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☆ German housebuilding is collapsing — and could drag the economy down with it
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Fast forward two years, and German housebuilding looks like it's collapsing, putting pressure on both his hard-to-reach goal, but also the overall economy of the country. Over 22% of companies surveyed reported the cancellation of residential construction projects in Germany in October, a new record high. Expectations for the residential construction industry fell to what the Ifo described as an "exceptional low." "Things continue to go from bad to worse in Germany's construction sector. But it's also the jobs market that could be impacted by troubles in the homebuilding sector, Brzeski noted.

Persons: Soeren, Germany's Olaf Scholz, —, Cyrus de la Rubia, Carsten Brzeski, Brzeski, Klaus Wohlrabe, Wohlrabe, it's Organizations: Getty, Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Hamburg Commercial Bank, German Federal, Office, ING, CNBC, European Central Bank, ECB, European Commission Locations: downtown Wittenberg, Germany, Hamburg

☆ Euro zone banks lose millions of euros to poor IT outsourcing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

This last area in particular cost banks 148 million euros ($160.59 million) in 2022, a 360% increase from the year before, as a result of the "unavailability or poor quality of outsourced services". While the ECB cautioned these losses were "concentrated within a few significant institutions and therefore not indicating a sectoral trend", it also found that banks' "outsourcing arrangements often failed to sufficiently address IT security requirements". Banks are making ever greater use of outsourcing as they switch to cloud-based services from storing information on their own servers. Their cloud expenses surged by 56% in 2022 to account for 3.1% of all money spent by banks on IT, the ECB said. More broadly, the ECB found fundamental shortcomings that were "more severe and widespread than expected" in how banks tackle cybersecurity.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Banks, Francesco Canepa, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Central Bank, ECB, Thomson

☆ ECB to hold rates through mid-2024 despite stalling economy - Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Prerana Bhat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO: A view shows the logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany March 16, 2023. The remaining 45% saw a cut sometime before the ECB Governing Council meets in July. The results are similar to a survey last month where 58% expected no cut before the July meeting. The ECB, which began raising rates several months later than the Fed, could weaken the euro and introduce unwanted imported inflation if it moved before the Fed. The jobless rate was expected to rise only slightly to 6.7% from the current 6.5% by end-2024, the poll showed.

Persons: Heiko Becker, Christine Lagarde, ”, Peter Vanden Houte Organizations: European Central Bank, Reuters, REUTERS, ECB, ING, U.S . Federal Locations: BENGALURU, Frankfurt, Germany

☆ Euro zone Q3 GDP shrinks, but employment rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Nov 14 (Reuters) - The euro zone economy contracted marginally quarter-on-quarter in the third quarter, a new estimate confirmed on Tuesday underlining expectations of a technical recession if the fourth quarter turns out equally weak, but employment still rose. The European Union's statistics office Eurostat confirmed its estimate from Oct 31 that gross domestic product in the 20 countries sharing the euro fell 0.1% quarter-on-quarter in the July-September period for a 0.1% year-on-year rise. European Central Bank vice president Luis de Guindos said last week the euro zone economy was likely to contract slightly or at best stagnate in the fourth quarter after business activity data for October showed further weakening of demand in the dominant services industry. But contrary to the usual trend when the economy weakens, employment in the euro zone rose 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in the same period, for a 1.4% year-on-year increase. The growth slump is caused by strong headwinds from high inflation and record high interest rates as well as the slowly tightening fiscal policy.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Luis de Guindos, De Guindos, Jan Strupczewski Organizations: Shipping, REUTERS, Rights, European Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: Hamburg, Germany, Rights BRUSSELS, France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Ireland, Estonia, Lithuania

☆ Europe’s shrinking stash heralds economic trouble
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Francesco Guerrera | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

But the interest they earned on their assets increased from 16 billion euros to 66 billion euros in the same period. As a result, euro zone firms’ net interest was negative 19 billion euros in the second quarter of 2023. These financial gains may have helped euro zone growth. A further 700 billion euros matures in 2026. Homeowners with mortgages, which account for around 27% of euro zone households, are yet to feel the brunt of higher rates.

