ECB’s Trichet: Advanced Economies’ Crisis a ‘Formidable Challenge

By Luca Di Leo

The U.S., Europe and other advanced economies face new formidable challenges in dealing with high debt and low growth, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said Saturday.

Speaking at the end of a two-day meeting of top central bankers, Mr. Trichet said Europe was particularly challenged by its governance problems. Responding to questions by policy makers such as World Bank President Robert Zoellick worried by Europe’s ongoing debt crisis, he cautioned that overhauling the continent’s institutions is a “complex process… we’re observing history in the making.”

Private investors say biggest risk is the euro

By Alice Ross

The strength of the euro is now the top concern of private investors, according to a survey, surpassing worries over inflation, recession and unemployment.

A crisis in the euro was cited as the economic outcome most feared by 26 per cent of 1,767 people surveyed by Dianomi, the financial marketing group. Just 9 per cent cited a euro crisis as their main concern when the survey was last carried out in January.

Euro-crisis continues to weigh on City

By Peter Ranscombe

FEARS over Germany's credit rating dragged down shares across Europe yesterday, wiping out early rises in London as worries over the European debt crisis began to re-emerge.

All three of the major credit ratings agencies denied rumours of a possible downgrade of Europe's powerhouse economy but that didn't stop Germany's Dax index losing 4 per cent in just 15 minutes.

European Parliament set to get tough on debt crisis

BRUSSELS: The European Parliament will press top officials face to face next week for firmer action to tackle the region's debt crisis, with common bonds and a stronger euro zone rescue fund likely to anchor the debate.

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet will be questioned on Aug. 29 alongside Eurogroup Chairman Jean-Claude Juncker and Olli Rehn, the European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, in an extraordinary session of parliament's economic and monetary affairs committee.

Estonian Growth to Slow Due to Euro-Debt Crisis, Ligi Says

Estonia will reduce its growth forecast for next year due to the euro-area’s sovereign-debt crisis, Finance Minister Juergen Ligi said.

Ligi, speaking at a news conference in Tallinn today, didn’t elaborate. The Finance Ministry is due to publish its updated forecast in the middle of September, Katrin Reimann, a ministry spokeswoman, said in a phone interview today.