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☆ ECB's Schnabel defends smaller balance sheet as debate heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Balazs Koranyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

She said her "demand-driven" approach fitted the euro zone, whose 20 countries vary in economic strength and have separate banking systems. "A demand-driven system is well-suited for a heterogeneous currency union that may be prone to fragmentation," Schnabel said in an interview. "Such a system also likely limits the size of the central bank balance sheet." She conceded, however, that "it could make sense to have a mix of different tools", suggesting policymakers may be looking for a compromise in this complex yet crucial debate for the euro zone financial system. Loans to banks or a structural bond portfolio would come on top of this.

Persons: Isabel Schnabel, Ralph Orlowski, Schnabel, Philip Lane, Schnabel's counterargument, Francesco Canepa, Catherine Evans Organizations: Frankfurt, Banking Congress, Old Opera, REUTERS, European Central Bank, ECB, Reuters, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, FRANKFURT

☆ Asia shares turn mixed, gold tops $2,100 an ounce
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was still up 0.4%, led by gains in South Korea and Australia. Trade figures for China are due later in the week with the recent trend being softening exports to the U.S. overshadowing gains in Asia. S&P 500 futures dipped 0.1%, after finishing at a 20-month high on Friday, while Nasdaq futures lost 0.2%. The dive in yields and the dollar has been a boon for non-yielding gold, which added 0.9% to $2,088 an ounce, after hitting a record of $2,111.39 an ounce . Oil prices have not been so fortunate, amid doubts OPEC+ will be able to maintain planned output cuts.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Jerome Powell, Claudio Irigoyen, Joachim Nagel, Christine Lagarde, Brent, Wayne Cole, Sam Holmes Organizations: Nikkei, payrolls Shipping, Japan's Nikkei, FTSE, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan's, European Central Bank, ECB, Sea, Thomson Locations: Red Sea, SYDNEY, U.S, Israel, Red, Asia, Pacific, Japan, South Korea, Australia, China, Canada

☆ EU states to start debating Ukraine membership talks on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] European Union (EU) flags fly in front of the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, July 8, 2020. The initial draft, dated Dec.4 and seen by Reuters on Monday, reads: "The European Council decides to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and with Moldova." For Bosnia, the initial draft stated the bloc was "ready to open EU accession negotiations... once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved". All three decisions would require unanimous backing of the 27 EU countries. "In our perception, no conditions for Ukraine to start accession talks are met," Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told journalists separately on Monday.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Zoltan Kovacs, Charles Michel, Kovacs, Viktor Orban, Michel, Gabriela Baczynska, Jan Strupczewski, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: European Union, European Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, European Commission, EU, Kyiv, Reuters, European Council, Commission, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Ukraine, Hungary, Moldova, Georgia, Bosnia, Soviet, Kyiv, EU, Caucasus, Tbilisi, Budapest, Hungarian, Brussels

☆ Dollar on shaky ground as Fed rate cut bets strengthen
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Brigid Riley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Powell said on Friday it was clear that U.S. monetary policy was slowing the economy as expected, with the benchmark overnight interest rate "well into restrictive territory." The U.S. dollar index , which tracks the currency against six major counterparts, was last hovering around Friday's close at 103.28. That means dollar pairs could continue to get a boost depending on U.S. economic data, Rodda said. Against the yen, the dollar was fetching $146.58 yen , after falling to 146.24 earlier in the session, its lowest since Sept. 11. The yen has recently pulled away from the near 33-year low of 151.92 per dollar touched in the middle of November.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Bitcoin, Powell, Kyle Rodda, Rodda, Sterling, Christine Lagarde, Carol Kong, bitcoin, Brigid Riley, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Federal, U.S, U.S ., European Central Bank, ECB, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, U.S, cryptocurrencies

