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☆ Free trade flaws fueled Trump's rise in 2016 — and the problems remain, top economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Decades of trade deficits and a strong dollar created too many "losers" in the U.S. economy who turned to Donald Trump's protectionist policies, according to Richard Koo, chief economist at the Nomura Research Institute — and those conditions remain. Trump's "America First" economic policies led his administration to institute a slew of trade tariffs on China, Mexico, the European Union and others, including slapping 25% duties on imported steel and aluminum. These policies have drawn widespread criticism from economists, who argue that tariffs are counterproductive, as they make imported goods more expensive for the average American. "When we studied economics and free trade, in particular, we were taught...that free trade always creates both winners and losers in the same economy, but the gain that winners get is always greater than the loss of the losers, so the society as a whole always gains. So that's why the free trade is good," he noted.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jonathan Diller, Donald Trump's, Richard Koo, Trump, Steve Sedgwick, Koo Organizations: U.S, New York City Police Department, NYPD, Nomura Research Institute, European Union, Republican Locations: New, Rockaway, Queens, Massapequa Park , New York, U.S, China, Mexico

☆ Economist El-Erian says the Fed has turned into a play-by-play commentator
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

The U.S. Federal Reserve has become too data dependent and has lost sight of its overall strategy, Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic adviser at Allianz, said Friday. The economist told CNBC that a longer-term, more strategic outlook could see policymakers settle on a new inflation target of closer to 3%. "Rather than be strategic, this Fed is overly data dependent, and has turned into a play-by-play commentator," El-Erian told CNBC's Steve Sedgwick at the Ambrosetti Spring Forum in Italy. "The Fed should be strategic, the Fed should provide a strategic anchor, a stabilizer." The U.S. Federal Reserve did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.

Persons: Mohamed El, Erian, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, That's Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve, Allianz, CNBC Locations: Italy

☆ Fed's Kashkari raises prospect of zero rate cuts — but Goldman says that would be 'very surprising'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius on Friday said he still expects the Federal Reserve to implement three interest rate cuts, adding that he would be "very surprised" if the U.S. central bank ultimately decided no trims at all were necessary. His comments come shortly after Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari became the latest high-profile official to float the possibility of zero rate cuts before the year's end, if inflation remained sticky. "If we continue to see inflation moving sideways, then that would make me question whether we need to do those rate cuts at all," Kashkari said on Thursday during an interview with Pensions & Investments. Separately, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said earlier in the week that it would take a while for policymakers to evaluate the current state of inflation, leaving the timing of potential interest rate cuts uncertain. Speaking to CNBC's Steve Sedgwick on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Forum on Friday, Goldman Sachs' Hatzius said he was bullish on the outlook for the U.S. economy.

Persons: Goldman, Jan Hatzius, Neel Kashkari, Kashkari, Jerome Powell, Steve Sedgwick, Goldman Sachs, Hatzius, I'm, we've Organizations: Reserve, Minneapolis, Pensions, Investments Locations: U.S

☆ UBS CEO says integrating Credit Suisse will become a 'case study' for future big bank mergers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The mammoth integration of failed bank Credit Suisse into its former rival UBS will act as a "case study," UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti said Friday, one that will show that big bank mergers should be allowed. "Of course, we can't just rely on a crisis to create or facilitate the merger of banks," Ermotti said. "It's good to have strong players that can be part of the solution, like UBS was in the Credit Suisse case. UBS in June completed its takeover of the 167-year-old bank in a deal controversially brokered by Swiss authorities. The Swiss National Bank has said the size of the new entity flags potential competition issues that will need to be monitored.

Persons: Sergio Ermotti, Ermotti, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, it's Organizations: Suisse, UBS, Credit, Credit Suisse, Swiss, Swiss National Bank Locations: Europe, Italy, underperformance

☆ German structural reforms 'are a must,' IMF chief insists
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), speaks to the media following talks at the Chancellery on November 29, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. "If you look at the policy decisions Germany is taking, they are around stimulating structural change. And of course, like any other country, structural reforms are a must in this more uncertain world with low gross growth prospects," Georgieva said Wednesday. The auto industry should be a particular focus for reform in Germany if the country wants to increase productivity, according to Georgieva. "For Germany, this is very visible in the need to restructure the automobile sector for this economy of tomorrow," she said.

