Europe

Let’s not get bogged down in numbers. The EFSF could have 440 billion euros behind, 1 trillion, 2 trillion, even 10 trillion euros, but it all comes back to the funding sources. The French are right: it makes no sense to implement this…

Controversial Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi appears to have finally capitulated to international and domestic pressure. Press reports indicate that he has agreed to step down by January. This in turn will bring forward elections,…

In China’s fight against the United States as an alleged currency manipulator, it is now trying to draw in the embattled euro zone. Agence France Press says that the Chinese are willing to contribute to the leveraged EFSF now set to be…

Dollar largely softer vs. majors as markets await outcome of the European summit today. Signs point to a “bare minimum” response from European policy-makers; euro upside seems limited. EM currencies mixed; TRY outperforming on apparent…

This is an update of a post I wrote at the beginning of September about European political dysfunction.

Tomorrow's EU Summit is the markets main focus. The key issue is whether European officials can finally provide closure to the two year old debt crisis and deliver the "comprehensive" and "decisive" package they have repeatedly promised. We…

European stocks edge to a two-month high ahead of tomorrow’s summit; USD mostly softer ahead of open. There is still room for the EZ policy makers to disappoint tomorrow; S&P 500 approaching 200dma. BoC likely to remain on hold but…

Italy argues that the ECB has made the crisis worse because it refuses to stand at the ready as a lender of last resort like other central banks, an argument I have also made. However, the Italians suggest that the EU is facing a liquidity…

This video of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has stirred a sense of nationalistic pride in Italy. Everyone seems to be talking about it.

Euro zone summit ends with no line drawn in the sand; European PMI surprises to the downside. Markets look for euro zone to present comprehensive three-pong approach to finalize crisis this week. US Q3 GDP expected at 2.5%’; Private sector…