debt crisis News

EU’s Debt Crisis Saps its Ability to Lead Climate Change Debate

The EU’s debt crisis has sapped its ability to lead the way in global climate talks, which began in Doha on Monday, and to build on a fragile victory it clinched a year ago. The European Union is one of …

World Economic Climate Continues to Decline: ICC/Ifo Survey

The health of the world’s economy continues to deteriorate as insufficient demand, unemployment and the on-going debt crisis in Europe undermine recovery efforts, according to the latest findings from the ICC-Ifo World Economic Survey (WES). The ICC said that “based …

Swiss Re’s Chief Economist on the State of the Global Economy

“The European debt crisis is affecting the global economy, definitely,” said Kurt Karl, Swiss Re’s chief economist in an interview at the recent Reinsurance Rendezvous in Monte Carlo. He did indicate that it’s affecting the U.S. a bit less, as …

Commentary by Gordon Brown:* Europe Risks Going the Way of Japan

The good news is that Europe is no longer going the way of Greece. The sad news is that it is threatening to go the way of Japan. After years of hesitation punctuated by panic, Europe has finally accepted the …

World Bank Head Warns No Region Immune to Europe Debt Crisis

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim on Wednesday warned that most regions of the world will be hurt by the debt crisis enveloping the euro zone and said it was vital to protect the strong economic gains of the past …

Bondholder Group Sees Over $131.8 Trillion Greek Default Risk

A disorderly Greek default would probably leave Italy and Spain needing outside help to stop contagion spreading and cause more than €1 trillion ($1.318 trillion) of damage to the euro zone, the group representing Athens’ bondholders warned. Greek private creditors …

Euro Zone Ministers Reject Private Bondholders’ Offer on Greek Bonds

Euro zone finance ministers on Monday rejected as insufficient an offer made by private bondholders to help restructure Greece’s debts, sending negotiators back to the drawing board and raising the threat of Greek default. At a meeting in Brussels, ministers …

World Economic Forum Warns Economic, Social Turmoil Risk Globalization Gains

The latest report from the World Economic Forum highlights the “world’s vulnerability to further economic shocks and social upheavals.” Together they “risk undermining the progress that globalization has brought,” the report warns. The seventh edition of the Global Risks 2012 …

Best’s Rating Actions Spurred by EU Failure to Produce Debt Crisis Solution

Although the recent summit of the 27 countries of the European Union did manage to come up with a plan to control budget deficits – in the future – it “took no clear short term actions to address the debt …

Best Affirms FSR’s; Downgrades ICR’s of Allianz U.S. Units; Ratings on Review/Negative

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and downgraded the issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “aa-” from “aa” of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty North America (AGCS NA), which includes Allianz Global Risk US Insurance …