Persons: Kristalina Georgieva, Carsten Koall, CNBC's Joumanna, Georgieva, Hans, Werner Sinn, Joachim Nagel Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Getty, Ifo Institute, CNBC Locations: Berlin, Germany, Europe, Italy, Ukraine

☆ Germany is the 'sick man of Europe' — and it's causing a shift to the right, top economist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The "sick man of Europe" moniker has resurfaced in recent weeks as manufacturing output continues to stutter in the region's largest economy and the country grapples with high energy prices. It "has to do with the automobile industry, which is the heart of the German industry and many things hinge on that," he said. Germany reported a foreign trade deficit for the first time in decades in May 2022, totaling 1 billion euros ($1.03 billion). Plunge in business sentimentSinn said investor doubts about the feasibility of Germany's sustainability goals also play into the description of the country as the "sick man of Europe." Uncertainty about energy prices has likely contributed to a "plunge" in business sentiment, Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, wrote in the note.

Persons: Hans, Werner Sinn, Sinn, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Thomas Lohnes, Berenberg, Holger Schmieding Organizations: European Central Bank, Getty, Ambrosetti, Berenberg Locations: Germany, Europe, Italy, Ukraine, Frankfurt, Saudi Arabia

☆ 'Very stupid': Italy's bank tax remains controversial as government scrambles to update it
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

European bank shares dropped significantly in August after a surprise announcement from the Italian government for a new tax. Italy's shock tax on banks continues to prove controversial, even as the government insists it can improve it. "It's a very stupid law," Carlo Calenda, national secretary of the Azione political party, told CNBC over the weekend. Italy's Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said at Ambrosetti that the bank tax "can certainly be improved upon...but I do not accept that it is considered an unfair tax," according to Reuters. Antonio Tajani, the country's foreign minister and leader of the centre-right Forza Italia party, said the government is stable and the bank tax is not creating tensions.

Persons: Carlo Calenda, Italy's, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Antonio Tajani, CNBC's Sedgwick Organizations: CNBC, House Ambrosetti, Brothers, Italy's, Reuters, Forza Italia Locations: Rome, Italy, Europe, Ambrosetti

FILE PHOTO-Italy's Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti delivers a speech at the G7 High-Level Corporate Governance Roundtable in Niigata on May 11, 2023. "It may be that the tax is inappropriate, it can certainly be improved upon ... but I do not accept that it is considered an unfair tax," Giorgetti said at The European House - Ambrosetti economic forum. Bank shares tumbled before the economy ministry clarified that the new tax would amount to no more than 0.1% of their total assets. Forza Italia is also seeking an exemption for small banks and wants a guarantee the levy will not be extended beyond 2023. Giorgetti did not comment on his government ally's proposals on the bank tax.

Persons: Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, KAZUHIRO, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Giorgetti, Antonio Tajani, Siena, Giselda Vagnoni, Giancarlo Navach, Hugh Lawson, David Evans Organizations: Economy, Finance, Bank, League, Forza Italia, Monte, Thomson Locations: Niigata, Italy, Cernobbio

Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti gestures during a confidence vote over the 2023 budget at the lower house of the parliament, in Rome, Italy December 23, 2022. "The government plans to maintain the forecasts of 1% in 2023, but inevitable external variables are radically changing the picture," Giorgetti said, speaking at The European House-Ambrosetti economic forum. The total cost of the so-called Superbonus originally introduced in 2020 is approaching 100 billion euros ($107.73 billion), the source added. With interest rate hikes by the European Central Bank to curb inflation dampening economic activity, Rome's growth target of 1.5% next year is increasingly at risk, economists say. As Italy is preparing a difficult 2024 budget, Giorgetti reiterated the commitment to keeping the deficit on a downward trend, leaving little leeway for stimulus.