☆ Fiscal rules revamp may threaten calm in euro zone's fragile bond markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Stefano Rebaudo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Analysts believe Germany's budget crisis will mean tougher fiscal policy in the largest euro zone economy in 2024, which could add to pressure on less wealthy members of the bloc to keep a tighter grip on their finances. Italian 10-year bonds currently yield around 173 basis points more than German debt , 38 bps less than a year ago, while the gap between Portuguese and German yields has narrowed by 34 basis points. French bonds meanwhile yield 58 bps more than German, 5 bps more than a year ago. Analysts argued the German public may be unwilling to accept a tightening of domestic fiscal policy without a blanket approach across Europe - meaning a tougher scenario for the periphery. Bondholders are meanwhile banking on the European Central Bank cutting interest rates in a few months, which should support euro zone peripheral debt.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Olaf Scholz, Fabrizio Bensch, Ruben Segura, BofA's Segura, Cayuela, Felix Hubner, Massimiliano Maxia, Stefano Rebaudo, Catherine Evans Organizations: Italian, REUTERS, Germany, Union, Northern, European Commission, UBS, Analysts, European Central Bank, JPMorgan, ECB, Allianz Global Investors, bps, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Italy, Cayuela, European, Greece, Spain, Europe

☆ Dollar rises, recouping losses from strengthened Fed rate cut bets
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The dollar index, which tracks the currency against six major peers, rose by 0.4% to 103.71, while the euro was last down nearly 0.5% at $1.0828. "I think it's the fact that U.S. policy rate expectations have gone too far and will unwind more in December than rate expectations elsewhere," said Colin Asher, senior economist at lender Mizuho in London. "November was... a very poor month for the U.S. dollar, in part driven by expectations of easier Fed policy," Asher said. The dollar was trading higher against the yen at 147.34, after falling to 146.24 in the Asian session, its lowest since mid-September. "A steady USD decline needs more than just an expectation of Fed rate cuts, it also needs strong growth outside of the U.S. which doesn't seem to be the case currently," said Charu Chanana, market strategist at Saxo Markets.

Persons: Colin Asher, Asher, Sterling, Jerome Powell, Charu, denting, Christine Lagarde Organizations: Federal Reserve, Mizuho, U.S ., Saxo Markets, European Central Bank Locations: London, Germany

☆ Morning Bid: Buoyant markets hold near year's highs
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Wall Street sign is pictured at the New York Stock exchange (NYSE) in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 9, 2020. Fed futures markets think a first cut may come as soon as March - with a quarter-point easing by then already two-thirds priced. Two-year Treasury yields hit their lowest since June on Friday and 10-year yields their lowest in three months, although they edged higher on Monday. U.S. crude hit its lowest in two weeks and is tracking year-on-year losses of almost 10%. But that is widening into yearend as peak rate hopes encourage some rotation to smaller cap stocks.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Mike Dolan, Jerome Powell, Powell, Goldman Sachs, Jan, Fitch, Bitcoin, Christine Lagarde, Joann, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: New York Stock, REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Spelman College, Fed, Tech, HK, Central Bank, Treasury, PMI Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Atlanta, Europe, Gaza, China, Hong Kong, WuXi, Evergrande, RGC Resources

☆ 'Way too early' to declare victory over inflation, says ECB's Nagel
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Joachim Nagel, President of Germany's federal reserve Bundesbank addresses the media during the bank's annual news conference in Frankfurt, Germany March 1, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNICOSIA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Euro zone inflation will carry on declining in the months ahead but at a slower pace, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel was quoted as telling Cypriot newspaper Kathimerini on Sunday. "We have not yet won the fight against inflation," said Nagel, who visited Cyprus last week. "Add in a scenario where an escalation of geopolitical tensions could imply higher inflation and it becomes clear that it would be way too early to declare victory over high inflation rates," said Nagel, an influential voice on the ECB's rate setting Governing Council. "All in all, I expect inflation to carry on declining, but at a slower pace and with possible bumps along the way," Nagel said.

