Wall Street Journal (September 10)
“Mario Draghi laid out the European Central Bank’s latest bond-buying venture Thursday, and we suppose the good news is that it isn’t as sweeping as it might have been.” Still, it amounts to “another giant step into fiscal policy. This is far from the original vision of the euro, and the costs to the central bank’s political independence will be steep.” Furthermore, the benefits are marginal. “At best, the new program will give Messrs. Monti and Rajoy more time to promote the reforms in labor markets, taxation and other things their countries so desperately need to grow again.”
Tags: Bond-buying, ECB, euro, Fiscal policy, Italy, Mario Draghi, Monti, Rajoy, Spain
Washington Post (August 24)
Slammed by the debt crisis, Europeans are growing impatient with royal spending. Spain provides one example. “Shortly after confiding to his countrymen that he had been unable to sleep at night because of all the young unemployed people in his country, Spanish King Juan Carlos secretly hopped aboard a plane and went on a lavish safari to Botswana, where he shot elephants.” When they found out, “Spaniards were outraged. Newspapers calculated that such hunting trips cost twice the country’s average annual salary.”
Tags: Botswana, Europe, King Juan Carlos, Royalty, Safari, Spain, Unemployed
Institutional Investor (June 18)
“The relief rally that followed Sunday’s rather limited victory for euro zone unity in the Greek general election has proved unusually faint-hearted and short-lived, with the euro down sharply against the dollar despite initially climbing to a one-month high.” As if to emphasize that Greece is but one problem confronting Europe, yields on ten-year Spanish bonds rose “to a euro-era record above 7 percent.”
New York Times (June 11)
“Bailouts—this one is worth up to $125 billion—are supposed to help restore investor confidence. But investors have clearly figured out what too many European politicians are still denying: serial bailouts, piecemeal plans and one-size-fits-all austerity are not a solution.” The Spanish bailout did not calm anybody’s nerves. The next flashpoint lies just days away with the upcoming Greek election. “With every stopgap solution to the euro-zone debt crisis, the gaps have gotten larger and the stops have gotten shorter.”
“Bailouts—this one is worth up to $125 billion—are supposed to help restore investor confidence. But investors have clearly figured out what too many European politicians are still denying: serial bailouts, piecemeal plans and one-size-fits-all austerity are not a solution.” The Spanish bailout did not calm anybody’s nerves. The next flashpoint lies just days away with the upcoming Greek election. “With every stopgap solution to the euro-zone debt crisis, the gaps have gotten larger and the stops have gotten shorter.”
The Independent (May 31)
A day of stunning developments in the European debt crisis is summed up simply. “Spaniards are moving money out of their nation’s banks faster than at any point since records began, as Fitch downgrades eight regions and ECB President Mario Draghi warns Europe’s leaders must clarify their vision for the euro.”A day of stunning developments in the European debt crisis is summed up as “Spaniards are moving money out of their nation’s banks faster than at any point since records began, as Fitch downgrades eight regions and ECB President Mario Draghi warns Europe’s leaders must clarify their vision for the euro.”
Financial Times (May 30)
“US benchmark borrowing costs plunged to levels last seen in 1946 and those for Germany and the UK hit all-time lows as investors took fright at what they see as a disjointed policy response to the debt crisis in Spain and Italy.” Ten year yields fell to 1.62% on U.S. Treasuries and to 1.64% on UK gilts, the lowest since the start of recordkeeping in 1703. Meanwhile, yields on two-year German bunds hit zero, another first.
Euromoney (May 21)
As the European currency crisis continues to unfold, the spotlight shifts. “Spain’s economic political future hangs in the balance, as fears over Greece’s exit from the eurozone leave the credibility of its financial stabilization plans in tatters without urgent redress from eurozone policymakers.” And if Spain falls to contagion, there’s no telling where the downward spiral will end, though Italy would probably be the next to fall.
Boston Herald (May 13)Boston Herald (May 13)
“The failure of any party to form a new government following Greek national elections means the end of the euro currency there is almost a certainty. Thus dies the illusion that a common European currency would cure all ills…. Greece faces a grim future.” For Italy, Spain, Portugal and the rest of Europe “nothing is certain.”
“The failure of any party to form a new government following Greek national elections means the end of the euro currency there is almost a certainty. Thus dies the illusion that a common European currency would cure all ills…. Greece faces a grim future.” For Italy, Spain, Portugal and the rest of Europe “nothing is certain.”
Economist (April 28)
U.S. home prices have rapidly corrected, having “lost nearly all the real gains they notched up in the bubble period.” In contrast, the correction has been slower in Europe. “British, Irish and Spanish house prices are still well above their “fundamental” value, while those in America are about right.”
U.S. home prices have rapidly corrected, they “have lost nearly all the real gains they notched up in the bubble period.” In contrast, the correction has been slower in Europe. “British, Irish and Spanish house prices are still well above their “fundamental” value, while those in America are about right.”
Tags: Bubble, Correction, Housing prices, Ireland, Spain, U.S., UK
Financial Times (April 27)
The Spanish people were willing to suffer austerity when Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy “sent the people of Spain a message of hope for the future.” Now the hope is gone and “Mr Rajoy finds himself in an impossible situation. For all the talk of European solidarity, the EU has insisted that his deficit-reduction plan should proceed at an excessive pace. This was bound to trigger a popular backlash.” A similar backlash is rising up in Italy and the Netherlands. “Citizens may have been favourable to their initial message of austerity for a higher cause, but they will not tolerate being led into a dead-end.”
Tags: Austerity, Deficit reduction, EU, Italy, Netherlands, Rajoy, Spain
