_Economy and Finance

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Italy Attracts Real-Estate Investors From Abroad Confidence in Euro Zone Is Prompting Bets on Weaker Markets By ALESSIA PIROLO Oct. 15, 2013 8:26 p.m. ET Foreign investors are showing a growing appetite for Italian commercial real estate, a sign that the gradual improvement of the European economy is being felt in some of the Continent's weaker property markets. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304330904579137381040342114

Commerzbank Corporates & Markets Interest Rate Strategy Italy: Political high-wire act Italy: Political jitters stage a stunning comeback. BTPs underperformance may prevail also in the sessions ahead. https://research.commerzbank.com

July 24, 2013 Italy May Retail Sales Almost Flat on Month, -1.1% on Year By Manuela Mesco ROME--Italy's retail sales in May increased by 0.1%, compared with April, national statistics institute Istat said Wednesday. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130724-702696.html

Money is money's brother. - Italian Proverb

France draws fire after "alarm bells" warning By Daniel Flynn and James Mackenzie PARIS/ROME | Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:52pm EST (Reuters) - France came under heavy fire on global markets Tuesday, reflecting fears that the euro zone's second biggest economy is being sucked into a spiraling debt crisis.

Related News: Bloomberg, Canada, Retail, Economy, Currencies, Italy, Municipal Bonds, US Cut in Household Spending Points to Recession By Shobhana Chandra and Steve Matthews - Aug 11, 2011 04:01 AM GMT Recession signals in the world’s largest economy are flashing red again.

French Banks Face Greatest Italian Risk Q By Fabio Benedetti-Valentini - Jul 13, 2011 7:01 AM GMT+0900 French banks, including BNP Paribas SA and Credit Agricole SA (ACA), have the most at risk from the euro- region’s debt crisis infecting Europe’s largest borrower: Italy.

Analysis: Euro zone crisis enters dangerous new phase with Italy By Paul Taylor ATHENS | Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:30am EDT (Reuters) - The euro zone's debt crisis has taken a dangerous turn. Contagion is singeing the currency bloc's third biggest economy Italy, which would be too big to save with existing EU financial fire-fighting tools.

The spread widening in the case of Italy is unprecedented since the start of the sovereign debt crisis.

EUROPE NEWS JULY 11, 2011, 7:13 P.M. ET New Fears on Italy Jolt Europe By ALESSANDRA GALLONI and MARCUS WALKER ROME—Italy, long a bystander to the euro-zone's debt woes, was thrust into the eye of the storm on Monday, as investors fled the country's bonds and Europe's leaders struggled to keep the crisis from infecting the Continent's third-largest economy.

Arrivederci, rally! Why Italy is latest worry By Paul R. La Monica July 11, 2011: 1:03 PM ET NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- This whole euro debt crisis is starting to remind me of the tagline of "Jaws." Just when you thought it was safe to go back into stocks ... cue the ominous cello music.

Exclusive: EU calls emergency meeting as crisis stalks Italy By Luke Baker BRUSSELS | Sun Jul 10, 2011 2:45pm EDT ( Reuters ) - European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has called an emergency meeting of top officials dealing with the euro zone debt crisis for Monday morning, reflecting concern that the crisis could spread to Italy, the region's third largest economy.

Related News: Europe, Italy, Funds, Finance, Insurance, Economy Bloomberg: Greece’s Creditor Banks Move Toward 70% Rollover of Debt to Avert Default By Aaron Kirchfeld and Sonia Sirletti - Jun 28, 2011 1:46 AM GMT+0900 Greek creditors may be headed toward a rollover agreement involving 70 percent of their bonds to prevent a default and meet politicians’ calls that they contribute to Greece’s second rescue in as many years.

Related News: Economy, Europe, France, Germany, U.K. & Ireland, Bonds, Eastern Europe, Italy, Currencies Europe May Withhold Half of Greek Payment By James G. Neuger and Jonathan Stearns - Jun 20, 2011 8:16 AM GMT+0900 European governments weighed withholding half of Greece’s next 12 billion-euro ($17.2 billion) aid payment, seeking to keep the country solvent while maintaining pressure on the government to slash the debt that pitched the euro area into crisis.

Related News: Economy , Eastern Europe , France , Germany , Italy Default by Greece ‘Almost Certain’: Greenspan By Vivien Lou Chen - Jun 17, 2011 8:46 AM GMT+0900 Alan Greenspan, former Federal Reserve chairman, said a default by Greece is “almost certain” and could help drive the U.S. economy into recession.

Related News: Germany · Bonds · Currencies · Economy · Eastern Europe · Europe · France · U.K. & Ireland · Italy · Hedge Fund Summit Greek Default Would Not Destabilize the Euro, Bundesbank’s Weidmann Says By Richard Weiss - Jun 12, 2011 9:46 PM GMT+0900 Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann raised the pressure on governments to agree to a Greek bailout without the European Central Bank taking part in easing the country’s debt burden, saying the euro can withstand a default.

In Europe, Rifts Widen Over Greece By LANDON THOMAS Jr. Published: May 23, 2011 LONDON — Fissures among Europe’s currency partners are becoming even deeper and more widespread than was previously evident, raising new doubts about whether the group can resolve the regional debt crisis that has simmered for more than a year.

Euro zone debtors under pressure over new risks (Reuters) - Financial markets piled pressure on heavily indebted euro zone countries on Monday as investors worried about heightened risks in Spain and Greece and ratings agencies stoked new concerns over Italy and Belgium.

Related News: Italy · U.S. Biggest Banks Beating Estimates Can’t Hide 13% Drop in Revenue By Dawn Kopecki - Apr 26, 2011 9:01 AM GMT+0900 The biggest percentage drop in quarterly revenue in three years, driven by lower lending and reduced fees, is damping investor appetite for shares of the six largest U.S. banks.

Related News: Europe · Germany · Finance · U.K. & Ireland · Currencies · Bonds · France · Economy · Italy European Stress Tests to Examine Banks’ Readiness for Basel III By Ben Moshinsky - Apr 8, 2011 8:01 AM GMT+0900 European regulators were criticized by German banks for a plan to incorporate into this year’s stress tests global capital standards that aren’t scheduled to be implemented for eight years.