Persons: Joachim Nagel, Kai Pfaffenbach, Nagel, " Nagel, Michele Kambas, David Goodman Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Cypriot, Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Rights NICOSIA, Cyprus

☆ Britain yet to make the case for a digital pound, lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People and businesses could use a digital pound to make payments, with the BoE suggesting a limit of up to 20,000 pounds for digital wallets provided by banks, far higher than the 3,000 euros discussed by the European Central Bank for a digital euro. The committee's "The digital pound: still a solution in search of a problem?" The prospect of a digital pound, now in the design phase, has raised concerns that it would allow the authorities to spy on what people spend on, and that it could spell the end of cash. "We recommend that any primary legislation used to introduce a digital pound does not allow the Government or Bank of England to use the data from a digital pound for any purposes beyond those already permitted for law enforcement," the report said. The BoE has said interest should not be payable on digital pound deposits, but the committee said this position should be reviewed.

Persons: Susannah Ireland, BoE, Harriett Baldwin, Huw Jones, Alison Williams Organizations: of, Bank of England, REUTERS, Treasury, European Central Bank, Government, Thomson Locations: of England, London, Britain

☆ Dollar eases as traders weigh rate cut prospects
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Data on Thursday showed U.S. consumer spending rose moderately in October, while the annual increase in inflation was the smallest in more than 2-1/2 years. "It remains to be seen if getting from 3% to 2% will be easy, or if inflation will remain sticky in 2024." Federal Reserve policymakers signaled on Thursday that the U.S. central bank's interest rate hikes are likely over, but left the door open to further monetary policy tightening should progress on inflation stall. Investor focus will now move to comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell later on Friday, with traders likely to scrutinize every word to sketch out rate outlook. The Australian dollar rose 0.20% to $0.662, while the New Zealand dollar rose 0.37% to $0.618.

Persons: Ryan Brandham, Jerome Powell, Powell, Carol Kong, Sterling, Toshiro Muto Organizations: Risk, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bank of Japan, New Zealand Locations: North America, U.S, Europe

☆ Europe stocks head for higher open as rally continues into December
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European markets are set to open higher Friday after closing out their best month since January amid a global rally in stocks and bonds. The Stoxx 600 index gained 6.45% in November, according to LSEG data, as equities pivoted from three straight monthly losses. Major bourses ended on an upbeat note after flash data estimated euro zone inflation has now fallen to 2.4%, down from 2.9% in October and significantly lower than expected. Cooling U.S. inflation and signs of continued economic resilience have also sent U.S. stocks and bonds on a tear. However, Saudi Arabia extended its 1 million barrel per day voluntary cut into the first quarter, and other members announced their own reductions.

Persons: Major bourses Organizations: European Central Bank, Cooling, Federal Reserve, Organization of, Petroleum Locations: OPEC, Saudi Arabia

☆ ECB raises minimum capital requirements for Spanish banks
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows the logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany March 16, 2023. REUTERS/Heiko Becker/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank has raised the minimum capital requirements for Spanish lenders BBVA (BBVA.MC), Caixabank (CABK.MC), Sabadell (SABE.MC) and Bankinter (BKT.MC) as part of a supervisory review and evaluation process (SREP). The process provides an overall assessment of the challenges that face significant institutions, together with the corresponding solvency requirements and other supervisory measures that banks are expected to comply with for the year ahead. BBVA's capital threshold was also raised to 9.09% for next year from 8.72%. For Unicaja (UNI.MC), the supervisor however maintained its solvency threshold for 2024 unchanged at 8.27% compared to 2023.

Persons: Heiko Becker, Caixabank, Jesús, Emma Pinedo, Sharon Singleton Organizations: European Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, BBVA, ECB, Spain's Santander, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Sabadell

☆ What one Swiss bank's troubles can tell us about market vulnerabilities — and social media
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A pedestrian sheltering under an umbrella passes a Julius Baer Group Ltd. branch in Zurich, Switzerland, on Tuesday, July 13, 2021. The share price of Julius Baer plummeted after the Swiss private bank disclosed 606 million Swiss francs ($692.7 million) of loan exposure to a single conglomerate client. The 606 million Swiss franc exposure to one client — via three loans to different entities within a European conglomerate — is collateralized by commercial real estate and luxury retail, the company revealed. The bank last week booked provisions of 70 million Swiss francs to cover the risk of a single borrower in its private loan book. The European Central Bank recently examined the commercial real estate sector and the provisioning methods and capital buffers of European banks.