Persons: That’s, Mathieu Savary, Gross, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, European Central Bank, Reuters Graphics Reuters, ECB, BCA Research, Oxford Economics, International Monetary Fund, Oxford, IMF, Thomson Locations: Oxford, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, United States, China

☆ EU loophole lets banks dodge ECB's crypto supervision, needs fixing -Enria
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

He warned the EU's framework placed banks' activity as a 'crypto-asset service provider' -- such as acting as a custodian for customer wallets, exchanging tokens or managing crypto portfolios -- outside of the ECB's purview as a banking supervisor. "In fact, if crypto-asset service providers controlled by banks are not within the scope of their prudential consolidation, the BCBS standard and especially the exposure limit may become ineffective." He added crypto asset service providers should be added "as a matter of urgency" to the list of financial institutions that the ECB supervises under EU rules. MiCAR entered into force at the end of June and will take full effect by the end of next year. The Basel Committee's global standards on exposures to crypto assets are due to be transposed into EU law by Jan. 1, 2025.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Andrea Enria, Enria, MiCAR, Jan, Claudia Buch, Francesco Canepa, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Central Bank's, Banking, ECB, prudential, EU, Thomson Locations: EU, Venice, Basel

☆ Europe's problems are far bigger than a shallow recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Balazs Koranyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Deep structural problems mean Europe is bound to trail most other big economic areas for years to come. The labour market remains tight and the world economy is rebounding, so external demand is also likely to be healthier. Fearing it will be difficult to hire in future, firms are now hanging onto workers, creating even more labour market tightness, potentially fuelling wage growth and weakening productivity. The potential growth rate for Europe's largest economy is now below 1%. European Union governments are meanwhile struggling to reach consensus on bigger questions that will help shape the future.

Persons: Philip Lane, Erik Nielsen, Eric Gaillard, Europe's, There's, Lane, Reinhard Cluse, Mark John, Catherine Evans Organizations: Central Bank's, REUTERS, European Commission, UBS, European Union, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Europe, Nice, France, United States, Germany

☆ Goldman Sachs forecasts higher returns on commodities
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Oil, miniatures of oil barrels and U.S. dollar banknote are seen in this illustration taken, June 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsNov 13 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs expects increased returns on commodities over the next 12 months, buoyed by higher spot prices amid easing monetary policy and recession fears while the asset class also strengthens on hedging against geopolitical supply risks. The bank has forecast returns of 21% on commodities over a 12-month horizon on the oil-heavy S&P GSCI Commodity Index, led by returns of about 31% from energy and 17.8% from industrial metals. Commodity returns will also be bolstered by OPEC-driven declines in oil inventories and demand for so-called green metals, primarily from China, Goldman said. In metals, Goldman forecast a sharp tightening in copper and aluminium stocks into the middle of the decade, driving up prices from the second half of 2024.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Brent, Harshit Verma, David Goodman Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, OPEC, Energy, Thomson Locations: China, Bengaluru

☆ Euro zone should not ease bank buffers, ECB says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

European Central Bank (ECB) Vice-President Luis de Guindos arrives at the Presidential Palace for a meeting with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia, Cyprus, October 4, 2023. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Euro zone economic growth will remain weak in the near term as services and the labour market weaken but nations in the bloc should not free discretionary bank buffers to ease the pain, European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos said. A potential concern is that the euro zone economy has been broadly stagnating all year and any recovery next year will be shallow, keeping growth below 1%. "It is likely that the euro area economy will remain subdued in the near term." On the prospects for interest rates, de Guindos said the ECB would have more information in December "to reassess the inflation outlook and required policy action".

Persons: Luis de Guindos, Nikos Christodoulides, Yiannis, de Guindos, Guindos, Balazs Koranyi, Francesco Canepa, Emelia Sithole Organizations: European Central Bank, Cyprus, REUTERS, Rights, ECB, Thomson Locations: Nicosia, Cyprus, Germany, France, Netherlands

☆ Centeno says outgoing Portugal PM only invited him to ponder on premiership
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Sergio Goncalves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LISBON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Bank of Portugal Governor Mario Centeno, who is under fire from the opposition over an invitation by the outgoing prime minister to replace him as premier, said on Monday he never accepted the offer but was just asked to ponder on the matter. Portuguese opposition parties on Friday argued that such an invitation compromised the political independence of a central bank governor. The Bank of Portugal's ethics committee is expected to meet on Monday to evaluate his conduct. Prime Minister Antonio Costa stepped down on Tuesday over an investigation into alleged illegalities in his government's handling of lithium and hydrogen projects and a large-scale data centre. Centeno announced his departure from the finance ministry in June 2020, during Costa's second term, and was nominated to head the bank a month later.

