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Some quick thoughts on Europe. This morning the Eurozone got two notable datapoints. Unemployment hit a new all-time high. And inflation fell to 1.2%. With unemployment this high and inflation this low, the obvious thing is for the ECB to cut rates

Hans-Werner Sinn has deliberately distorted and obfuscated my argument. I was arguing that the current state of integration within the eurozone is inadequate: the euro will work only if the bulk of the national debts are financed by eurobonds and the

One of the big problems in the U.S. economy right now is that big corporations are generating record profits not by growing revenues but by cutting costs. "Costs," as everyone who works for a big corporation knows, are a synonym for employees

The Canadian dollar touched its highest level against the U.S. dollar in two and a half months on Tuesday following the release of stronger-than-expected Canadian gross domestic product data that showed economic growth gained momentum in February

The dollar eased on Wednesday as investors warily awaited the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting later in the day, while expectations for the European Central Bank to cut interest rates on Thursday capped the euro. Financial

A false report of explosions at the White House that wiped out $136 billion from the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index in about two minutes highlighted the risks of the computerized trading that dominates the $18 trillion market. The S&P 500 was up about 1

German business confidence fell for a second month in April after winter weather hindered the recovery in Europe’s largest economy. The Ifo institute in Munich said its business climate index, based on a survey of 7,000 executives, dropped to 104.4

The European Central Bank is closer to lowering interest rates than at any time since it last cut them in July 2012 and is likely to shave a quarter-point off at its policy meeting next week. Senior sources involved in the deliberations say momentum

Demand for gold coins has surged following the record price plunge in gold last week. Demand is so high that the U.S. Mint Runs Out of Smallest American Eagle Gold Coin. The U.S. Mint ran out its smallest American Eagle gold coin after demand surged

When it comes to alternative currencies, gold is usually the tender of choice. David Morgan, publisher of The Morgan Report and creator of Silver-Investor.com, disagrees. Morgan says that when it comes to precious metals as legal tender, silver is

In notably outspoken remarks for a senior German figure, Dr Konrad, chairman of a scientific council that advises the finance ministry, said: “Europe is important to me. Not the euro. And I would only give the euro a limited chance of survival.”

One of the sickest economies in the developed world is the UK. But for a brief moment, the country has reason to celebrate. UK GDP for Q1 grew at 0.3% vs. 0.1% expected. That means that for now it has avoided the triple dip recession. This will be a

The European Central Bank would have to raise interest rates if it were looking at Germany alone but it is in a difficult position because of the economic divergence in the currency bloc, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday. "The ECB is

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week by a surprisingly large 16,000, offering reassurance the bottom is not falling out of the labor market despite signs of slower growth. Initial claims for state

It's the hottest trade in the world right now: betting the Japanese yen will decline against the U.S. dollar. As part of the Japanese government's new "Abenomics" strategy to lift the Japanese economy out of a decade of deflation, the Bank of Japan

Last week was an interesting one for commodities, especially gold. Gold crashed, having its worst two-day period in three decades. Other commodities plunged hard, and stocks were wobbly. Suddenly everyone started screaming the same thing: Deflation

China has a major corruption problem. "2013 will mark the most vigorous anti-corruption fight by the Chinese leadership in decades," write the analysts at Deutsche Bank. This initiative is expected to be bad news for China's liquor suppliers

Remember that fake AP tweet sent out by hackers that caused a mini market crash for a few minutes on Tuesday afternoon? Deutsche Bank derivatives strategist Jens Johansen and his team say the market reaction revealed a "new reality" for gold. In a

The economy in the U.S. grew at a faster pace in the first quarter, reflecting the biggest increase in consumer spending in two years as households overcame a drop in incomes by putting less money in the bank. Gross domestic product rose at a 2.5

The Japanese yen continues to surge against the dollar this morning. One of the most consensus trades on the planet is betting that the yen will decline against the dollar as Japan implements aggressive monetary policy designed to reflate the