Persons: Julius Baer, Signa, Julius Baer's CET1, DBRS Morningstar, Vitaline Yeterian, Elisabeth Rudman, Julius Baer's Organizations: Julius Baer Group, Austrian, DBRS, CNBC, European Central Bank, Swiss Locations: Zurich, Switzerland, Swiss

☆ Euro zone inflation dents euro, dollar rises from three-month low
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Samuel Indyk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A New Zealand dollar coin sits atop a United States one dollar bill in this photo illustration taken on March 11, 2016. Consumer price growth in the 20 nations that share the euro currency dropped to 2.4% in November from 2.9% in October, well below expectations for a fall to 2.7%. The euro dropped as much as 0.5% against the dollar to $1.0910. The Japanese currency has firmed almost 3% against the dollar in November and is on course for its strongest month this year. Sterling was last at $1.2646, down 0.39% on the day, while the Australian dollar fell 0.1% to $0.6610.

Persons: David Gray, Matthew Landon, disinflation, Landon, ECB policymaker Fabio Panetta, Mohamad Al, Jerome Powell, Christopher Waller, Christopher Wong, Toyoaki Nakamura, Sterling, It's, Samuel Indyk, Ankur Banerjee, Vidya Ranganathan, Kim Coghill, Miral Fahmy, Susan Fenton Organizations: New Zealand, REUTERS, European Central Bank, Morgan Private Bank, ECB, ECB policymaker, Danske Bank, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: States, Europe, U.S, London, Singapore

For much of this year central banks have successfully pushed back against rate cut bets. "I believe the Fed will act rationally and begin to cut rates by the end of next year, but we can't rule out the scenario that the Fed is not going to cut rates and just let the ramifications of recession do what they do." Reuters GraphicsSHIFT NEARINGMarkets now fully price in a 25 basis point U.S. rate cut in May, having seen a 65% chance earlier this week. "There are now committee members in all three (banks) willing to talk about rate cuts next year," said Chris Jeffery, head of rates and inflation strategy at LGIM. "The ECB should begin to ease policy as soon as April 2024, with risks that a more sinister downturn in growth could warrant a rate cut as soon as March," he said.

Persons: Jonathan Ernst, ramping, It's, Nate Thooft, Goldman, Christopher Waller, Huw Pill, Yannis Stournaras, Chris Jeffery, we'd, Dario Perkins, Simon Harvey, Yoruk, Naomi Rovnick, Harry Roberston, Davide Barbuscia, Ira Iosebasvili, Saqib Iqbal Ahmed, Dhara Ranasinghe, Catherine Evans Organizations: . Federal, REUTERS, ECB, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Manulife Investment Management, Treasury, Graphics, Bank of England, Deutsche, Lombard, Traders, Yoruk Bahceli, Thomson Locations: Washington, United States, Europe, Goldman Sachs, Greek, Amsterdam, London

☆ Fed's favorite gauge shows inflation rose 0.2% in October and 3.5% from a year ago, as expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The personal consumption expenditures price index, excluding food and energy prices, rose 0.2% for the month and 3.5% on a year-over-year basis, the Commerce Department reported. Energy prices fell 2.6% on the month, helping keep overall inflation in check, even as food prices increased 0.2%. Goods prices saw a 0.3% decrease while services rose 0.2%. On the services side, the biggest gainers were international travel, health care and food services and accommodations. I'm hearing normalizing, not recession, but I am hearing consumer slowing down."

Persons: Dow Jones, Stocks, Bonds, Bill Adams, John Williams, Thomas Barkin Organizations: Federal Reserve, Commerce Department, Energy, Dow Jones, Treasury, Labor, Fed, Labor Department, Comerica Bank, . New York Fed, Richmond Fed, CNBC, European Central Bank, CNBC PRO Locations: ., New York

It's a far cry from the peak of 10.6% in October 2022 as an energy crisis left Europe's households and businesses struggling to make ends meet. The new figure is close to the European Central Bank's inflation target of 2% following a rapid series of interest rate hikes dating to summer 2022. Energy prices plunged 11.5% from November 2022. Meanwhile, the larger eurozone economy has stalled this year, even shrinking 0.1% in the July-to-September quarter, according to Eurostat. ___This story has been corrected to show that the eurozone economy shrank 0.1% in the third quarter, not grew by that amount.