Persons: Mario Centeno, Antonio Costa, illegalities, Costa, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Centeno, Rebelo de Sousa, Olli Rehn, Balazs Koranyi, Francesco Canepa, Andrei Khalip, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Bank of Portugal, Socialist, European Central Bank policymaker, Bank of, ECB, Thomson Locations: LISBON, Portuguese, Bank of Portugal, ECB's, Finland, Frankfurt

☆ Portuguese Central Bank to Assess Governor's Conduct - Local Media
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

LISBON (Reuters) - The Bank of Portugal's ethics committee will meet on Monday to evaluate the conduct of governor Mario Centeno, whose independence came into question after the departing prime minister proposed him as a potential replacement, local media said. Local media reported that Centeno had agreed to let his name go forward, raising concerns that his links to the PS remained strong and calling into question his independence if he remained central bank governor. Rebelo de Sousa rejected Costa's proposal and called the election instead. Centeno's quick move from the finance ministry to the central bank in July 2020, during Costa's second term, had previously raised eyebrows. A central bank spokesperson said it was up to the committee to comment on the matter.

Persons: Mario Centeno, Antonio Costa, illegalities, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Costa, Rebelo de Sousa, Centeno, Costa's, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, Negocios, Catarina Demony, Sergio Goncalves, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Bank, Socialist, European Central Bank policymaker, Local, Social Democrats, Eco, Jornal Locations: LISBON

☆ Euro zone inflation could tick up in coming months: Lagarde
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Euro zone inflation could tick up in the coming months but European Central Bank interest rates held at their current level at least for several quarters could still get price growth back to 2%, ECB President Christine Lagarde said on Friday. "There will be a resurgence of probably higher numbers going forwards and we should be expecting that," Lagarde told a Financial Times event. Still, Lagarde hinted that even if inflation picks up, another rate hike may not be needed. When asked what long enough means, Lagarde said no change should be expected in the "next couple of quarters". Reporting by Balazs Koranyi; editing by Christina Fincher, Tomasz Janowski and David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Christine Lagarde, Lagarde, Francois Villeroy de Galhau, Philip Lane, Balazs Koranyi, Christina Fincher, Tomasz Janowski, David Evans Organizations: Central Bank, ECB, Financial, European Union, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, French

☆ Morning Bid: Powell pushback puts cloud 9 beyond reach
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell answers a question during a press conference following a closed two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on interest rate policy at the Federal Reserve in Washington, U.S., November 1, 2023. Curiously, there was little change in that basic market pricing after Powell spoke - with end-2024 futures still pointing at a rate of 4.50-4.75% versus the current 5.25-5.50%. But the Treasury market did suffer a bigger jolt - as they were also undermined by poor demand at the latest long bond auction. But others pointed to a ransomware attack on the U.S. arm of The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, which reportedly disrupted trades in the Treasury market on Thursday. Whatever the main cause, fresh bond market jitters were enough to knock the S&P500 out of its winning streak and close almost 1% lower.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Kevin Lamarque, Mike Dolan, Jerome Powell's pushback, Powell's, Powell, 5bps, Sterling, Janet Yellen, Lorie Logan, Raphael Bostic, Christine Lagarde, Joachim Nagel, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Federal, Committee, Federal Reserve, REUTERS, Veterans, Commercial Bank of China, Treasury, University of Michigan, Dallas Federal, Atlanta Fed, European Central Bank, Financial Affairs, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, United States, HK, Washington, Beijing, Atlanta

☆ European markets set for lower open after Fed Chair Powell comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of London Stock Exchange Group Plc in the office atrium in the City of London, UK, on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. LONDON — European markets are set to retreat on Friday morning after U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank is "not confident" it has done enough to rein in inflation. The Fed last week held rates unchanged, along with the Bank of England and the European Central Bank, with markets now turning their attention to when rate cuts will begin next year — a position central bankers have tentatively pushed back against. Stock futures stateside pointed to a fractionally higher open on Wall Street Friday. European shares closed Thursday's session up 0.8% after a boost from a strong set of corporate earnings reports, which will likely continue to drive individual share price action Friday.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Powell Organizations: London Stock Exchange Group, City of, LONDON, Federal, Bank of England, European Central Bank, Stock Locations: City, City of London, Asia, Pacific, U.S

☆ Hungary seeks EU action over Bulgaria's new fee on Russian gas transit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

European Union (EU) flags fly in front of the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, July 8, 2020. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUDAPEST, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Hungary has asked the European Commission to launch an infringement procedure against Bulgaria over a new fee it has imposed on Russian gas transit shipments, EU affairs minister Janos Boka said in a post on Facebook on Friday. Bulgaria introduced the new transit fee of about 10 euros per MWh of Russian gas last month, prompting strong criticism from Hungary and Serbia. "Today I have sent a letter to the European Commission asking it to launch an infringement procedure against Bulgaria without delay," Boka said. He has asked the EU executive to call on Bulgaria to suspend the fee until the procedure is completed, he added.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Janos Boka, Boka, Krisztina, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Union, European Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, European Commission, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Russia, Europe

