Ireland's prime minister has marked the end of the country's bailout program with a speech to the nation. In a televised address, Enda Kenny said Ireland's good name and our credibility had been restored. Meanwhile Portugal could be the next in the list after a review of the economy was advanced six months.
A surprise rate cut by the European Central Bank sent Euro zone shares to a five-year high on Thursday as traders bet a weaker Euro and easier lending conditions would help revive the region's economy and boost demand for stocks.
The Euro zone economy's gross domestic product will grow 1.1% in 2014 and 1.7% in 2015, with imbalances diminishing as unemployment remains at unacceptable levels, the European Commission said in a report released earlier this week.
The unemployment rate in the 17-nation Euro-zone remained at a record high of 12.2% in September as the bloc’s recent recovery failed to generate new jobs, official data shows. The number rose by 60,000 to 19.45 million, while the jobless rate for those aged under 25 edged up to 24.1% from 24% in August, according to Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics agency.
The International Monetary Fund trimmed its forecasts for global output for the sixth time since early last year, saying stronger growth in most advanced economies would fail to make up for a more sluggish expansion in the developing world
President Mariano Rajoy making the round of financial media in New York this week, said Spain had emerged from recession in the third quarter with estimated economic growth of 0.1% to 0.2% forecast and 0.5% to 1% in 2014.
Santander, the Euro zone's biggest bank, has hired Rodrigo Rato, under investigation in connection with allegations of fraud at state-rescued lender Bankia when he was chairman, to its international advisory board.
The European Central Bank said it was ready to cut interest rates or pump more money into the Euro zone economy if necessary to bring money market rates down and help the Euro zone's economic recovery. ECB chief Mario Draghi said the policymaking Governing Council did discuss a possible rate cut at its monthly meeting, partly due to concern about money market rates and the uncertain very green nature of the recovery.
European stock markets mostly rose on Wednesday after official data showed that the Euro zone had finally escaped from a record 18-month recession. The Euro-zone climbed out of recession with surprisingly strong growth of 0.3 percent in the second quarter led by Germany and France, announced the European Union.
The European Central Bank left interest rates at a record low 0.5% on Thursday and said that they will remain there for some while to come and could yet fall further. ECB President Mario Draghi hinted that policy would not be tightened until well into next year at the earliest, although the central bank will give no time horizon for when rates might move.