Visit/investments/bonds/government-bonds/600738/keep-an-eye-on-swedens-interest-rates
Keep an eye on Sweden's interest rates
Could Sweden be poised to return to negative interest rates?
31 Jan 2020
Visit/economy/uk-economy/brexit/600739/boris-johnsons-big-brexit-plan
Boris Johnson’s big Brexit plan
The prime minister needs to get Brexit done, and get the economy growing – particularly for first-time Tory voters. Can he manage all that while negot…
30 Jan 2020
Visit/520380/investors-neednt-fear-the-rise-of-europes-green-parties
Investors needn’t fear the rise of Europe’s green parties
Green parties across Europe are finding the centre-right to be natural allies. That will be great for business, says Matthew Lynn.
12 Jan 2020
Visit/520010/sweden-ditches-negative-interest-rates
Sweden ditches negative interest rates
Sweden has ended its experiment with negative interest rates. The Sveriges Riksbank, the world’s oldest central bank, has raised the main interest rat…
26 Dec 2019
Visit/519871/france-pensions-revolt
What's behind the great French pensions revolt?
Workers in France are on strike and taking to the streets to protest against President Macron’s reforms. We’ve seen this play before – but this time t…
21 Dec 2019
Visit/519581/eu-throws-green-spanner-in-the-trade-works
EU throws green spanner in the works of global trade
Europe has big plans for the environment – but making them work without damaging world trade will be a challenge.
12 Dec 2019
Visit/518606/how-christine-lagardes-drive-for-ever-closer-union-will-affect-your-wallet
How Christine Lagarde’s drive for ever-closer union will affect your wallet
Christine Lagarde, the new head of the European Central Bank, has made it clear she will bankroll the EU’s push for “ever closer union”. John Stepek e…
25 Nov 2019
Visit/518464/germany-global-barometer
Germany: a better global barometer than China or the US
It's quite possible that the country that matters most to the global economy is not China or the United States, but Germany.
22 Nov 2019
Visit/518059/could-spain-be-the-next-italy
Could Spain's free-spending government make it the next Italy?
Spain's new government could do a deal with the country's populist parties, leading to a fiscally irresponsible spending splurge, just like Italy.
15 Nov 2019
Visit/517916/money-minute-thursday-14-november
Money Minute Thursday 14 November: will Germany fall into recession?
In today's Money Minute we get GDP figures from the eurozone – with particular focus on whether Germany can avoid recession.
14 Nov 2019
Visit/517419/chart-of-the-week-swedens-high-cost-of-negative-interest-rates
Chart of the week: Sweden's high cost of negative interest rates
Sweden's Riksbank, pioneered the use of negative interest rates after the financial crisis. But its drastic action has driven private debt in Sweden t…
4 Nov 2019
Visit/517359/the-troubled-legacy-of-mario-draghi-saviour-of-the-euro
The troubled legacy of Mario Draghi, saviour of the euro
Mario Draghi may have rescued the euro in its darkest hour, but failed in his only official mission of keeping inflation within its target range.
1 Nov 2019
Visit/516950/who-will-save-the-euro-now-mario-draghi-has-gone
Who will save the euro after Mario Draghi has gone?
Mario Draghi – a safe pair of hands at the ECB – is succeeded by Christine Lagarde, a lawyer who thought Argentina good for a loan.
27 Oct 2019
Visit/517001/turkish-stocks-are-cheap-but-for-a-good-reason
Turkish stocks are cheap – but for a good reason
Turkish stocks are undoubtedly cheap, and very brave bargain-hunters may spy opportunity, but this market is cheap for a very good reason.
25 Oct 2019
Visit/516668/eastern-europe-is-a-bargain
Eastern European stocks are a bargain
The small size of the region’s markets means that Eastern European stocks are often overlooked in favour of bigger Asian growth stories. Yet there is …
18 Oct 2019
Visit/516027/europes-radical-monetary-experiment
Europe’s radical monetary experiment
As the eurozone's economy sinks, the European Central Bank is thinking big. That’s worrying, says Matthew Lynn.
