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MNI: Fight Over Jobs Delays Naming Of EU Commissioners-Sources
MNI INTERVIEW: Eurozone To Remain Sluggish In H1: OECD's Boone
--Trade, Manufacturing Suggest Weak H1 In Eurozone, Despite Recent Good Data
--China Stimulus Could Backfire, OECD Economist Boone Says
By David Thomas
BRUSSELS (MNI) - Continuing weakness in manufacturing and trade suggest
eurozone economic activity will remain sluggish in the first half despite recent
brighter data, OECD Chief Economist Laurence Boone told MNI, in an interview in
which she also pointed to the risk that China's stimulus could backfire.
"We have seen a slightly better Q1 than expected, but at the same time we
are still seeing manufacturing slowing down and trade within the eurozone
continuing to slow ... and surveys continue to suggest weakness," Boone said on
Friday.
That is despite some signs of China's stimulus programme starting to take
effect and an improvement in financial conditions following the Fed's policy
shift.
"What has changed since March, when we published our interim forecast? We
are seeing some sign of the China stimulus programme kicking in, we are seeing
some softening of financial conditions compared with December and the Fed move."
But she said potential risks continue to emanate from China as it seeks to
support its economy.
"China is experimenting with stimulus and playing with tax policy. There is
significant uncertainty about the extent and effectiveness of the fiscal
measures, so there may still be some volatility."
While financial conditions have improved, a strengthening dollar is a
strain on emerging countries with high levels of debt in U.S. currency, Boone
said, adding that emerging stress could well ricochet back onto the eurozone:
"Turkey, for example, is an important export market for the eurozone. So if
you project a recovery in Turkey - as we ... do - then it obviously contributes
to the recovery in the eurozone too, but there is a lot of uncertainty going on
there."
--TRADE RISKS
Trade will remain a major source of concern even if a U.S.-China trade
agreement does materialise in coming weeks.
"There will probably be a U.S.-China agreement, but it will not cover the
entire scope of the discussion, so some uncertainty will remain. And the U.S.
will now enter into trade discussions with the EU and that will create
uncertainty too. That issue is not disappearing".
"Overall it looks a bit better in Q1, but the business and consumer surveys
are not great and the uncertainty dimension remains very much the same. So Q2
may not be as good as we had expected and our assessment so far is that the
first half of this year is expected to be very much in line with what we had in
March".
Boone has called for a greater role for fiscal policy in tackling Europe's
slowdown. But, while that debate is winning hearts and minds, she said political
resistance in some countries may prevent proper coordination of fiscal efforts.
"Thanks to low rates, euro area governments have in fact considerable scope
to elevate growth with fiscal policy and structural reforms. It would be super
helpful for Europe if policymakers were sitting around the table and discussing
coordinated actions. Why? Because, thanks to the single market, any policy
action lifting growth in one country benefits and spills over to the others."
While there is still scope for the ECB to take action if required, monetary
policy has been "super stretched" during the crisis and the acquisition by
central banks during the crisis of unprecedented new powers has sparked
political resistance.
"Politically it is better if we don't transfer all the weight of managing
the cycle to monetary policy because then it could create a backlash and
backfire. If it was the only game in town I have no doubt they (ECB) would use
all their tools - if there was a big crisis. But at this juncture I don't think
they need to do anything."
--MNI London Bureau; +44 203 865 3829; email: jason.webb@marketnews.com
[TOPICS: MAQDS$,MAUDS$,M$A$$$,M$E$$$,M$Q$$$,M$U$$$,M$X$$$,MI$$$$,MT$$$$,MX$$$$]
To read the full story
Sign up now for free trial access to this content.
Please enter your details below.
Why MNI
MNI is the leading provider
of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.