Articles by Leigh Thomas

France Plans €20 Billion in State-Backed Loans to Avoid Small Firm Failures

France plans to raise 20 billion euros ($23 billion) in quasi-equity loans for small firms hit by the coronavirus crisis by offering investors a state guarantee against the first 2 billion euros in losses, officials said. Fearing failures among firms …

Insurers in Dash for Expertise to Master Cyber Risk Insurance

Insurers are eagerly eyeing exponential growth in the tiny cyber coverage market but their lack of experience and skills handling hackers and data breaches may keep their ambitions in check. High profile cases of hackers seizing sensitive customer data from …

OECD Sees Euro Zone Crisis Threatening Global Economic Recovery

The United States and Japan are leading a fragile economic recovery among developed countries that could yet be blown off course if the euro zone fails to contain its flaring growth crisis, the OECD said on Tuesday. In its twice-yearly …

Sarkozy, Merkel Push Euro Integration; No Joint Bonds

France and Germany unveiled far-reaching plans for closer euro zone integration on Tuesday, but they disappointed investors by declaring that any thoughts of a common euro bond issuance would have to wait. Under heavy pressure to restore confidence in the …

Sarkozy & Merkel Face ‘Stark Choice’ in Euro Zone Talks

The leaders of France and Germany face a stark choice in talks on Tuesday over whether to begin steering the embattled euro zone towards closer fiscal union or risk watching the bloc unravel. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor …