LONDON | By BARCLAYS | Euro area industrial production rose significantly by 1.0% m/m in August, broadly in line with our expectations (+0.9% m/m, consensus: +0.8% m/m). This increase offset the drop recorded in July entirely.
THE CORNER | ECB executive board member Jorg Asmussen has said there are “pending risks” for Ireland as it prepares to exit the EU-IMF 85 billion euro bailout on December 15. Dublin is launching its seventh austerity budget in six years on Tuesday, under pressure to deliver a €2.5 billion package of more cuts and taxes without compromising the fragile recovery. Investors are watching closely.
BUCHAREST | By Ovidiu Nahoi at Dilema Veche via Presseurop| Life in the European Union appears better than in many other parts of the world. Yet, this well-being is undermined by the euro crisis combined with a loss of confidence by citizens in their institutions. This trend will be one of the major issues in the upcoming EU ballot.
MADRID | By JP Marin Arrese | The IMF’s warning on the hefty pile-up of corporate debt has triggered angry comments from top Spanish companies. The Washington-based institution has voiced concern about its destabilizing effect on financial solvency. A lingering recovery is likely to turn liabilities into soaring non-performing assets in banking balance sheets.
PARIS | By Anne Feitz at Les échos via Presseurop | This week, France confirmed its ban on shale gas exploitation and the European Parliament demanded environmental impact studies before all test drilling starts. More obstacles for a resource that may yet not be the solution to Europe’s energy problems.
CAIXIN | By George Soros | The euro crisis is now over but the visible uncertainty within markets lies in the fact that the system is still far from satisfactory.
PRAGUE | By Daniel Gros at Project Syndicate via Presseurop | German ardour for the European project is not cooling, as some would have the public believe. Instead, Germany is recognising the value of the EU and above all the single currency, now more than ever.
PARIS | By François Bazin at Le Nouvel Observateur via Presseurop | “For the first time,” the Front National (FN) has taken the lead in a survey of voting intentions in France, reports an Le Nouvel Observateur.
BERLIN | By Cicero via Presseurop | “I’m sorry. They are still talking about it. Maybe HE will bring you a new government.”
MADRID | By Alex García.