Europe

Sex, Drugs and Dodgy Accounting: Spain’s New Growth Strategy

When it comes to creative accounting, few can hold a candle to Spain’s finance minister Cristobal Montoro, who unveiled his latest scheme to “grow” the economy: adding prostitution and illegal drugs to GDP to solve a host of urgent problems.

Selling Your European Stocks Before Everyone Sees This Chart?

The European economy has been on a phenomenal roll since 2012, according to the soaring Stoxx 600 stock index. Recessions, unemployment fiascos, toppling banks, collapsing auto sales… they didn’t exist. But what the heck is wrong with this picture?

Wreckonomics: Troika Accelerates Demolition of Spain’s Economy

The people must pay” if they want to maintain the current levels of public services, warned James Daniel, the man in charge of the IMF’s mission in Spain, who, as an employee of the IMF, pays no income taxes  to any country.

Winner Accuses French Government of “Massive” Election Fraud

Election results for the European Parliament mortified the French political class, as this universally despised layer is called in France. But now the winner has the gall to accuse the government of “having rigged the vote by the most odious means” to prevent its victory.

For Love Nor Money: The Bank That Nobody Wants To Buy

By Don Quijones: The Spanish government is desperately trying to offload one of the bailed out, nationalized, and supposedly fully restored banks. The problem: no one wants it.

Airbus CEO Calls For Currency War, Shoots Himself in Foot

Boeing got more orders in the first quarter than archrival Airbus. So at the ILA Berlin Air Show, Airbus CEO Fabrice Brégier spoke up against this ridiculous injustice. True to his Frenchness, he exhorted the ECB to do what central banks are supposed to do.

Russia Dumping US Treasuries? But Why the Heck in Belgium?

Belgium is known for its surprises. For example, it got by amazingly well for a couple of years without a national government, to the chagrin of a lot of people. Now that tiny country with a tiny economy is suddenly piling up a mountain of US Treasuries.

France Thumbs Nose at Obama Over Sanctions: Will Deliver Two Warships to Russia

The battle between the US and France has been brewing for months, but now it came to a head: the French government decided to spite the US and move forward with the contract to deliver two warships to Russia. To heck with those silly sanctions.