Euro

This has been a bleak month for the euro zone. A string of weak data releases, including flat region-wide GDP growth, and a contraction in Germany and Italy (the latter for the second quarter in a row, indicating recession), suggests the recovery not been sustained.

The ECB’s package of measures providing additional monetary policy accommodation reduces the risk of deflation in the eurozone, but it may not lift inflation from its very low levels, Fitch Ratings says.

The European equity market demonstrated its resilience in February, notching up gains despite the distractions of a change of prime minister in Italy, turmoil in Ukraine, and a largely underwhelming earnings season. There is ample scope for further share price gains to come as the eurozone recovery gains traction and corporate earnings are poised to show improvement.

In its newly-published Emerging Europe (EE) 2013 Outlook and Sovereign Review, Fitch Ratings says that positive rating actions in Emerging Europe sovereigns outweighed negative actions in 2012.

What is the role of the French Treasury Agency (AFT)? Who holds the French debt? How are OAT and BTF issues conducted? Philip Mills, CEO of the French Treasury Agency answers Next Finance questions...