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The article discusses the European Sovereign Debt Crisis. The impact on the crisis of large withdrawals of deposits from banks in Greece is examined, particularly the possibility of similar withdrawals in other European Union (EU) countries of the euro area monetary union such as Portugal and Spain. The possibility that Greece will leave the euro area and its implications for EU country banking industry finance are examined.

The article discusses trading in bitcoin futures and investments in the same. It mentions that investment in bitcoins can be volatile and that only 21 million coins can be created as per its code as opposed to fiat money which central banks create at will; though there are other cryptocurrencies. It mentions that it may not be possible to replace ordinary currency with bitcoin as there may be a rise or fall in their value. It argues against bitcoin investment being a systemic risk.

The article is about the value of the Chinese yen, the most undervalued currency in the world. At the 2007 G7 meeting of finance ministers, Europe wants to do something to push the value of yen up so it will feel some of the dollar's decline, but from a U.S. finance view, the yen's weakness reflects China's low interest rates and a fragile economy. Japan's low rates may be holding down the yen, and the lower it slides, the greater the chance of a rebound.

A strong currency may be a central banker's dream, but it can be a nightmare for companies. If they export to countries with weakening currencies, their goods become less competitive while imports into their home market become more so. Export sales fade while repatriated profits count for less. So, given that the great majority of European blue-chip firms are big exporters and that the euro has risen by some 50% against the dollar since its low in July 2001, why are European businessmen not depressed? France's business-confidence index has been rising since last June. Germany's IFO confidence index rose for nine consecutive months until a small blip in February. Only the Italians are gloomy, owing to their financial scandals. European businesses have been able to cope with a strengthening euro because of strong global growth and their use of foreign investments and hedging to protect against currency risk. Across the board, European firms lost between 8-10% in revenue growth because of the weakness of the dollar last year, says Walter Kemmsies of J.P. Morgan. Even so, European firms have been lucky--in particular, the recovery of the capital-expenditure cycle is soothing the euro pain, says Joachim Fels, an economist at Morgan Stanley. The euro's appreciation coincided with rising demand for European goods. In their budgeting for the coming year, now reaching its conclusion, most European firms are assuming that the dollar will stay around $1.20 to the euro. But BMW, for one, thinks that the euro is now overvalued, and has stopped hedging against further falls in the dollar.

Assesses the value of the euro as compared to the Americana dollar. Rise in the value of the euro after news of illegal accounting by WorldCom was revealed; Fears of inflationary trouble by European Central Bank president Wim Duisenberg; Comparison of the euro-area economy growth to that of the American economy; Outlook for the euro economy, based on the fall of the dollar and domestic demand.

Focuses on the views of British prime minister Tony Blair on Great Britain joining the single European currency, the euro. Speculation on the importance of Blair's remarks that he would vote 'no' in a euro-membership referendum as of October 2000; Public opinion of Britain adoption of the European currency.

This article discusses politics and government in Great Britain under prime minister John Major. He is in disagreement with the Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke over Europe. The Tory party pledged to hold a referendum before entering European monetary union. The cabinet refused to rule out entry before the elections.

Looks at the currency situation in some of Asia's booming economies and comments on the impact of foreign capital on the traditional reluctance of these economies to let their currencies appreciate. Information about exchange rates in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand from 1993 to 1995; More.

The article focuses on the plans of the government of Great Britain regarding public spending. In November 1991, there was a fanfare fix increases in planned totals announced for 1992-93 and 1993-94, made necessary by the depth of the recession and not by the imminence of the general election. In the early months of 1992, new capital projects blossomed like spring flowers. Public servants lucky enough to get pay settlements in that period got increases of up to 8.5%. With private-sector demand flattened, many businesses rely on government spending. But devaluation has changed calculations.

Focuses on the political and economic conditions in Ukraine. Discussion of the authoritarian rule of Ukraine's President Leonid Kravchuk; Reference to the encouragement of national solidarity to keep political opponents quiet; Steps taken by the government to restore central control; Information on the decline in the value of the country's currency.

Criticizes the working of the European Union. Reference to the possibility that France and Germany might rush into a monetary union; Discussion of how the Maastricht treaty is both a triumph and a defeat of Euro-federalism; Advantages of the European monetary system to various countries in Europe; Threat to Europe's single market.

