Marcus, Goldman Sachs’s retail digital bank, opened officially in the UK on 27 September. It is an investment bank which enters the retail sector and a new participant in a mature market. But for the established names, however, “it marks the beginning of something that could cause significant disruption of prices”, analysts at Santander explain.
In the initiative launched by the Italian authorities towards Brussels, the adequate single approach of avoiding confrontation and waiting to have all the information before commiting itself has been confirmed. The President of the Eurogroup reinforced this approach yesterday by recalling that the creation of a budget is a long process and that he will have to await the draft before giving a firm opinion.
Israel Rafalovich (Brussels) | Mr. Draghi urged action through organisations such as the WTO to address variations in tax regimes, take a stand on labour regulations and put in place tougher rules for cross border finance. Mr. Draghi pointed out that in order to accomplish that the EU would have to strengthen it own institutions including setting up a country risk sharing institution for the of the 19-country euro zone.
Last week the Italian Government approved a public deficit targets of – 2.4% of GDP for 2019-21 which will be included in the draft budget for 2019. The Minister of Finance, Giovanni Tria, has been under considerable pressure from the Lega and Five Stars, and has had to accommodate their electoral promises in the budget. One of the most important consequences of developing these budget will be a ferocious debate with the EU.
Orsolya Raczova | The UK is due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, but because of the necessary ratification procedures of an agreement, the plan was to reach a deal by the EU summit starting October 18. Although this deadline has been extended to mid-November, there is still worry that no deal would be reached.
Ioannis Glinavos via Macropolis | Those at the receiving end of austerity policies and fiscal consolidation measures aimed at stabilizing the eurozone during and after the debt crisis of 2010 have sought redress in the courts, hoping to find an argument that can convince the law to come to their assistance.
“The unifying factor in the Italian coalition of two disparate political parties is firm agreement on the flaws of the EU’s deficit limits, and the risk is that any conciliation with the EU fronted by the Minister of Economy and Finances Giovanni Tria may amount to nothing more than political expedience,” commented today Neil Mellor Senior Currency Strategist at BNY Mellon.
Overall the European financial system grew 0.9% in 2017 (2.8% for the Eurozone) through the banks. The size of the SBS remained relatively stable. This contrasts with its evolution in 2012-2015 when its average annual growth was 9%. The size of shadow banking in the EU, in fact, varied little in 2017, with total assets of 42 trillion at the end of the year.
via The Conversation | With the prospect of a no-deal Brexit edging closer to reality, the European Union is trying to foster some kind of deal on the remaining issues. Lead negotiator Michel Barnier has suggested that if both sides are “realistic”, there could be an agreement by the beginning of November.
Arek Sinanian | There appears to be a continuing struggle between economic rationalism and efforts to abate greenhouse gas emissions and, in particular, commitment to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. I have no doubt that such struggle and disjointedness in the introduction of renewables into the mix of the global energy supply is inevitable. After all, it’s another industrial revolution of sorts — one that is green in color instead of a black sooty one.