Italy’s G20 Summit on Afghanistan: UN Tasked with Crisis Exit Road Map, IMF, World Bank Aim to Head off ‘Financial Collapse’
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – The G20 extraordinary summit on Afghanistan held on Tuesday under the Italian presidency mandated the United Nations with the task of defining a global ‘road map’ to tackle the humanitarian crisis and avoid the financial collapse of the nation. At the end of the online event, Italian premier Mario […]
Supply Bottlenecks Punish German Economic Sentiment in October
ZURICH (MaceNews) – Economic sentiment in Germany fell in October as supply bottlenecks for raw materials and intermediate products hamper the economy, according to the latest report from the ZEW Institute in Mannheim. The ZEW index of economic sentiment fell 4.2 points to 22.3 in October, below the 24.0 median of an Econoday survey of […]
Italy’s Government Tensions Likely to Spike Over Upcoming Thorny Competition Law – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Rome’s government is expected to clear by the end of October a key thorny competition law aimed at supporting investments, a law which is likely to further raise tensions among ruling allies, according to coalition sources. The decree, which was meant to be initially approved ahead of the summer, […]
Eurozone Inflation Again Driven Higher by Energy Costs
ZURICH (MaceNews) – Pushed by continued double-digit growth for energy costs, consumer prices in the Eurozone rose more than forecast for September, the latest data from Eurostat showed. Consumer prices as measured by HICP rose 3.4 percent in September according to preliminary figures, exceeding the median of 3.3 percent in an Econoday survey of economists’ […]
ECB’S Lagarde Downplays Prospect of Early Eurozone Rate Hike Despite Rising Inflation
— HICP expected to top 3% in December LONDON (MaceNews) – Eurozone interest rates are likely to remain at record lows for the foreseeable future, with the recent rise inflation seen as temporary, according to European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde. “The key challenge is to ensure that we do not overreact to transitory supply shocks,” […]
MaceNewsViews: Commentary – Sorry, Europe, the US – and China – Won’t Let You Sit This One Out
By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The German federal election proceeds as if the choices don’t matter all that much. Regardless of the personalities a relatively centrist coalition will finally endeavor to strike the path ahead, in Germany’s case, a path of least resistance – as long as it can. Climate, stability, prosperity. Chances are, […]
German Sept. Business Sentiment Fell Third Consecutive Month on Procurement Problems
ZURICH (MaceNews) – Sentiment among German businesses fell in September for the third month in a row, although not as much as had been expected by economists, according to the latest report from the Munich-based Ifo Institute. The Ifo Business Climate Index fell to 98.8 in September from a revised 99.6 (99.4) the previous month, […]
MaceNewsViews – Commentary: Nihilism’s Dream – The US Defaults
By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Those knowing think pieces and Op-Eds by veteran graybeards, scoffing at the super-hyped headlines about the dangers of a pending debt-limit impasse, should be reassuring. They’ve seen it all before, the six dozen or more times Congress allows the nation’s Treasury to start borrowing again, often at the last […]
Rome To Raise GDP Forecast, Lower Deficit, Debt Projections but Disputes Ahead on Funding Priorities, Sources Say
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s government is expected to raise its GDP growth forecast for this year to 6% and lower projected fiscal deficit and debt levels, but key spending measures will have to be scaled back to stabilize Italy’s finances, said ruling coalition sources. “The current scenario has improved compared to our […]
Eurozone Consumer Inflation Rose 3.0 Percent in August, Confirming Flash Estimate
ZURICH (MaceNews) – Inflation in the Eurozone rose to 3.0 percent in August, led by double-digitgrowth in energy costs, according to the latest report from Eurostat. Today’s result confirmed the flash estimate released previously and is faster than the 2.2 percentannual rate registered in July. Inflation has risen consistently over the past twelve months; a […]