Draghi’s Government May Stumble Over Thorny Justice Reform; Ruling Coalition Stability at Risk – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Prime Minister Mario Draghi is facing his first major hurdle since rising to power as coalition differences over proposed justice reform risk destabilizing the ruling coalition, according to party sources. The reform is expected to land in parliament on Monday for initial debate and be followed by the government’s […]
ECB Adds Dovish Tweak To Forward Guidance, Hints at Governing Council Disagreement On Rates
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank adopted a more dovish tone after its latest rate-setting meeting, but ECB President Christine Lagarde hinted at a lack of agreement among Governing Council members over interest rate policy. Adopting new forward guidance in the wake of a policy review unveiled on 8 July, the […]
Bank of England Rate Setter Warns Against Tighter Policy
— “Economy not fully recovered,” says MPC member Jonathan Haskel By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) — The UK economic recovery is not sufficiently robust to warrant tighter monetary policy, according to rate setter Jonathan Haskel, placing him at odds with two colleagues who last week advocated for a rethink of extreme monetary accommodation. “My preference at […]
Bank of England Officials Hint at Earlier-Than-Expected Tightening
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) — Two Bank of England rate setters have suggested that UK recovery has become sufficiently entrenched to warrant a reduction in monetary accommodation. Forward guidance set at the latest Monetary Policy Committee meetings “no longer rules out tightening,” said external MPC member Michael Saunders, adding that conditions on tightening policy “have […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: Global Investors’ Overall Upbeat Attitude In July Sees Still Sizable Overweights In Stocks And Commodities
By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global investors, while much less bullish than in prior months, maintained an overall upbeat attitude in July, as evidenced by still sizable overweight holdings in stocks and commodities, according to the findings of BofA Global Research’s monthly fund manager survey, released Tuesday. Growth expectations slipped again on the […]
ECB Decision to Accelerate PEPP Purchases Was Not Reached Unanimously
By Laurie Laird — Some Governing Council members advocated a slowdown in bond buying, according to minutes of June meeting LONDON (MaceNews) – Not all European Central Bank rate setters supported the most recent decision to accelerate asset purchases, with some advocating a slower pace of acquisitions as the eurozone economy outperforms expectations. “In view […]
Italy’s 5 Stars Movement Likely to Collapse; ‘Trump-Style’ Populism Over – Sources
By Silvia Marchettia ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s populist Five Star movement is likely heading towards an implosion to the benefit of the entire ruling coalition and the country’s future, according to other allied party sources. “They’re lost, without a leader and a clear way forward. Many members have ditched the group while others eye to […]
ECB Lifts Inflation Target to 2%, Willing to Tolerate Overshoot
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank Thursday lifted its inflation target to 2% and vowed to tolerate a short-term overshoot of the target. The new target is “not a ceiling,” said ECB President Christine Lagarde, presenting the Bank’s strategy review. Previously the bank aimed for a target of close to but […]
Germany’s Industrial Output Unexpectedly Contracted in May; Down 0.3% From April
ZURICH (MaceNews) – Germany’s industrial production unexpectedly fell in May compared to April, falling 0.3 percent, the Federal Statistics Office (Destatis) in Wiesbaden reported. Expectations were for a 0.5 percent increase for the month, according to the median of an Econoday survey of economists’ forecasts. The April result was revised higher to a decline of […]
Germany’s Economic Outlook and Current Conditions Diverge in July: ZEW
ZURICH (MaceNews) – The economic outlook in Germany for the next six months fell more than expected in July, while current conditions improved markedly, according to the latest report from the ZEW Institute in Mannheim. The Economic Sentiment indicator which measures economic expectations for the next six months fell 16.5 points in July to 63.3, […]