BRUSSELS | by Eberhard Rhein | However important balanced budgets might be for Europe in view of its rising social charges, in particular the huge burden resulting from an ageing population, Germany does not deserve praise for having precipitated the balancing of its budget.
LONDON | Andrew Cole, director at Baring Asset Management announced this week that the investment firm has expanded its purchase programme of Italian debt. Baring believes that European Central Bank interventions in the markets, improving liquidity available to European financial entities, have proven to act as a barrier against higher risk trends. Mr Cole said that euro zone economic forecasts look gloomy this year and will possibly remain weak in 2012,…