Persons: ”, Andrew Kenningham, Christine Lagarde, ” Lagarde, That's, upended, ” Carsten Brzeski Organizations: Eurostat, ECB, Capital Economics, Energy, OECD, ING Locations: Europe, Germany, Europe's, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Euro zone inflation sinks to 2.4%, below expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

(Photo by Ying Tang/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Annual inflation in the euro zone cooled to 2.4% in November from 2.9% in October, flash figures showed Thursday. Inflation in the euro zone's largest economies, Germany and France, has dropped to 2.3% and 3.8%, respectively. ECB officials have repeatedly stressed that it is too early to declare victory over price rises in the 20-member euro zone bloc, as they monitor potential pressures from wage increases and energy markets. Separate data released by statistics agency Eurostat on Thursday showed that unemployment in the euro area remained at a record low of 6.5% in October, despite a contraction in the euro zone economy in the third quarter. "For the ECB, signs of an imminent victory on inflation are mounting," Bert Colijn, senior euro zone economist at ING, said in a note, adding that some of the impact from existing monetary tightening was yet to be felt.

Persons: Ying Tang, —, Mathieu Savary, Bert Colijn Organizations: Aachen, Getty, Reuters, European Central Bank, Energy, ECB, BCA Research, Eurostat, ING Locations: Aachen, Germany, France, European

☆ Intesa's CET1 requirement under SREP process rises to 9.32%
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Intesa San Paolo bank headquaters is seen in Turin, Italy, November 7, 2018. The ECB had set the same threshold at 8.88% for the current year. The new requirement kicks in on Jan. 1, 2024. The increase to 2023 stems mostly from a buffer that 'Other Systemically Important Institutions' (O-SII) are due to hold, which stands at 1.25% for 2024 versus 0.75% in 2023. The countercyclical buffer requirement also inched up slightly to 0.23% from 0.16%, Intesa said.

Persons: headquaters, Stefano Rellandini, Intesa, Valentina Za, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, European Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: Paolo, Turin, Italy

"It is hard to understand how the ECB ended up buying the bonds of property companies, while at the same time warning of the risks of property price inflation," former ECB chief economist Otmar Issing told Reuters. But data this week shows the central bank still owned the two bonds issued by SBB as of Nov. 24. While Sweden is not in the euro zone, SBB issued the debt bought by the ECB in neighbouring Finland, which is. Alongside the SBB bonds, the ECB also hoovered up the debt of other property companies which have since hit problems, including Sweden's Heimstaden. The ECB also gobbled up many German real estate bonds, including 39 issued by Vonovia, which has been selling property to cut debt.

Persons: Otmar Issing, Daniel Gros, Gros, Sweden's, Heimstaden, it's, Alexander Smith Organizations: SBB, European Central Bank, ECB, Reuters, Research, Institute, European, Bocconi University, Fitch, Vonovia, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Europe, Germany, Sweden, Milan, Swedish, Finland

☆ Goldilocks meets Santa as global stocks power to best month in three years
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Naomi Rovnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

MSCI's world stock index (.MIWO00000PUS) is set to close the month up around 9%, its best performance since November 2020, when markets cheered the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines. Global bond prices have soared, with an ICE BofA index of global investment-grade bonds in major markets set to return 3.4% in November, the best month on record going back to 1997. Global growth stocks in high-tech sectors are up 11% (.dMIWO0000GNUS) while value stocks, which are mainly in cyclical industries and offer high dividends, have gained 6.5% (.dMIWO0000VNUS). And a cloudier outlook for stocks suggests a divergence could open up between again between stocks and bonds. The broader global index is set to return 1.6% for the year.

