Economy of Europe

26 May 2013

I do not entirely follow the reasoning of this notable hot-air merchant. If the European Union truly has evidence that its citizens, personal or corporate, defraud it of €1 trillion a year, why do...

4:35AM

Euro zone marks sixth quarter of recession

15 May 2013

The euro zone's recession extended into its sixth quarter - longer than the calamitous slump that hit it during the financial crisis of 2008-09. Eurostat, the European Union's statistics office,...

5:02AM

Negative deposit rate fears shade ECB's record cut

2 May 2013

The central bank, which sets interest rates for the 17 European Union countries that use the euro, cut its benchmark rate by a quarter of a percentage point to a record low of 0.5 per cent.

5:00AM

Euro-zone rate cut unlikely to boost lending

2 May 2013

The European Central Bank, meeting in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava today, could cut its interest rates from record lows and unveil new measures to kick-start bank lending, analysts say.

3:47AM

Austerity frenzy proven to be wrong. So will it be halted?

21 Apr 2013

In this age of information, maths errors can lead to disaster. Nasa's Mars Orbiter crashed because engineers forgot to convert to metric measurements; JPMorgan Chase's "London Whale" venture went...

4:56AM

3 comments

ECB stands ready to ease policy if needed, says Draghi

5 Apr 2013

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said the bank stands ready to cut interest rates if the economy deteriorates further, and officials are considering additional measures to boost growth...

5:10AM

Opinion

Jake Van Der Kamp

EU fails to adapt to borderless world

4:35AM

Howard Winn

Ferry companies shouldn't be subsidised while they burn dirty fuel

2:53AM

Cyprus' bailout marks a turning point

What has set Cyprus apart is that it is one of the smallest members of the euro zone, with a failed banking system much bigger than its economy. Likewise, the €10 billion (HK$101 billion) rescue...

3:09AM

Thank the Cypriot parliament for averting euro-catastrophe

It can have surprised no one that members of the Cypriot parliament voted unanimously against plans to slap a tax on the islanders' bank deposits.

5:20AM

4 comments

Cypriots shocked as euro bail out includes 10pc tax on bank accounts

Cyprus government agreed to a €10 billion (HK$101 billion) bailout that includes an unprecedented levy on all bank deposits. The debt rescue package, agreed with the euro zone and International...

9:48AM

EARNINGS

Weak Western growth to hit cargo demand

Anaemic growth in the US and little improvement in Europe's economic conditions will make 2013 as "challenging" as last year for Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), the financial head of the...

6:12AM

TRADE

US to launch free trade talks with EU

Answering mounting calls from the European Union to pursue a grand trade pact to spur growth on both sides of the Atlantic, Obama said the proposed treaty would help boost American exports and...

4:53AM

RETAILING

China 'will be H&M's top market', says CEO Persson

China's economy is "growing rapidly", Persson said, though he declined to give a time frame for when the country will be the Swedish company's top market. Persson also said H&M would consider...

5:22AM