ept. 29 (Bloomberg) -- European confidence in the economic outlook dropped more than economists forecast in September to the lowest in almost two years, reflecting growing concern that the worsening debt crisis could push the euro-area economy into a recession.
An index of executive and consumer sentiment in the 17- nation euro region fell to 95 from a revised 98.4 in August, the European Commission in Brussels said today. That’s the lowest since December 2009 and below the 96 projected by economists, according to the median of 31 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey.
Europe’s economy is showing increasing signs of a slowdown as governments struggle to contain the fiscal crisis and avert a Greek default. About three-quarters of global investors surveyed by Bloomberg this week anticipate the euro region will fall into a recession during the next 12 months, with more than a third predicting the European debt crisis will derail the world economy in that period.
“Indicators are dropping like a rock,” said Christoph Weil, a senior economist at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt, who lowered his 2012 euro-region economic forecast for a second time in a month to zero. “That’s partly because of an escalating fiscal crisis. We’re edging closer to a recession.”
The euro was higher against the dollar amid speculation German lawmakers will approve the expansion of the euro-area bailout fund to help contain the debt crisis. The euro traded at $1.3645 at 10:01 a.m. in London, up 0.7 percent on the day.
Investor Confidence
Manufacturing and services output contracted for the first time in more than two years in September, euro-area data showed last week. In Germany, Europe’s largest economy, business sentiment decreased for a third month in September and investor confidence dropped to the lowest in more than 2 1/2 years.
A gauge of sentiment among European manufacturers dropped to minus 5.9 in September from minus 2.7 in the previous month, today’s report showed. An indicator of services confidence fell to zero from 3.7, while a measure of consumer confidence decreased to minus 19.1 from minus 16.5. Sentiment among builders also worsened in September. The commission had previously reported an August reading of 98.3 for the overall confidence indicator.
The International Monetary Fund on Sept. 20 cut its euro- region growth forecast for this year and next to 1.6 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively. The Washington-based IMF had previously forecast the economy to expand 2 percent this year and 1.7 percent in 2012. The European Central Bank forecasts 2012 growth of about 1.3 percent.
Output Expectations
A gauge of euro-region manufacturers’ output expectations dropped to 0.2 from 5.9 in the previous month, today’s report showed. An indicator of order books slumped to minus 11.8, the lowest since October, while a gauge of employment expectations declined to minus 0.4 from 1.3 in August.
International finance ministers and central bankers at a meeting in Washington earlier this month urged European officials to intensify efforts to contain the region’s debt crisis as Greece teetered on the edge of default. President Barack Obama said yesterday that Europe’s debt turmoil continues to be a drag on the U.S. economy.
“In Europe, we haven’t seen them deal with their banking system and their financial system as effectively as they needed to,” Obama said yesterday in Washington.
Global Poll
More than half of the respondents in Bloomberg’s quarterly Global Poll predicted that banking-industry turmoil will worsen, according to the survey of 1,031 investors, analysts and traders who are Bloomberg subscribers. Eighty-eight percent said the region’s economy is deteriorating.
“For the next 12 months, the global economy will slow materially with advanced economies struggling to grow much above zero,” Mohamed El-Erian, chief executive officer of Pacific Investment Management Co., said on Sept. 24. “Emerging economies will maintain faster growth, albeit not as high as the last 12 months.”
ECB Governing Council members Ewald Nowotny and Luc Coene said the central bank may look at stepping up efforts to boost growth as soon as next month. They both identified renewed 12- month lending to banks as an option. ECB Executive Board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said on Sept. 26 that it’s important to “reassure the markets.”
Economists at Barclays Capital, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Royal Bank of Scotland Plc predict the ECB will be forced to reverse course on interest rates after raising the benchmark twice this year to 1.5 percent. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve has already pledged additional economic stimulus.
Rate Cut
“Pressure on the ECB to cut rates appears to be increasing by the day,” said analysts including Simon Smith at foreign- exchange broker FXPro Group Ltd. in London in an e-mailed note before today’s data were released. “A rate cut before the G-20 meeting on Nov. 3-4 is more likely than not and would confirm our long-held belief that both the ECB’s rate increases were misguided.”
The ECB will hold its next rate meeting on Oct. 6. President Jean-Claude Trichet, who will retire at the end of October, said last month that downside risks to the region’s economic outlook have “intensified.” Trichet, 68, will be replaced by Italy’s Mario Draghi.
Alan McQuaid, chief economist at Bloxham Stockbrokers in Dublin, said December may be the “most likely month” for the ECB to cut borrowing costs if the central bank decides to lower interest rates before year-end.
“There are substantial barriers” to lowering rates in October, McQuaid said. “Not least that the meeting would conclude Trichet’s term of office with a dramatic U-turn.”
