GV, RE: "The ECB has decidedly not been setting the financial markets up for a rate rise, but the very recent weakness in the euro has probably forced their hand."
Also, Australia raise it's rates yesterday. On the surface it sounds like "so what", but as a leader in the region it's a significant part of the global picture.
As a new currency, the Euro still needs to find it's feet. It's in that process now, I hope the ECB will refrain from raising rates to support the currency. I think the Fed also may have "forced their hand" today. In the face of a Fed rate increase, on paper, the Euro should continue it's decline.
A US rate increase, with much of the growth overseas, does little to tame growth without participation of the other major world banking centers. AG and the Fed are putting the brakes on the "old economy" (rustbelt and basic materials), which haven't been doing all that great anyway. They have very little power over the "new information economy", which funds it's growth outside of the Fed's beloved banking system, and does over 50% of it's business overseas.
I have serious reservations about the Feds power in the "new economy", when I buy into the "new economy" concept.
John |