Persons: Joshua Roberts, That's, bode, Altaf Kassam, Wall, We've, Guy Miller, Joost Van Leenders, Van Lanschot Kempen, Van Leenders, Kassam, Naomi Rovnick, Yoruk Bahceli, Dhara Ranasinghe, Christina Fincher Organizations: Federal Reserve, REUTERS, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, State Street Global Advisors, Traders, Fed, Insurance Group, Equity, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, COVID, U.S

☆ Euro zone inflation tumble pits ECB against markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Balazs Koranyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Inflation has dropped quickly towards the ECB's 2% target from levels above 10% just a year ago but policymakers have cautioned against excessive optimism. The rapid inflation slowdown puts the euro zone central bank and investors on a collision course as the two appear to see greatly different paths ahead, both for consumer prices and ECB interest rates. "And if the recent trends in inflation and growth continue then 2024 will be the year when the ECB implements a pirouette in monetary policy." "The market is therefore right to start looking at rate cuts for 2024. Some economists argue that modelling current inflation is exceptionally difficult because corporate profits are the main driver, not wages as in normal bouts of rapid inflation.

Persons: Sarah Meyssonnier, Kamil Kovar, Yannis Stournaras, Fabio Panetta, Panetta, Christine Lagarde's, Bert Colijn, Balazs Koranyi, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS, ECB, Moody's, Bank of Italy, ING, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, FRANKFURT

☆ Eurozone Inflation Falls Faster Than Expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Liz Alderman | More About Liz Alderman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Excluding food and energy prices, so-called core inflation rose 3.6 percent, a sharply slower pace than previous months. “The price to pay is higher interest rates, more difficult financing and therefore an economic slowdown,” he added. Interest rates were raised from below zero and are now at the highest level in the central bank’s two-decade history. But Europe is facing a drawn-out economic slowdown as high interest rates and the lingering impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine continue to curb activity. to start lowering interest rates next year, possibly before the summer.

Persons: ” Bert Colijn, ” Bruno Le Maire, Christine Lagarde, Colijn Organizations: ING Bank, European Central Bank, ”, Eurostat, France Inter Locations: Ukraine, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Europe, United States

☆ Italy's competition watchdog stops Intesa moving clients to mobile bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Intesa Sanpaolo bank logo and stock graph are seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. Italy's AGCM antitrust authority opened a probe earlier this month into the way Intesa was transferring clients to Isybank after a raft of complaints which the watchdog said had now reached 5,000. It wants Intesa to only move clients who explicitly give their consent. Isybank targets 4 million Intesa customers under 65 who only access their banking services remotely. The group migrated the first 300,000 Intesa account holders in October and plans to shift another 2 million in March.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Intesa, AGCM, Carlo Messina, Antonio Valitutti, Isybank, Valentina Za, Giulia Segreti, Christina Fincher, Jane Merriman, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of Italy, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Italy

☆ Morning Bid: November bids adieu with inflation data, OPEC
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., September 26, 2023. With signs of turn emerging in Federal Reserve policy guidance and October PCE inflation readings set to encourage that later in the day, rate cut fever was in full flow across the Atlantic too. Headline annual inflation in the bloc fell as low as 2.4% - within arm's length of the ECB's 2% target. Later on Thursday, U.S. PCE inflation for the prior month is pencilled to fall 3.0% from 3.4% - with a core also ebbing to 3.5%. "Monetary policy is in a good place," Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester said on Wednesday, echoing comments from previously hawkish Fed governor Christopher Waller the previous day.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Mike Dolan, policymaker Fabio Panetta, Loretta Mester, Christopher Waller, John Williams, Christine Lagarde, Megan Greene, Kroger, Bernadette Baum Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Treasury, Federal, European Central Bank, Bank of Italy, policymaker, U.S ., ECB, Cleveland Fed, Wall, OPEC, Dallas Fed, PMI, York Federal, Bank of England, Academy Sports, Rock Biotech, Titan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, Canada, Vienna, Automotive, Duluth, BOS, Jan

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