This article focuses on the devaluation of the currencies of various European countries. Great Britain's chancellor of the exchequer Norman Lamont was forced to withdraw sterling temporarily from Europe's exchange rate mechanism (ERM) on September 16, 1992. Later that night, Italy pulled out the lira, too, and Spain devalued its peseta by 5 percent. On September 14, 1992 Germany's Bundesbank agreed to trim its interest rates for the first time in almost five years, in exchange for Italy's commitment to devalue the lira by 7% against other European currencies.

Discusses the implications for Europe's producers and consumers under a European Community with economic and monetary union. Issue of a single European currency; Trade in Western Europe; Frontier controls; Public procurement; Financial services; Supply-side effects; Objections to a single currency; Transaction costs; Details. INSET: Fiscal federalism.

Discusses issues that need to be considered before the signing of a treaty on a single currency for European Community (EC) countries. Draft presented by Dutch finance minister Wim Kok that would allow any six members with healthy economies to strike out on their own in a currency union; Agreement that the decision to move to economic and monetary union (EMU) should be a collective one taken by all 12 members; Determination of the relative weight of finance ministers and the central bank in the setting of EC exchange-rate policy.

Explains the planned second phase of the European Monetary Union. Outline of drafts submitted by monetary union officials; Reaction from member countries of the European Union.

Argues that Europe's pause over economic and monetary union (EMU) is a chance to rethink the proposed Delors plan. Shortcomings of single currency idea; Need for European central bank constitution; Effects in terms of both macroeconomics and microeconomics; Need for stable-price economic and monetary union (SPEMU); British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's search for an alternative to the Delors plan; Outlook.

The author offers opinions on international finance, particularly foreign exchange. The policies taken by many governments to cope with the global financial crisis and recession are seen as inevitably causing future currency crises and devaluations of national currencies. Central banks are said to have exhausted their means of supporting national currency values.

This article discusses the effects of the euro on international trade. In the controversy about Europe's experiment in monetary union, there is agreement about where the costs and benefits lie. The costs are macroeconomic, caused by forgoing the right to set interest rates to suit the specific economic conditions of a member state. The benefits are microeconomic, consisting of potential gains in trade and growth as the costs of changing currencies and exchange-rate uncertainty are removed.

The article focuses on poor economic performance in Iceland's stock market and financial service industry, which may be an indicator of wider spread economic downturn. The dollar is the world's main reserve currency, and increasing nervousness about America's external deficit and fears of a tumbling currency could create a strong incentive to move out of dollars, with serious consequences for bond yields, house prices and the currency itself.

This article focuses on the debate about the devaluation of the Hong Kong dollar. Hong Kong dollar's steadfast link to the American dollar at a rate of 7.8 to one is 19 years old. It has survived political crises and a number of booms and busts. Prices in Hong Kong, China have now fallen, year-on-year, for 46 months. The value of commercial property is down by 6% since the mid-1990s, and unemployment at 7.6% is high by Hong Kong's standards. Hong Kong's main challenge, the argument goes, is to integrate with the economy of mainland China. It is mainly Hong Kong's poor that save in local currency, so devaluation would rob their piggy banks.

Remembers the late Pierre Werner, the so-called father of the euro, because he first suggested that Europe adopt a common currency. Assertion that a common currency would bring peace to Europe; Biographical information, including how he was once the prime minister of Luxembourg, and how his experiences during World War II convinced him that Europe had to be changed for the betterment of its people.

Reports on the valuation of the British pound against the United States dollar as of September 2000. Statistics for the overall decline of the pound during 2000; Impact of European economic conditions in relation to those in the US on currency devaluation; Details of the Bank of England's approach to controlling inflation, and its effect on sterling weakness; Outlook.

Considers the impact of Great Britain's decision not use the euro as its currency, on foreign direct investment (FDI). FDI growth despite warnings that investors would shy away from Great Britain; Effect of the automobile industry in Britain compared with other industries such as financial services.

Offers a look at currency and foreign exchange markets. The diminishing role of central banks in foreign exchange markets; Impact of fluctuating exchange rates; Strategies that governments can use such as currency intervention and international policy coordination to correct misaligned exchange rates.

