STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY: WASHINGTON’S IDEOLOGICAL BATTLE AT INFLECTION POINT

–‘I Have a Dream’ or “I Have a Nightmare?’ WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Monday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. •        Great battles seldom preserve the status quo and the one shaping up in Washington could greatly accelerate ideological change or usher in an […]

ITALY RECOVERY AHEAD, BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IN 2023 – BOI

By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MNI) – The Bank of Italy Friday forecast an average 3.5% GDP growth this year, 3.8% in 2022 and and 2.3% in 2023 when pre-crisis levels are expected to be recovered. In its economic bulletin the BOI said the European Central Bank’s ongoing accommodative policy stance and new European measures aimed […]

ITALY GOVT FACES RISK OF COLLAPSE, SHOWDOWN FOR PM CONTE OVER EU AID – SOURCES

By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy faces the risk of a government crisis right in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic as the minor Italia Viva party threatens to pull out of the ruling coalition if a new ruling pact isn’t reached.  A meeting scheduled on Tuesday between coalition parties will be showdown time […]

ITALY TO SEEK MORE FLEXIBILITY OVER NEW EU RULES ON NPL’S – COALITION SOURCES

By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy wants greater flexibility over new tighter European-wide credit rules that could further worsen liquidity, according to ruling coalition sources.  The new framework, that came into force on January 1, introduces stricter parameters for the ‘default’ classification on non-performing loans and so-called ‘calendar provisioning’ for write-offs, combining a 90-day […]

ITALY TO SELL MORE USD-DENOMINATED BONDS IN 2021; NEW ‘GREEN’ SECURITIES – SOURCES

By Silvia Marchetti ROME (Mace News) – Italy’s government aims to issue more U.S. dollar-denominated bonds this year alongside new green bonds and retail securities aimed at supporting pandemic measures, according to ruling coalition sources.  The goal is to keep diversifying the investor base through new issuances in foreign currencies both in the Global and […]

ITALY’S 5 STARS DISSIDENTS TO VOTE AGAINST ESM REFORM, GOVT AT RISK – SOURCES

By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Dissidents within Italy’s 5 Stars Movement ruling party will vote Wednesday against authorizing the European Stability Mechanism reform, and their opposition could spur a government collapse, 5 Stars sources said.  Premier Giuseppe Conte is scheduled to address parliament on Wednesday on Italy’s position ahead of a key European Union […]

ITALY WORKING ON PLAN TO START ISSUING GREEN BONDS – SOURCES

By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s government is honing its first-ever green bonds issuance plan to be launched soon to fund environmental projects, according to ruling coalition sources. Key investment areas have been identified but the framework, containing the standards and list of specific projects, is still to be defined, though sources say it will […]

EURO AREA BUSINESS SENTIMENT POSTS FIRST DROP SINCE APRIL

By Marco Babic ZURICH (MaceNews) – Economic sentiment in the euro area fell in November for the first time since April when the effects of the first COVID-19 wave pushed sentiment sharply lower. The Economic Sentiment Index (ESI) for the countries sharing the euro fell “markedly” in November to 87.6 from 91.1 the previous month, […]

COVID RESURGENCE RAISES EU FINANCIAL STABILITY RISKS, AFFECTS GROWTH OUTLOOK – BOI

By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MacsNews) – The second COVID-19 wave hitting Europe and in Italy is raising financial stability risks and could worsen the outlook, the Bank of Italy warned Friday in its Financial Stability Report.  Even though summer’s economic recovery was greater than expected also thanks to the support of monetary policy, “the risks […]