France

Sean Egan explains that this downgrade came because of increasing concerns that France's banks will have to be bailed out by the government. Video below

Foreign news for 1 December 2011 focuses on Europe, and in particular Spain.

The major currencies are consolidating in yesterday's broad trading ranges, but the "real" action is in the European bond markets, with acceptable auctions in Spain and France, helping support of a bond market rally that was already…

According to Spanish website Cinco Dias, France and Germany want to move from a 3% deficit target to balanced budget by the year 2016. This aim points to a clear intention by the two countries to present a deal on fiscal integration and…

A French press report warned that S&P could put France on negative credit watch within a couple of weeks. Moody's warned that all 27 EU countries are at risk from the euro zone debt crisis. Moody's also placed subordinated debt,…

What is becoming clearer to almost everyone is that this is now no longer simply a Euro periphery sovereign debt crisis. It has become a full blown crisis of confidence in the Euro itself.

Foreign-language news for 27 November 2011

The rumour mill is grinding particularly fast at the moment. Germany and France seem to be working on the famous nuclear solution, Spain plays tough on outsiders, the IMF is rumoured to be preparing an aid package for Italy not to mention…

A decision tree on what the future of the euro would look like based on different policy responses

There have been several important developments over the weekend which are likely to support the euro at the start of the week, after falling for the past four consecutive weeks and recording a 7-week low before the weekend. However, I…