“Come January 2021, the United States and Germany will have to move quickly to resolve big differences, notably over China and Russia. At stake is the strength of transatlantic ties between America and Europe.” – by Judy Dempsey
Best Reads
Q3 GDP up by 12.5% in the Euro Area (Eurostat)
“In the third quarter of 2020, seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 12.5% in the euro area and by 11.5% in the EU compared with the previous quarter, according to an estimate published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.” – News Release from Eurostat
Central Banks Step Up $5.6 Trillion Bond Binge Despite Doubts (Bloomberg)
“Global central banks are embarking on fresh waves of bond-buying to fight the fallout from the pandemic, despite mounting claims that the once-mighty policy is losing its power to boost the economy.” – by Carolynn Look
Brussels seeks to help banks offload rising tide of bad loans (FT)
“Brussels is planning to lay out a raft of proposals in a bid to make it easier for EU banks to offload soured loans as it anticipates the risk of a pandemic-related wave of corporate distress.” – by Sam Fleming and Martin Arnold
Joe Biden Is Unlikely to Save Angela Merkel’s Pet Project (Bloomberg)
“With broad-based opposition to the 1,239-kilometer (770-mile) pipeline in the U.S., German hopes that the president-elect will reverse sanctions may be misplaced. The friction is contributing to an array of issues fraying ties between Germany and the U.S., pushing Europe to chart its own course.” – by Jonathan Tirone and Brian Parkin
Fireside Chat: The Case for (Eventual) Inflation (Institutional Investor)
“The combination of massive unconventional monetary policy and the increasing willingness of policymakers to take advantage of historically low interest rates and embrace the aggressive use of fiscal policy could eventually set the stage for a medium-term shift in the inflation backdrop.” – from Erik Weisman
Sunak warns of ‘economic emergency’ as borrowing hits record £394bn (Financial Times)
“The government’s independent forecaster said the virus was responsible for an 11.3 per cent contraction in the UK economy, the steepest for more than 300 years. It added that output would take a further large hit if ministers fail to negotiate a free trade agreement with the EU before the end of the year.” – […]
Here Are the World’s Biggest Asset Owners (Institutional Investor)
“In its annual Top 100 Asset Owners study, consultant Willis Towers Watson’s Thinking Ahead Institute reported that by itself, Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund weighs in at nearly $1.6 trillion in assets. That fund, the government pension system of Norway, and China’s sovereign wealth fund have dominated the list for three years running now. ” […]
President Biden: Think Bigger and Broader with Berlin (War on the Rocks)
“The new U.S. president has an opportunity to revitalize the U.S.-German partnership by thinking bigger and broader about a new series of centerpiece projects. Four areas of possible cooperation in which to promote positive and forward-looking solutions to shared problems are: transatlantic security, trade, public health, and climate change.” – by Stephen Szabo and Jason […]
Is this the end of Norwegian Air? (Flight Tradar 24)
“Now, after months of pandemic pressure and with no bailout forthcoming from Norway, it appears the airline may be nearing the end of the road.” – by Gabriel Leigh