6 Oct 2019
Visit/515962/europe-the-bumpy-road-to-a-single-market
Europe: the bumpy road to a single market
The aim of converting the European nations into a unified economic zone remains an ideal to achieve for the EU. Completing the task should be a primar…
5 Oct 2019
Visit/515976/european-stocks-will-bounce
European stocks will bounce
More monetary easing may do little to help the eurozone's ailing economy, but it is good news for European stocks.
4 Oct 2019
Visit/515333/mario-draghis-last-hurrah
Mario Draghi’s last hurrah
Mario Draghi, the European Central Bank boss, steps down shortly. What has he achieved with his parting shot?
23 Sep 2019
Visit/515119/money-minute-tuesday-17-september-german-economic-sentiment-and-us-industrial-production
Money Minute Tuesday 17 September: German economic sentiment and US industrial production
Tuesday's Money Minute looks at the latest snapshot of economic confidence in Germany and, from the US, the latest report on industrial production.
17 Sep 2019
Visit/515063/what-mario-draghis-legacy-move-means-for-markets
What Mario Draghi’s legacy move means for markets
Yesterday was Mario Draghi’s last chance to leave a lasting impression on eurozone monetary policy. And that seems to be just what he’s done. John Ste…
13 Sep 2019
Visit/515014/mario-draghi-pulls-out-his-big-bazooka
Mario Draghi pulls out his big bazooka
Mario Draghi pulled out the biggest bazooka he could find in his second-last monetary policy meeting as boss of the European Central Bank. John Stepek…
12 Sep 2019
Visit/514995/if-mario-draghi-fails-to-deliver-today-there-will-be-a-lot-of-disappointed-investors
If Mario Draghi fails to deliver today, there will be a lot of disappointed investors
Markets expect European Central Bank boss Mario Draghi to deliver extra stimulus at his policy meeting today. But can he live up to their expectations…
12 Sep 2019
Visit/514774/money-minute-thursday-12-september-ecb-interest-rate-decision
Money Minute, Thursday 12 September: ECB interest rate decision
Money Minute is all about the European Central Bank today, with markets expecting an interest rate cut as a bare minimum.
11 Sep 2019
Visit/514591/can-mario-draghi-save-the-eurozone-all-over-again
Can Mario Draghi save the eurozone all over again?
Mario Draghi’s policy of doing “whatever it takes” is credited with ending the eurozone’s economic panic in summer 2012. Now, Europe is facing the spe…
9 Sep 2019
Visit/514189/money-minute-wednesday-4-september-eurozone-retail-data-and-canadian-inflation
Money Minute, Wednesday 4 September: eurozone retail data and Canadian inflation
In Wednesday's Money Minute, we preview July’s retail sales data for the eurozone and Canada's latest decision on interest rates.
3 Sep 2019
Visit/514188/money-minute-tuesday-3-september-us-and-european-manufacturing-figures
Money Minute, Tuesday 3 September: US and European manufacturing figures
Welcome to Tuesday's Money Minute, in which we preview the big stories of the day in just 60 seconds. Today, we get the latest manufacturing figures f…
3 Sep 2019
Visit/513774/money-minute-german-consumer-confidence
Money Minute, Wednesday 28 August: German consumer confidence
Welcome to today's Money Minute, your 60-second preview of the day's most important economic issues. One data release to watch for today is German con…
28 Aug 2019
Visit/513613/germany-on-the-brink
Germany on the brink
GDP in Europe’s largest economy fell 0.1% in the second quarter and early signs for this quarter are ominous. Alex Rankine reports.
23 Aug 2019
Visit/513380/are-we-about-to-see-an-epic-splurge-of-government-spending
Are we about to see an epic splurge of government spending?
Investors are worried that central banks are running out of ways to "stimulate" economic growth, writes John Stepek. Never mind – there's always the g…
20 Aug 2019
Visit/513149/why-german-exports-are-falling
Why German exports are falling
Project Fear failed to move us Brits, but it should really have put the wind up the Germans, says Matthew Lynn.
17 Aug 2019
Visit/513130/the-threat-to-europes-banks
The threat to Europe’s banks
While the Euro Stoxx index has rallied 15% this year on the prospect of interest-rate cuts, eurozone banks have been notably absent from the festiviti…
16 Aug 2019
Visit/512806/adventurous-investors-should-head-for-the-frontier-in-georgia
Adventurous investors should head for the frontier in Georgia
Georgia Capital, a London-listed investment fund, is trading on a big discount and looks a good bet for the brave.
