Europe

Highlights The US dollar is consolidating yesterday’s decline and has largely been confined to narrow trading ranges.   With the Greek bill auction behind it, the market may lack a clear focus, but sentiment towards the euro…

The Maginot Line, named after French Minister of Defense André Maginot, was a line of defenses which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy after suffering appalling damage and casualties during World War I. The French…

William White, the former chief economist at the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) gave an important speech at George Soros' Inaugural Institute of New Economic Thinking (INET) conference in Cambridge.  While everyone is casting…

Highlights The US dollar is broadly mixed today.  Details of the funding facility for Greece have spurred strong gains in the euro, lifting European currencies in general.  However, the greenback is holding its own against the…

Well, it seems the EU leadership have finally been able to take a decision on what to lend and what to charge (see original post here). According to initial press reports the German government has decided in principal to participate in…

Angela Merkel is a Chemist. In her doctoral thesis - entitled "Untersuchung des Mechanismus von Zerfallsreaktionen mit einfachem Bindungsbruch und Berechnung ihrer Geschwindigkeitskonstanten auf der Grundlage quantenchemischer und…

Intel demos software that reads your mind | Cutting Edge – CNET News FT.com – Merryn Somerset Webb: Debt debacle is not going to go away Polish President, Bank Chief in Plane Crash, Reports – Bloomberg.com East Germany's…

I would love to have gone to the Institute of New Economic Thinking (INET) conference in Cambridge, but the timing was wrong for me.  The effort, sponsored by George Soros, is a much needed collaboration of ideas to help prevent a…

In honour of Greece, I present you a little Greece Lightning. Let's hope this is what European policy makers are using this weekend. Why this country could be automatic It could be systematic, hydromatic, ultramatic Why it could be…

Fitch, the ratings agency, has decided enough is enough and has downgraded Greece to BBB-.  This is still investment grade despite obvious signs that Greece is no longer an investment grade risk.  Not only are the Greeks now…