The Corner | April 14, 2015 | On Wednesday’s press conference, Mario Draghi is likely to indicate that ECB QE has got off to a good start operationally and price action terms in the market. Barclays analysts think cautious near-term trading is required in EGB spreads, given poor liquidity and lingering Greek worries.
MADRID | April 9, 2015 | By Francisco López | The flurry of good news on the Spanish economy in an election year should be treated with caution. This week the Spanish Treasury placed Treasury letters at negative yields for the first time ever. However it should also be noted that half a dozen European countries have reached this level already and that the driving force behind the historical lows is undoubtedly the ECB’s QE programme.
The Corner | April 8,2015 | German factory output disappoints as fears of slowdown in the U.S and China hit exporters in Europe’s largest economy despite the weakened state of the euro. Elsewhere, retail sales are expected to contract in the euro area having shown gains since the final months of 2014.
Asoka Wöhrmann (Deutsche AWM) | Negative interest rates are new economic territory. However, as yet, there is no sign of a major cash exodus to avoid sub-zero yields.
MADRID | March 27, 2015 | By Francisco López | The Spanish economy is currently growing at cruising speed and looks set to remain at its current altitude in the medium term, with the possibility that growth could exceed 3% this year.
The Corner | March 25, 2015 | EU data appears to show that the currency bloc is finally on the way to recovery. Figures from Spain today are likely to confirm the country’s improvement, but concerns remain about the predicament of the Greek economy.
The Corner | March 23, 2015 | Mario Draghi’s speech will be in focus as traders seek further information on the effect the ECB’s QE programme is having. This week is likely to see strong growth figures posted in the US, while inflation in the eurozone will continue to languish. Greece will again be under the microscope on international markets, as direct talks between leader Alexis Tsipras and German Chancellor Angela Merkel finally get under way.
LONDON | March 18, 2015 | By Víctor Jiménez | The effects of QE have already begun to reverberate through the arteries of Europe’s financial heart in the City of London. Indeed, there is a tsunami of money flooding the market, corporate bonds sub-investment market. That below triple B ratings market is the ‘acid test’: the ECB’s bet has been dragging down the price of investors and asset managers’ portfolios, who are desperate to find substantial interest rates and return to positive territory.
The Corner | March 18, 2015 | What does negative bond yields mean psychologically for investors?
MADRID | By Francisco López | March 16, 2015 | Some opportunities are not to be missed. The Spanish Treasury’s first auction since the ECB launched its sovereign bond-buying program saw yields fall to their lowest levels in history.