☆ Euro finds footing on hawkish policy remarks, lower energy prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. The Australian dollar fell 0.5% overnight and was last at $0.6405, just above its 50-day moving average. It seems set for its largest weekly fall since June, as the central bank appeared to raise the bar for further hikes after lifting rates on Tuesday. In Asia, China's yuan touched a two-month high in overnight offshore trade. China's consumer prices fell in October, data showed on Thursday, stoking expectations for lower interest rates.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Gabriel Makhlouf, Joachim Nagel, Jane Foley, Mario Draghi, Brent, Ping, Michael Wan, Jerome Powell, Tom Westbrook, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: REUTERS, Central Bank's, Bank of Japan, Rabobank, Treasury, New Zealand, Canadian, Italian, ECB, Financial, Reuters, Ping An Insurance Group, HK, MUFG, Bank of Israel, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Ireland's, U.S, Asia, Europe, Singapore, East, Gaza City

☆ Goldman Sachs thinks interest rates will stay even higher than the Fed expects
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Federal Reserve policymakers will have to hold interest rates higher than they think over the long term, according to Goldman Sachs. Even after the central bank starts cutting, which markets expect to happen in 2024, Goldman economists expect the Fed to have to hold its policy rate higher than it previously had indicated. However, Goldman said a variety of factors are lining up to make both the Fed's target and those of other global central banks unrealistic. Factors pushing policy rates up include high government deficits , investment in AI and carbon emission reductions and productivity increases from generative AI. Moreover, the ability of developed economies to keep growing in the face of higher rates also could diminish the need for cuts.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Goldman Organizations: Market, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Australian, Fed Locations: Canadian

☆ Morning Bid: Oil and bond yields try to find toehold
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 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. The supply picture for U.S. crude, which is now down more than 20% from late September's peaks, has also weighed on energy prices. Crude inventories increased by 11.9 million barrels over the week to Nov. 3, sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures. With senior Fed officials on Wednesday side-stepping guidance on the central bank's next policy steps, attention focuses squarely on Powell's latest speech. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Mike Dolan, Jerome Powell's, Powell, Jerome Powell, Thomas Barkin, Raphael Bostic, Kathleen O'Neill Paese, Christine Lagarde, Janet Yellen, Becton Dickinson, Emelia Sithole Organizations: New York Stock, REUTERS, Federal, American Petroleum Institute, Walt Disney, ABC, Warner Bros Discovery, Richmond Fed, Atlanta Fed, Louis Interim, European Central Bank, . Treasury, News Corp, Wynn Resorts, U.S, Treasury, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Europe, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Washington, St, Brussels, Mettler, Toledo, TransDigm

☆ UniCredit, RBI among banks on hook for $2.4 bln in Signa loans -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

RBI, which the person said had sharply reduced its exposure to the Signa group in recent years, declined to comment on Thursday. The European Central Bank (ECB), which supervises the banks, declined to comment. Raiffeisen Landesbank Niederoesterreich-Wien, Raiffeisen Landesbank Oberoesterreich and Erste Group are also among the banks with exposures to Signa, the person said. The other two Austrian banks declined to comment. A spokesperson for Austria's central bank said it had no concerns about the country's financial stability, when asked about Signa's financial position.

Persons: UniCredit, Signa, Rene Benko, Fitch, Landesbank, Banks, Arndt Geiwitz, Francesco Canepa, Tom Sims, Elisa Martinuzzi, Alexander Smith Organizations: Signa Group, Chrysler, Raiffeisen Bank, Bank, European Central Bank, ECB, Reuters, Erste Group, Erste, Austria's National Bank, Market Authority, Thomson Locations: VIENNA, Banks, Austria, Bank Austria, Wien

☆ Morning Bid: Range-bound markets awaits Powell - again
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell answers a question during a press conference following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on interest rate policy in Washington, U.S., November 1, 2023. At a separate event on Wednesday, European Central Bank chief economist Philip Lane said his bank needs to see further progress in dampening inflationary pressure, and companies along with governments need to chip in to prevent more policy tightening. "A decrease in the policy rate is not something that is likely to happen in the short term," he said. The approval paves the way for a powerful rival to blockbuster drug Wegovy in addressing record obesity rates. Ping An subsequently said in a statement to Reuters it had "not been asked by (the) Government to take over Country Garden".

