MEPs voiced startlingly different views on the state of Greece’s economic adjustment programme, its impact and the prospects for future negotiations between Greece and its creditors, in a public debate with Commissioner Pierre Moscovici on Tuesday afternoon. Commissioner Moscovici kicked off the debate on a positive note, going through a long list of reforms that have been … [Read more...]
Financial Stability A Precondition For Social Welfare, Says Balz
Unstable economies lead to social problems, said leading EPP Group MEPs in today's joint debate on the 2016 European Semester which took place in the European Parliament’s plenary session. "This European Semester report introduces new social indicators that allow the monitoring of any imbalances in Member States that will undermine growth and job creation. This is important … [Read more...]
German Ifo Takes A Dive In Icy February
Wake-up call. Global events have finally reached German companies’ boardrooms, writes Carsten Brezski, Chief Economist at ING-DiBa. At least this is one conclusion of today’s Ifo reading. Germany’s most prominent leading indicator, the just released Ifo index, dropped to 105.7 in February, from 107.3 in January; the third decline in a row and the lowest reading since January … [Read more...]
Closing ‘Mentoring Gap’ Boost Economy, Says Sage
Closing the ‘mentoring gap’ could help the UK’s 4.9 million small businesses double their chances of increasing turnover, generating millions of pounds for the UK economy, according to Sage, a leading software provider to small and medium sized businesses. Sage is launching Business Navigators, a campaign to encourage small businesses to make use of business mentors and … [Read more...]
Bah! Humbug! German New Orders Disappoint
Still zig-zagging. Festive cheer is lacking as new figures show German new orders disappointed in October, dropping by 2.2% MoM, from a 3.1% increase in September. On the year, new orders are still up by 1.9%. The drop was broadly driven by weaker foreign and domestic demand. German new orders have been on a zig-zag trend for more than a year. Over the last year, there were … [Read more...]
German Growth ‘Normalisation’… Whatever That Might Look Like
Back to normal. After a strong second quarter, the German economy has returned to its potential growth rate in the third quarter. According to the first estimate of the German statistical office, the economy grew by 0.3% QoQ, from 0.7% QoQ in 2Q. On the year, German GDP is up by 1.1%, from 0.9% in 2Q. The individual growth components will only be released at the end of the … [Read more...]
The Slim Summit. Barroso Gets Refit And Focused On SMEs
David Cameron is always convinced the EU is losing a few pounds, but more evidence of health fads at the Commission emerged post-Summit. Gone was mention of a well-toned financial Six-Pack, but, wait for it, we're all buzz with REFIT... Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, is King of the Political Treadmill, but everyone left the Summit marathon wondering … [Read more...]
Keep A Spy On The Economy – German Ifo Drops, But Outlook ‘Stable’
Shocked by the slowdown? Germany's most prominent leading indicator, the Ifo index, dropped in October to107.4 from 107.7. While the current assessment component fell 103.6, from 104.2, expectations remained almost stable. The German economy remains in good shape. The solid labour market and recovering industrial activity bode well for stable growth in the coming quarters. … [Read more...]