13 Aug 2019
Visit/512683/renault-and-nissan-reboot-or-divorce
Renault and Nissan: reboot or divorce?
Renault and Nissan have opened talks on the idea of Renault reducing its 43% stake in its Japanese partner.
8 Aug 2019
Visit/512790/eurozone-economy-bond-yields
Are trade wars rattling markets, or is it fear of another blow-up in Europe?
As the trade war intensifies, developed-world government bonds have sunk to new lows. But the root cause of the markets' jitters could lie not so much…
8 Aug 2019
Visit/512189/will-the-ecb-start-buying-equities
Will the ECB start buying equities?
Larry Fink, the chief executive of asset manager BlackRock, has called on the ECB to buy European stocks with newly created cash.
1 Aug 2019
Visit/512062/blackrock-is-wrong-nationalising-capitalism-is-a-bad-idea
BlackRock is wrong: nationalising capitalism is a bad idea
Asset manager BlackRock thinks the ECB should start buying equities. But that would distort pricing signals; be anti-free markets; and would be almost…
30 Jul 2019
Visit/511185/warehouses-invest-in-europes-e-commerce-boom
How to invest in Europe’s e-commerce boom
Online sales are growing fast. That means strong demand for warehouses and opportunity for investors.
24 Jul 2019
Visit/511362/a-tough-road-ahead-for-new-eu-president
A tough road ahead for new EU president
The new president of the European Commission, Germany's Ursula von der Leyen, has her work cut out.
18 Jul 2019
Visit/511162/chart-of-the-week-french-wage-inflation
Chart of the week: French wage inflation gathers pace
Unemployment in France is at a ten-year low, which is creating production bottlenecks and boosting the annual rate of wage inflation.
16 Jul 2019
Visit/510909/lend-to-germany-at-0-weve-seen-even-stranger-things-in-the-bond-market
Lend to Germany at 0%? We’ve seen even stranger things in the bond market
If you want to lend money to the German government, you won't be getting any interest. In fact, you may have to pay. John Stepek explains what's going…
12 Jul 2019
Visit/510763/greece-back-in-business
Greece: back in business
Victory for the centre-right in last Sunday’s Greek election is good news for the country’s stockmarket.
11 Jul 2019
Visit/510749/deutsche-bank-beats-a-retreat
Deutsche Bank beats a retreat
Deutsche Bank, Germany’s biggest bank, has presented its latest plan to get out of trouble. But is it all too little too late? Ben Judge reports.
11 Jul 2019
Visit/509761/carrefour-checks-out-of-china
Carrefour checks out of China
Supermarket group Carrefour is selling an 80% stake in its Chinese division, after trying various tactics to bolster its performance.
27 Jun 2019
Visit/509354/berlin-targets-big-landlords-with-rent-freeze
Berlin targets big landlords with rent freeze
Shares in German landlord Deutsche Wohnen have fallen by almost a fifth in two weeks following news that Berlin’s senate has approved a draft bill for…
24 Jun 2019
Visit/509441/disappointing-employment-figures-mask-a-much-rosier-picture
Disappointing employment figures mask a much rosier picture
The May employment report in the US was mildly disappointing. But in America, as in the UK and Europe, the labour market is looking super strong, says…
20 Jun 2019
Visit/509160/what-does-lufthansas-profit-warning-mean-for-airline-stocks
What does Lufthansa’s profit warning mean for airline stocks?
German airline Lufthansa issued a profit warning this morning. And it’s not the only airline finding things tough. But are there any bargains in the s…
17 Jun 2019
Visit/508091/bond-yields-are-back-at-record-lows-why-are-investors-so-scared
Bond yields are back at record lows – why are investors so scared?
Government bond yields have slumped to their lowest level ever as investors flee to the safety of sovereign debt. John Stepek explains what's got ever…
31 May 2019
Visit/507840/italys-debt-is-in-the-news-again
Italy’s debt is in the news again. You can ignore it – but only for now
Italy's debt is sitting at 132% of GDP. And it’s looking to spend more. That's not a problem for investors right now, says John Stepek. But there is a…
30 May 2019