Persons: Giancarlo Giorgetti, Remo Casilli, Giorgetti, Giuseppe Fonte, Giancarlo Navach, Giselda Vagnoni, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, European Central Bank, European Union, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, CERNOBBIO, Cernobbio, Ukraine

☆ Italian minister says many parties want Rome to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road Initiative
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailItalian minister says many parties want Rome to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road InitiativeItalian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani discusses European and global affairs and Italian political strategy on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Forum.

Persons: Antonio Tajani Organizations: China’s, Initiative Italian, Ambrosetti Locations: Rome

☆ Many Italian parties are against China's Belt and Road Initiative, foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Many Italian parties are against Rome's participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative, Antonio Tajani, the country's foreign minister said Saturday, ahead of a critical decision on whether to quit the project. Under the agreement the two parties can end the deal after five years, otherwise the partnership gets extended for another five-year term. Tajani, however, did not confirm any specific time for when Italy will unveil its final decision on whether to continue in the Belt and Road Initiative. In this moment the countries without the Belt and Road Initiative, the European countries, are working better than us. For this, Italy will decide if [to] stay or not [to] stay in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Persons: Antonio Tajani, Rome, Mario Draghi, Tajani, Steve Sedgwick Organizations: Initiative, European Central Bank, Ambrosetti, Italy Locations: Italy, Beijing, Rome, China

☆ EU's Gentiloni confident over budget rule deal by year-end deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

EU Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni holds a news conference on the European Commission's economic forecasts for the EU for 2023 and 2024 on GDP and inflation, in Brussels, Belgium February 13, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCERNOBBIO, Italy, Sept 2 (Reuters) - European Union Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni said on Saturday he was confident an agreement over re-implementing EU budget rules would be reached by year-end, ruling out an extension of their suspension into 2024. "I'm confident, I'd say I have to be confident, that a deal (over the new budget rules) can be reached by year-end," Gentiloni told reporters on the sidelines of the European House Ambrosetti economic forum in Cernobbio. Italy is preparing a difficult 2024 budget in which it will seek to meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's tax-cutting promises while at the same time reducing the deficit while faced with an economic slowdown. Gentiloni said failing to reach a deal on reviving the rules would mean a return to previous budget rules that did not help promote economic growth and cut sovereign debt in the bloc.

Persons: Paolo Gentiloni, Johanna Geron, Gentiloni, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Giorgia, Christine Lagarde, Elvira Pollina, Giselda, Tomasz Janowski, Helen Popper Our Organizations: EU, REUTERS, Union, House, Italian Economy, European Commission, European Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Italy, Ukraine

☆ Italy FM: Belt and Road China deal did not bring expected results
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Visitors walk past a wall with a map showing the species of peony in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries, at horticultural exhibition Beijing Expo 2019, in Beijing, China April 29, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsCERNOBBIO, Italy, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Trade between Italy and China has not improved as expected since Rome joined Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative four years ago, Italy's Foreign Minister said on Saturday. Under a previous government, Italy in 2019 became the first major Western nation to join China's infrastructure initiative, despite protests from the United States. "The Silk Road did not bring the results we expected," Antonio Tajani said at the European House Ambrosetti economic forum shortly before leaving on a trip to China. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was planning to visit China in one of her next trips abroad.

Persons: Stringer, Rome, Antonio Tajani, Tajani, Giorgia Meloni, Francesca Landini, Giselda, John Stonestreet, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Initiative, REUTERS, House, Italy's, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Italy, Beijing's, United States, Rome

☆ Italy's foreign minister optimistic Rome will spend 'all the money' from EU funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailItaly's foreign minister optimistic Rome will spend 'all the money' from EU fundsItaly's Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani speaks to CNBC at the European House Ambrosetti Forum.

