Inflation

“European inflation expectations are rising as investors anticipate ongoing easy monetary policy and a global economic rebound boosted by U.S. fiscal spending.” – by Anna Hirtenstein

“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

“A major theme for pension funds in the 2020s will be the growing influence of politics in the economy, the investment head of one of Europe’s biggest pension investors has said, telling funds they will need to learn more about how politics work.” – by Rachel Fixsen

“The European Central Bank will consider following the lead of the US Federal Reserve by committing to let inflation overshoot its target after a period of sluggish price growth, it has said for the first time.” – by Martin Arnold

“ECB board member Isabel Schnabel argued that raising inflation will be key and failure to get price growth in the 19-country euro zone moving towards the ECB’s target could be the trigger for action.”

“With inflation running persistently below this longer-run goal, the Committee will aim to achieve inflation moderately above 2 percent for some time so that inflation averages 2 percent over time and longer-term inflation expectations remain well anchored at 2 percent. The Committee expects to maintain an accommodative stance of monetary policy until these outcomes are […]

“The current environment of elevated uncertainty means that the Governing Council will continue to assess carefully the incoming information, including developments in the exchange rate, with regard to the implications for the medium-term inflation outlook.” – by Philip Lane, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB

2020 brings with it the 10th year of recovery since the global financial crisis. Equity markets continue to break records, ample credit is available, yet the bullish performance appears cosmetic at times and investing in Europe in 2020 is fraught with political risks.  The US deficit doubled from $385bn to $779bn last year, the UK […]

We are nearly 20 years into the new millennium and it is an unrecognizable place compared to when it started.  Lehman is gone, Bear Stearns – gone, Merrill Lynch – acquired, Citigroup is a fraction of its former self.  Blockbuster, Toys R Us, Woolworths are all part of the history books now.  Europe, where we […]

ECB argues for the continuing value of central bank independence.