LONDON | Ratings agency Fitch released on Monday the conclusions of its latest survey of the opinions of a hundred fixed-income asset managers with an estimated $7.2-trillion business volume. More than 80% of respondents work at the top 20 and 50 investing houses in Europe, so their views on the euro zone’s future are meant to be telling. And they are: fiscal integration is seen as the final station of…
By Luis Arroyo, in Madrid | German Chancellor Angela Merkel the executioner recently said that austerity is the right path, and that Canada should provide a good enough example for non-believers. Should we have a closer look into her claims?, of course we must. Unfortunately for her, it clearly appears to be the case that Canada’s success has been supported by a monetary policy absolutely at odds with the European Central…
MADRID | Draghi’s apparent resoluteness in shouldering the euro has dramatically turned the tide. No action has followed his words and yet the July nightmare has switched this month into a soothing dream. Undoubtedly investors were eager to take on board any good news reversing the excessive downside overshoot in the markets. Europeans leaders have also helped by wholeheartedly enjoying their holidays. For once, they have refrained from voicing the…
Professor of Economics at Columbia University Martin Uribe strongly believes that the Eurozone needs structural changes to tackle the crisis, especially in fiscal matters. For this expert in macroeconomic analysis, who has worked for many universities and institutions including the European Central Bank, the lack of tax policy at a European level is condemning the least developed countries to beg for aid. Uribe talked to The Corner summer interviews’ series from…
By Tania Suárez, in Madrid | Alberto Matellán is director of strategy and macroeconomics at Inverseguros SVB. In a conversation with The Corner, he said that even if Spain doesn’t formally request a bailout, “it will be necessary some kind of intervention.” However, he points out that the possible Spailout would be met via different instruments, and that there is a high probability that a bailout for Italy comes in…
By Tania Suárez, in Madrid | Víctor Rodríguez is an economist at CMC Markets Spain. In an interview for The Corner, he said that Mario Draghi’s role is not so decisive in the debt crisis, although we could see important measures being applied by the European Central Bank. Regarding a possible bailout for Spain, Rodríguez considers that “if the country asks openly for it, the most likely reaction will be…
Unless the Spanish government tackles the reform of the State administration, it is bound to follow the fate of Greece, Ireland and Portugal. Any positive impact of hints coming from the European Central Bank about lending a hand to maintain the country’s access to the markets will eventually fade away. Indeed, it is happening again. Most analysts in the financial City of Madrid said so in as many words in…
There is no denying that the talk of an eventual Spanish national rescue by euro funds has now become a feature in any serious discussion about what’s next for the global economy. Even though always ready to confront but not conform to the most realistic conclusion market analysts find for Spain, the country’s president Mariano Rajoy admitted last week that a complete bailout appears on the table next to all…
The Corner continues with its summer series of interviews about the future of Europe seen by international experts. Today, New York University Economics Professor Lawrence White gives his take. He has been with New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business for more than 30 years. His primary research areas of interest include financial regulation, antitrust, network industries, international banking and applied microeconomics. He is coauthor of Restoring Financial…
By JLM Campuzano, analyst, in Madrid | If the governor of the European Central Bank (ECB) said nothing new, why did the markets drop? To be sure, there was a deep sense of disappointment. His comments a week ago had sparked high expectations and, whether Mario Draghi admits it or not, hopes haven’t been met. And there is nothing worse than disillusioned investors. More disquieting, though, is that Draghi acknowledged…