Persons: Jerome Powell, Kevin Lamarque, Ankur Banerjee, Powell, Philip Lane, Patrick Harker, Huw Pill, Eli Lilly's, Ping, Merck KGaA, BOE, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Federal, Committee, REUTERS, Ankur, U.S, European Central Bank, . Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Bank of England, Investors, Novo Nordisk, Reuters, Ping An Insurance, Government, HK, AstraZeneca, Merck, Deutsche Telekom Speakers, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Asia, Guangdong, Ping, Singapore

☆ Dollar rises for third day before Fed Chair Powell speech
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Samuel Indyk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"The data side has been very quiet so the main drivers have been the hawkish comments from Fed speakers," said ING FX strategist Francesco Pesole. Focus now turns to remarks from Fed Chair Powell later on Wednesday. DARKENING GROWTH OUTLOOKThe euro fell 0.3% to $1.0670, further weighed by a darkening growth outlook in the euro zone. "The mixed outlook for consumer and investment spending leaves the euro zone very close to recession," said Wells Fargo economist Nick Bennenbroek. "Regardless of whether the euro zone falls into recession, we see enough growth headwinds to suggest that the European Central Bank's monetary tightening is done."

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jerome Powell, Francesco Pesole, They've, Powell, Matt Simpson, Wells, Nick Bennenbroek, ING's Pesole, Luci Ellis, Samuel Indyk, Rae Wee, Lincoln, Christina Fincher, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Reserve, U.S, ING, Central, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson

☆ ECB must keep rates at or near 4% through 2024 to get inflation down -IMF
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Monetary policy is appropriately tight and needs to remain so in 2024," Kammer told a news conference. "For all intents and purposes, (the deposit rate) should be held at that level or close to that level throughout 2024." Kammer warned the ECB against cutting rates too soon because that would require even more costly policy tightening later on. While the IMF sees price growth back at target in 2025, an exceptionally tight labour market could push this date back to 2026, it warned. Real wages also have some way to go catch up with inflation and this could also keep up the price pressure, the IMF said.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Alfred Kammer, Kammer, Balazs Koranyi, Mark Potter Organizations: European Union, European Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, International Monetary Fund, ECB, IMF's European Department, IMF, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Gaza

☆ Dollar licks its wounds ahead of Fed Chair Powell's remarks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The British pound , which earlier in the week hit a seven-week top against the dollar, was last some distance away at $1.2286. Focus now turns to a speech by Fed Chair Powell later on Wednesday. The euro fell 0.07% to $1.0691, further weighed by a darkening growth outlook in the euro zone. "The mixed outlook for consumer and investment spending leaves the euro zone very close to recession," said Wells Fargo economist Nick Bennenbroek. "Regardless of whether the euro zone falls into recession, we see enough growth headwinds to suggest that the European Central Bank's monetary tightening is done."

Persons: Jerome Powell, Matt Simpson, We're, Powell, Simpson, Wells, Nick Bennenbroek, Luci Ellis Organizations: Federal Reserve, U.S, U.S ., Central, Australian, Reserve Bank of Australia, New Zealand

☆ Signa founder Benko hands reins of property empire to Geiwitz
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view of the sign of Signa Holding on their headquarters in Vienna, Austria, November 6, 2023. Benko, an Austrian entrepreneur and a key figure in Europe's property market for two decades, is known for high-profile purchases including New York's iconic Chrysler Building and Britain's Selfridges. Some current and former investors - themselves titans of industry - have in recent days publicly lashed out at Benko, raising questions about his future role at Signa. What is important now is to restore trust, and I want to play my part in that," Benko said in the statement. Geiwitz is best known for his role in the insolvency proceedings of Germany's Galeria Kaufhof-Karstadt department stores and drug store chain Schlecker.

Persons: Leonhard Foeger, Rene Benko, Arndt Geiwitz, Fitch, Benko, Signa, Geiwitz, Germany's Galeria, Alexandra Schwarz, Tom Sims, Matthias Williams, Kirsti Knolle, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Signa, REUTERS, Rights, Chrysler, titans, Germany's, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Vienna, Austria, FRANKFURT, Germany, Austrian, Benko

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank and other policymakers across Europe need to keep interest rates at current elevated levels until they're sure inflation is under control despite sluggish growth, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday, warning against “premature celebration” as inflation declines from its peak. Alfred Kammer, director of the IMF's Europe department, warned against “premature celebration" as he spoke to journalists in connection with the outlook. The European Central Bank has raised its benchmark deposit rate by fully 4.5 percentage points between July 2022 and September 2023, from minus 0.5% to 4%. If inflation falls faster than expected, it will boost consumer real income and spending and growth might improve. But an escalation of Russia's war against Ukraine and accompanying increased sanctions and disruptions to trade could mean weaker growth.

Persons: Alfred Kammer, Kammer, “, ” Organizations: European Central Bank, International Monetary Fund, ECB, IMF, Ukraine Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany, Europe, Washington, Israel, Gaza

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