Persons: Antonio Tajani Organizations: Italy's Foreign, CNBC, House Ambrosetti Locations: Rome

☆ EU economics chief says Europe is gripped by a ‘double crisis’ — but it can avoid a recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Europe is facing the impact of a "double crisis," but the region can avoid a recession, Paolo Gentiloni, the European Commissioner for economic affairs, told CNBC on Saturday. "I think we are we facing the impact of the double crisis," Gentiloni said in reference to the geopolitical impact from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent economic hit to the European continent. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year sparked serious fears in Europe that the region would enter a significant economic slowdown. The euro area, in the end, grew at a rate of 3.5% in 2022, according to the International Monetary Fund. "The slowing down started from the last quarter of 2022 and it is there, but please don't call this a recession, because I think we can avoid a recession, we are avoiding recession," he said.

Persons: Paolo Gentiloni, Gentiloni, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick Organizations: CNBC, International Monetary Fund, Ambrosetti Locations: Europe, Ukraine, U.S, Germany, Russia, China

☆ Intesa Sanpaolo chairman sees limited impact from Italy windfall tax
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of bank Intesa Sanpaolo is seen in Milan, Italy, January 18, 2016. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCERNOBBIO, Italy, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The chairman of Intesa Sanpaolo (ISP.MI) sees no cause for alarm over the impact of the windfall tax on Italian banks and said it would probably cost Italy's biggest bank less than 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion). The windfall tax, which wrongfooted bank investors when announced in August, is a one-off measure targeting gains from higher interest rates. The Treasury expects to draw less than 3 billion euros from the measure, sources have said. Gros-Pietro said dividends would inevitably be affected by any impact of the tax on profit but that Intesa investors would still be well rewarded.

Persons: Stefano Rellandini, Intesa, Gian Maria Gros, Pietro, Gros, Elvira Pollina, Giulio Piovaccari, Keith Weir, Alvise Armellini, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, House, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Milan, Italy

☆ Joseph Stiglitz says the Fed 'didn't do their homework' on inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJoseph Stiglitz says the Fed 'didn't do their homework' on inflationSpeaking to CNBC on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Forum, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz shares his views on the Federal Reserve's handling of U.S. inflation.

Persons: Joseph Stiglitz Organizations: CNBC, Ambrosetti

☆ 'Really bad economics': Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz explains where the Fed went wrong on inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mike Green | CNBCThe Federal Reserve "didn't do their homework" and mischaracterized the spike in inflation that has plagued the U.S. economy over the last two years, according to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz. The Fed didn't start hiking rates until March 2022 and Chair Jerome Powell repeatedly insisted that inflation was "transitory," indicating that it could be easily tamed. watch nowInstead, Stiglitz said that the price rises were often driven by other factors, such as a shortage of key components like semiconductor chips. In an effort to drag inflation back down towards its 2% target, the Fed has now hiked interest rates 11 times in total to a target range of 5.25%-5.5%, the highest level for more than 22 years. American auto companies forgot to put in orders for chips, and for want of a chip, you can't make a car."

Persons: Mike Green, Joseph Stiglitz, Jerome Powell, Stiglitz, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick Organizations: CNBC, Federal, Fed Locations: U.S

☆ Italy's debt 'manageable' as long as growth remains active, Ambrosetti Forum head says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailItaly's debt 'manageable' as long as growth remains active, Ambrosetti Forum head saysValerio De Molli, CEO of the European House - Ambrosetti, discusses Italy's debt pile and growth prospects.

Persons: Valerio De Molli Organizations: Ambrosetti

☆ Building Green: New Technologies to Create Less Polluting Cement
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +8 min

Roughly 7% of all carbon emissions today come from cement production, making it one of the highest-emitting industrial sectors, according to the consulting firm McKinsey. PREVIEW“Concrete is an essential building material,” said Claude Loréa, director of cement, innovation and ESG at the Global Cement and Concrete Association. About two thirds of the clinker emissions are released by the limestone when heated while the rest come from the combustion of fuels to create the heat. Increased efficiencyOne way the industry is looking to improve sustainability in cement production is by targeting efficiency gains. Cemex, one of the world’s largest cement producers, has been working with Switzerland-based Synhelion to produce clinker using solar energy rather than coal.

