Germany

Economics

Germany's economy narrowly avoided a recession in the third quarter by growing 0.08 percent over the previous three months, the country's federal statistics office, Destatis, announced Nov. 14.

Germany: Economy Avoids Recession With Slight Growth in Third Quarter

Beyond Quantitative Easing

EU: Regional Blocs

The Fate of the Eurozone

Europe

The European Commission has warned of an economic deceleration in Europe over the next two years due to global trade tensions and a slowdown in manufacturing, according to the fall economic forecast it released Nov. 6.

Europe: European Commission Reduces Economic Growth Expectations

Annualized inflation in the eurozone fell from 0.8 percent in September to 0.7 percent in October, according to an Oct. 31 flash estimate by Eurostat, which said gross domestic product in the currency bloc grew by 0.2 percent in the third quarter over the previous three months.

EU: Eurozone Inflation Reaches 0.7 Percent in October, Flash Estimate Says

The European Central Bank decided Sept. 12 to launch a new round of stimulus for the eurozone and reduce its deposit rate from -0.4 to -0.5 percent. The bank also announced that it would start a new round of quantitative easing and buy 20 billion euros (roughly $22 billion) in bonds per month starting in November.

EU: ECB Announces More Stimulus, Cuts Deposit Rate by 10 Basis Points

China

China in Transition

The People's Bank of China has announced that it will reduce the reserve requirement ratio for commercial banks by 50 basis points to encourage lending and boost domestic spending, Bloomberg reported Sept. 6.

China: Central Bank Cuts Reserve Requirement Ratio to Increase Domestic Lending

Germany is well-placed to react to a future economic crisis and could make an additional 50 billion euros (roughly $56 billion) available for public spending, German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said Aug. 18, according to Reuters.

Germany: Fiscal Strength Sufficient to Withstand Potential Economic Crisis, Finance Minister Says 

Germany's gross domestic product fell by 0.1 percent in the second quarter over the previous three months, The Financial Times reported Aug. 14.

Germany: Economy Contracts by 0.1 Percent in Second Quarter

Turkey

The Turkish central bank's chief economist and at least eight other high-ranking officials were removed from office on Aug. 8, Reuters reported, adding that the move was reportedly part of a reorganization of the bank after an internal meeting.

Turkey: Multiple Senior Central Bank Officials Removed From Office

Turkey's Resurgence

After 2008, when financial crisis wrecked the global economy, central banks needed a way to artificially stimulate economic growth. And so many of them enacted quantitative easing, a policy in which a central bank expands monetary supply through a bond-buying program. That policy, however, has run its course. The road beyond quantitative easing will be littered with higher rates of government spending — a daunting prospect for governments that are already dealing with elevated debt levels.

Quantitative easing has run its course, and the road beyond this policy will be littered with higher rates of government spending.

United States

Japan

Banking

European Disintegration

A Japanese Awakening

Snapshots

Environment, Science & Technology

Financial markets expect decisive action from the ECB's Governing Council when it meets this week. But already-negative interest rates leave the euro bank with few cards to play.

The European Central Bank Faces the COVID-19 Crisis With Limited Options

COVID-19

Assessments

The ECB won't be making any significant changes as it reviews its policies.

Significant changes to the European Central Bank's policies are not in the offing as it launches a review of its priorities.

The ECB's Strategy Review Isn't Set to Rock the Boat

Sweden

Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank, is expected to raise its main policy rate to zero on Dec. 19, bucking a global trend in a limited way.

Sweden's central bank is set to end its five-year experiment with below-zero rates. The world's major central banks, uncertain how to return monetary policy to "normal," will be watching the results closely.

Coming Back Through the Looking Glass of Negative Interest Rates

Reflections

United Kingdom

Italy

Managing Director Christine Lagarde delivers the International Monetary Fund's outlook for a slowing global economy in 2019.

North America Unrivaled

The world's top three economies are showing signs of declining growth. While the risk of a crisis is low, the consequences of even a slight slowdown would reverberate globally.

Why a Global Economic Downshift, No Matter How Small, Matters

Brexit

Bahrain

Tiny Bahrain is the financial black sheep of the Arab Gulf monarchies, but a new oil and gas discovery could help it gain financial independence.

Energy

Broken Contracts in the Middle East

A massive new oil field could vastly improve the debt-ridden kingdom's financial outlook. But turning prospective resources into real revenue doesn't happen overnight.

Tiny Bahrain's Big Oil Discovery Will Boost the Country’s Fortunes -- Eventually

The end of the era of quantitative easing could give way to the normal volatility that market financial markets in the days before the 2008 global financial crisis.

As quantitative easing recedes and inflationary pressures rise, the volatility that was a normal facet of investing before the global financial crisis appears poised to return.

After a Decade of Calm, Bigger Waves May Batter the Markets

Finland

Portugal

Netherlands

Ireland

European Central Bank President Mario Dragui's term will end in 2019, opening the possibility that German central bank leader Jens Weidmann, who has voiced concerns about the amount of bad debt held by eurozone banks, will replace him.

The risk factors that have stalled the further integration of eurozone banks remain, as does Northern European resistance to pooling those risks.

Dim Chances for a European Banking Union Breakthrough

Globalization

China has issued a blueprint for reforms to its financial system, but there are still obstacles to foreign investment. 

China: Writing a Check for Financial Reform

Central Bankers Regain Altitude While They Can

The global economy's recent stability has created room for interest rate hikes that would give monetary authorities the ability to react if trouble reappears.

Switzerland

If commodity prices slide again, the interest rate gulf between the U.S. and the rest of the world could grow.

It has been a busy couple of days for the world's central banks. Since the U.S. Federal Reserve made its decision to hike interest rates, other central banks are faced with a choice: Do they track U.S. actions to protect their currencies, or do they stand pat and take their chances?

Where the Fed Goes, Other Central Banks May Not Follow

France

Greece

The Eurozone: On the Edge of Crisis

Changes in government or a banking crisis in Italy could test the currency union's staying power.

The Fed's (Possible) Political Makeover

By the time Janet Yellen reaches the end of her term as Federal Reserve Board chair, U.S. President Donald Trump may have already left quite a mark on the institution.

Beyond Quantitative Easing

SITUATION REPORTS

Germany: Economy Avoids Recession With Slight Growth in Third Quarter

Europe: European Commission Reduces Economic Growth Expectations

EU: Eurozone Inflation Reaches 0.7 Percent in October, Flash Estimate Says

EU: ECB Announces More Stimulus, Cuts Deposit Rate by 10 Basis Points

China: Central Bank Cuts Reserve Requirement Ratio to Increase Domestic Lending

Germany: Fiscal Strength Sufficient to Withstand Potential Economic Crisis, Finance Minister Says

Germany: Economy Contracts by 0.1 Percent in Second Quarter

Turkey: Multiple Senior Central Bank Officials Removed From Office

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