Provisionally, Euro-zone consumer inflation rose to 2.0% for February from 1.8% and was in line with expectations, although this was the strongest reading for four years.
Unemployment held at 9.6% for January with markets waiting for any signal of a policy change from the ECB and the inflation data did not provide support to the Euro.
Policy is expected to remain on hold at next week’s Council meeting, although comments from President Draghi will be watched closely.
POTUS in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia As one of POTUS’ travelling companions on this week’s visit, Larry Fink of Blackrock represents everything that a US President might want to burnish his credentials in the desert kingdom: head of the largest asset manager on the planet, hugely influential and totally credible. Just a shame that he […]
UK Borrowing Another one for the pub quiz in case it comes up: UK government borrowing stands at £2.8 trillion or £2800 billion. While you digest that number over the chicken in the basket if indeed you are already in the pub, it will have increased by the time you get to the end of this […]
The Art of the Deal Today the UK Prime Minister will be announcing the fruits of his weekend labours after meeting the EU not as an accredited delegate but in a side session on the fringes of the EU Summit in Albania. What was on the table? Youth mobility, which is pol speak for 24-30 […]