Persons: ”, Claude Loréa, Aidan O’Sullivan, ” O’Sullivan, Gianluca Ambrosetti, Christoph Beumelburg, Rick Fox, Fox, Partanna, Hurricane Dorian, Yusuf Khan Organizations: McKinsey, Sustainable Business, Global, Concrete Association, Carbon Re, International Energy Agency, IEA, Shell, National Basketball Association Locations: portland, Spain, Switzerland, Heidelberg, Brevik, Norway, Bergen, “, Delaware, Bahamas, Vegas, yusuf.khan

☆ ECB's De Guindos warns of broad risks in financial sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Giancarlo Navach | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

CERNOBBIO, Italy, April 1 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank (ECB) is monitoring current market tensions closely and will act to preserve price and financial stability in the euro area, ECB vice-president Luis de Guindos said in a speech on Saturday. "...In our view, vulnerabilities in the financial system prevail in the non-bank financial sector, which grew fast and increased its risk-taking during the low interest rate environment," De Guindos told the Ambrosetti business forum in northern Italy. Reporting by Giancarlo Navach Writing by Keith Weir, editing by Gavin JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Italian minister warns ECB of risk from higher interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Federico Maccioni | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CERNOBBIO, Italy, April 1 (Reuters) - The outlook for the Italian economy is improving but higher interest rates designed to curb inflation could pose a threat to growth, Italy's economy minister said on Saturday, sending a warning to the European Central Bank (ECB). "Fighting inflation with monetary policy is not enough, recession cannot be the price paid for fighting inflation," Giancarlo Giorgetti said. Giorgetti is from the League party which last month criticised the ECB for pushing ahead with its latest 50 basis point rate increase despite turmoil in the banking sector. He added it would be difficult for the European Union when it comes to reintroducing budget rules that remain suspended until the end of 2023. Reporting by Giancarlo Navach and Federico Maccioni, Writing by Keith Weir Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ SVB is 'probably the first of a series' of bank failures, Ambrosetti's De Molli says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSVB is 'probably the first of a series' of bank failures, Ambrosetti's De Molli saysValerio De Molli, managing partner and CEO at The European House – Ambrosetti, speaks to CNBC's Steve Sedgwick from the banks of Lake Como, Italy. He says uncertainty across the world's banking industry is concerning.

☆ It's the U.S., not Europe's banking system that's a concern, top economists say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A central theme at the Ambrosetti Forum in Italy on Thursday and Friday was the potential for further instability in financial markets, arising from problems in the banking sector — particularly against a backdrop of tightening financial conditions. The move of 2018 was part of a broad rollback of banking rules put in place in the aftermath of the crisis. Although lauding the progress made in Europe, Papaconstantinou emphasized that it is too early to tell whether there is broader weakness in the banking system. It is not an environment where we can sit back and say, 'okay, this was just two blips, and we can continue as usual'. "We learnt the lessons of the financial crisis, there's been deep restructuring in this decade, and they are in a stronger position than in the past, obviously."

☆ 'Nationalizing bond markets' left central banks unprepared for inflation, top HSBC economist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"Part of the problem with QE was the fact that you're basically nationalizing bond markets. Bond markets have a very very useful role to play when you've got inflation, which is they're an early warning indicator," King told CNBC's Steve Sedgwick. Central banks around the world have hiked interest rates aggressively over the past year in a bid to rein in soaring inflation, after a decade of loose financial conditions. The swift rise in interest rates has intensified concerns about a potential recession and exposed flaws in the banking system that have led to the collapse of several regional U.S. banks . The prolonged period of loose monetary policy after the global financial crisis equated to central banks "nationalizing bond markets," and meant policymakers were slow off the mark in containing inflation over the past two years, according to HSBC Senior Economic Adviser Stephen King.

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