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Futures Rise on Chinese Data U.S. equity futures rose slightly in early Monday trade following a slew of Chinese data over the weekend. The Chinese Manufacturing PMI rose to 50.6 in November from 50.2 in October, showing a continued recovery in the sector. In addition, the official Services PMI...

CSI Forex, a market data provider and investigative company, reported Friday that the rapid spike in the EUR/USD was caused by a rumor that European leaders may be about to implement a short selling ban on sovereign debt. Such a ban would effectively cap yields at current levels and potentially...

Fitch said Friday that the ratings firm believes Spain's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the bank recapitalization plan represents a far reaching reform of the Spanish banking sector. However, the ratings agency warned that this may not be the last such bailout for the troubled financial...

The European Central Bank painted a bleak outlook for the European economy early Thursday in a monthly bulletin. The bank forecasted a decline in inflation over the next two and a half years and expected a tepid return to growth for the 17 member states of the monetary union in 2013. The bank's...

A recent survey of European investors conducted by Fitch ratings points to a growing need for a new round of Longer-Term Refinancing Operations (LTROs), which entail cheap financing for private banks from the European Central Bank. The quarterly survey of investors shows that 53 percent of...

At first glance, traders seem to be disappointed with the European Central Bank President Mario Draghi's decision not to launch a new round of bond purchases. However, hidden inside the rhetoric lies a concrete plan for Draghi to save the Eurozone and protect the euro. Draghi stated, "Risk premia...

Tuesday afternoon, reports from Madrid revealed that the ECB and other European authorities may in fact be closer to purchasing bonds in the open market than previously thought. Earlier, markets were discounting the reticence of key German economists in supporting bond market purchases. However,...

Former chief economist of the European Central Bank Jurgen Stark has openly stated reservations about any further bond buying from his former employer. In a radio interview with Deutschlandfunk in his native Germany, Stark vehemently opposed bond buying by the ECB, stating that it was against the...

Italy had its first auction of new debt Monday since ECB President Mario Draghi hinted that the bank is set to support sovereign bond markets. Yields, even though modestly lower from the previous auction, fell markedly from post-LTRO highs early last week seen in the secondary market. Italy sold 5...

Markets await interest rate decisions from multiple central banks this week as the European Debt Crisis continues to drag on global growth. Comments from European politicians and leaders last week indicated that the European Central Bank is set to launch a new round of crisis fighting measures...

Markets traded higher Friday afternoon on comments from the ECB's President Mario Draghi. Reportedly, the central bank is set to broaden its policy response to the European Debt Crisis at its policy setting meeting next week. According to Bloomberg, Draghi indicated that he would advocate further...

Overnight, Greece's three main coalition leaders agreed on measures to reduce spending by approximately $12 billion over the next two years. These cuts amount to nearly all of the $13.8 billion in cuts which the Troika demanded in order to release the next tranche of bailout money to Greece....

Reports have been circulating recently indicating that Spain may be nearer to a full sovereign bailout than ever before. Even as Spain's deputy Prime Minister denies claims that Spain needs a full bailout, reports have been swirling that as recently as last week discussions were held over a $350...

U.S. equity futures rose slightly early Friday ahead of the U.S. GDP report and on news that the bailout funds in Europe are preparing to buy Spanish and Italian bonds on the secondary market. Le Monde, the French newspaper, cited "sources" saying that the European Financial Stability Facility (...