Europe’s Depressing Prospects

By Michael Pettis Normally I don’t like to write about European prospects in the midst of a very rough patch in the market because in that case there isn’t much I can say that isn’t already being said.  I find

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Share Trading Suspended in the Spanish Lender Bankia, Pushing Spain Ever Closer to Needing a Bailout

The Spanish market regulator CNMV said it was “due to circumstances that may affect the normal share trading”. There are reports that Bankia will ask the government for a bailout of more than 15bn euros ($19bn; £12bn) after a board

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Increased Interest in Poland as a Destination for FDI

Warsaw, Capital of Poland Despite the global economic crisis 2011 proved a strong year for foreign investments in Poland – projects concluded with participation of Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency in 2011 grew to 173% of 2010 value There

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The OECD Believes That the Eurozone Crisis is the Largest Single Threat to the Global Economy

The 17 nations that use the euro will see their economies shrink 0.1% this year, before showing weak growth of 0.9% next year, the OECD predicts. This compares with 2.4% growth in the US economy this year, with 2.6% predicted

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G8: Could the Solution to Growth be Simpler Taxes?

There has been much talk of the need for growth at the G8 meeting. Could it be that the solution is really quite simple? A recent 400-page report from economists and company directors called for a move from what it

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The Franco-German Relationship Looks Set to Continue but Where Does This Leave the Greeks?

Newly-inaugurated French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday they want Greece to remain in the euro in a show of unity at their first meeting since Hollande was elected. “I want to reiterate, and we

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HSBC Continues to Sell Non-Core Assets

HSBC is selling businesses in four South American countries as it carries on its plan of leaving what it regards as less promising markets. The deal is still subject to regulatory approval but HSBC has reported the sale of its

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Market Braced as Sanctions Continue on Iran’s Energy Sector

Iran’s oil sector has been targeted by fresh sanctions from the US, while the EU is in talks over what extra restrictions it will place on the country’s economy. A number of sanctions have targeted Iran’s energy sector, prompting analysts

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Indonesia To Top “Happy Index”

Indonesian are the world’s most content people according to new research. Emerging markets and half of the BRIC economies (represented by India 2nd, and Brazil 4th) are top 4 in the recently published well-being or “Happiness” ranking. Mexico came 3rd.

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Big Banks: Cure or Curse for the Global Economy?

Friday 27 January 2012, CFI with report from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland with anchor Bloomberg Television Key Points Banking reforms are still a work in progress – there is still a long way to go before the global

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