The average yield on 10-year Spanish bonds has risen to 6.65%, a 0.22% from a bond sale in July. In addition to a yield increase demand for the bonds […]

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has flown to Berlin to meet with German Chancellor Angelia Merkel before a new sale of Italian debt to discuss the current state of the Eurozone crisis. Mr Monti is expected to call for the German government to support the recent European Central Bank plan to bring both Spain and […]