Discusses why Great Britain's decision to keep the pound rather than adopt the euro was right. Reaction by several former ambassadors and top civil servants on Britain's decision to reject the euro; Why Prime Minister Tony Blair's hesitation on monetary union has not visibly damaged Britain's influence in wider European affairs; The opportunity Britain lost by staying out of the European Community in the 1950s.

Presents the author's opinion of how British Prime Minister Tony Blair views his country's involvement in the European Union. His meeting with other European Union countries' leaders at Portschach in Austria; How the European Union is failing to move Britain's way; Preparation needed whether or not Britain joins the European common currency or not.

Presents information on economic indicators for developing countries as of August 1, 1998. Graph of the Big Mac index offering a light-hearted guide to whether currencies are at their `correct' level; Chart of economic conditions; Chart of financial markets.

Reports on the efforts to find a way to achieve a recovery of the Indonesian currency, the rupiah in 1998. No consensus on how to achieve a recovery; Indonesian currency analyst Theo Toemion suggesting a two-tier currency market; Cornelis de Koning of ABN-Amro, a Dutch bank, suggesting that the central bank issue short-term debt certificates that pay junk-bond interest rates; Graph of the rupiah against the United States dollar.

Focuses on currency adjustment in East Asia. Signs that Asia's economic troubles are worsening; Decreased value of the yen; Optimism over fixed currencies; How steadier movements of currency are generally a consequence of happenings in the real economy; Consequence of stablizing the yen in Japan.

Discusses the global economic implications of the economic and monetary union (EMU) in Europe. Lack of attention being paid to EMU outside Europe; Effect of the creation of single currency on world's monetary arrangements; Impact of monetary union on currency volatility; Belief of economists and policymakers that euro will eventually play a more important global role than its constituent European currencies.

Focuses on divisions in Great Britain's Labour Party and Conservative Party regarding a single European currency. Controversy over the matter at the Labour Party's conference in Blackpool, England in 1996; Prospects for debate at the Conservatives' conference in Bournemouth in October 1996; Information that Great Britain may pay a price for staying out of the European Union membership in the shape of an interest-rate premium over single-currency countries; Implications of this controversy for Britain and Europe.

Presents information on issues related to the proposal for a single European currency. View that Great Britain might be excluded from the detailed preparations for economic and monetary union (EMU); Views of Tony Blair, leader of the Labour Party, on the single European currency question; Impact of the single currency question on the upcoming elections in Great Britain; Opinion that the safest way for Blair to win the election would be to stay on the fence on EMU.

Advises that if the economic and monetary union (EMU) is to have a safe flight, then governments have to do more than simply name a single currency and fix a date for its introduction. The benefits of a single European currency; The possibility of asymmetric shocks; The factor of devaluation; The flexibility of prices and wages; Indeterminate whether any particular region is an optimum currency area.

Shows that the prospect of monetary union poses difficulties for financiers as well as the European Union's (EU) politicians. The possibility of complex and costly legal problems; The chief cause for concern; Long-term cross-currency swaps involving national currencies within the EU; Studying the impact of a single currency on contracts denominated in ecus--a weighted basket of 11 European currencies.

The article focuses on the willingness of Sweden to join the European economic and monetary union. Sweden welcomes monetary union on the ground that it is hard for a small country to fight the money markets alone. Earlier in October 1992, the government and opposition agreed on spending cuts of $7.6 billion a year to reduce the deficit. Defence looks like another snag, given the Swedes' insistence on neutrality and the Maastricht treaty's call for a common foreign and security policy, leading possibly to a common defence.

The article focuses on the hope of the European Commission (EC) regarding the survival of the Maastricht Treaty. The EC'S five Christian Democratic prime ministers gathered in Brussels and ruled out any renegotiation of the Maastricht treaty. Under the Maastricht rules, all members sign up for the goal of economic and monetary union (EMU), but those with weaker economies would not take part. Jacques Delors, president of the European Commission, gave warning this week that if countries tried to delay implementing the treaty, and in particular its plan for EMU, he would not exclude the possibility that certain members would take initiatives.

Considers how banks and politicians have tried to weaken capital standards for banks, leaving regulators resistance as the only hope in saving the capital regime. Capital rules cause of restricted growth of credit, the slow economic expansion and the bankruptcy of farms and businesses; Recessions and foolish lending which have weakened the world's biggest banks; The collapse of the BCCI; New proposals with regulators liberally interpreting the accord; The 1988 capital-adequacy accord.