Source: www.businessweek.com
An index of executive and consumer sentiment in the 17- nation euro region fell to 95 from a revised 98.4 in August, the European Commission in Brussels said today. That’s the lowest since December 2009 and below the 96 projected by economists, according to the median of 31 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey.
Europe’s economy is showing increasing signs of a slowdown as governments struggle to contain the fiscal crisis and avert a Greek default. About three-quarters of global investors surveyed by Bloomberg this week anticipate the euro region will fall into a recession during the next 12 months, with more than a third predicting the European debt crisis will derail the world economy in that period.
“Indicators are dropping like a rock,” said Christoph Weil, a senior economist at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt, who lowered his 2012 euro-region economic forecast for a second time in a month to zero. “That’s partly because of an escalating fiscal crisis. We’re edging closer to a recession.”
The euro was higher against the dollar amid speculation German lawmakers will approve the expansion of the euro-area bailout fund to help contain the debt crisis. The euro traded at $1.3645 at 10:01 a.m. in London, up 0.7 percent on the day.
Investor Confidence
Manufacturing and services output contracted for the first time in more than two years in September, euro-area data showed last week. In Germany, Europe’s largest economy, business sentiment decreased for a third month in September and investor confidence dropped to the lowest in more than 2 1/2 years.
A gauge of sentiment among European manufacturers dropped to minus 5.9 in September from minus 2.7 in the previous month, today’s report showed. An indicator of services confidence fell to zero from 3.7, while a measure of consumer confidence decreased to minus 19.1 from minus 16.5. Sentiment among builders also worsened in September. The commission had previously reported an August reading of 98.3 for the overall confidence indicator.
The International Monetary Fund on Sept. 20 cut its euro- region growth forecast for this year and next to 1.6 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively. The Washington-based IMF had previously forecast the economy to expand 2 percent this year and 1.7 percent in 2012. The European Central Bank forecasts 2012 growth of about 1.3 percent.
Output Expectations
A gauge of euro-region manufacturers’ output expectations dropped to 0.2 from 5.9 in the previous month, today’s report showed. An indicator of order books slumped to minus 11.8, the lowest since October, while a gauge of employment expectations declined to minus 0.4 from 1.3 in August.
International finance ministers and central bankers at a meeting in Washington earlier this month urged European officials to intensify efforts to contain the region’s debt crisis as Greece teetered on the edge of default. President Barack Obama said yesterday that Europe’s debt turmoil continues to be a drag on the U.S. economy.
“In Europe, we haven’t seen them deal with their banking system and their financial system as effectively as they needed to,” Obama said yesterday in Washington.
Global Poll
More than half of the respondents in Bloomberg’s quarterly Global Poll predicted that banking-industry turmoil will worsen, according to the survey of 1,031 investors, analysts and traders who are Bloomberg subscribers. Eighty-eight percent said the region’s economy is deteriorating.
“For the next 12 months, the global economy will slow materially with advanced economies struggling to grow much above zero,” Mohamed El-Erian, chief executive officer of Pacific Investment Management Co., said on Sept. 24. “Emerging economies will maintain faster growth, albeit not as high as the last 12 months.”
ECB Governing Council members Ewald Nowotny and Luc Coene said the central bank may look at stepping up efforts to boost growth as soon as next month. They both identified renewed 12- month lending to banks as an option. ECB Executive Board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said on Sept. 26 that it’s important to “reassure the markets.”
Economists at Barclays Capital, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Royal Bank of Scotland Plc predict the ECB will be forced to reverse course on interest rates after raising the benchmark twice this year to 1.5 percent. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve has already pledged additional economic stimulus.
Rate Cut
“Pressure on the ECB to cut rates appears to be increasing by the day,” said analysts including Simon Smith at foreign- exchange broker FXPro Group Ltd. in London in an e-mailed note before today’s data were released. “A rate cut before the G-20 meeting on Nov. 3-4 is more likely than not and would confirm our long-held belief that both the ECB’s rate increases were misguided.”
The ECB will hold its next rate meeting on Oct. 6. President Jean-Claude Trichet, who will retire at the end of October, said last month that downside risks to the region’s economic outlook have “intensified.” Trichet, 68, will be replaced by Italy’s Mario Draghi.
Alan McQuaid, chief economist at Bloxham Stockbrokers in Dublin, said December may be the “most likely month” for the ECB to cut borrowing costs if the central bank decides to lower interest rates before year-end.
“There are substantial barriers” to lowering rates in October, McQuaid said. “Not least that the meeting would conclude Trichet’s term of office with a dramatic U-turn.”
Source: www.businessweek.com
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