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Em “relação às contas na Suíça, julgo que o assunto está mais do que esclarecido.
Há para lá umas contas na Suíça, há para lá umas pessoas que têm contas na Suíça.
O engenheiro José Sócrates – o que se demonstra com as contas na Suíça – é que não tem nada a ver com as contas na Suíça”
João Araújo 29/05/2015


Á ESQUINA DO MONTE CARLO


HERBERTO, A AVENTURA nos eternos

- Este blog voltou ao activo hoje dia 10 de Junho de 2015. -

E ponde na cobiça um freio duro,
E na ambição também, que indignamente
Tomais mil vezes, e no torpe e escuro
Vício da tirania infame e urgente;
Porque essas honras vãs, esse ouro puro,
Verdadeiro valor não dão à gente.
Melhor é merecê-los sem os ter,
Que possuí-los sem os merecer.

Camões / Lusiadas


Isto não há nada como acenar com medalhinhas para ter sempre clientela.

sábado, 15 de maio de 2010

Jean-Claude Trichet-Interview

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet

A 'Quantum Leap' in Governance of the Euro Zone Is Needed

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet: "We are facing the most difficult situation since the Second World War -- perhaps even since the First World War.'
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AFP

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet: "We are facing the most difficult situation since the Second World War -- perhaps even since the First World War.'

In a SPIEGEL interview, Jean-Claude Trichet, the 67-year-old president of the European Central Bank, discusses the largest financial rescue package in the history of Europe, the role and importance of speculators in the euro crisis and the weakness shown by politicians in the euro zone member states.

SPIEGEL: Mr. Trichet, how have you been sleeping these last few days?

Trichet: I always sleep well!

SPIEGEL: You haven't had any nightmares?

Trichet: No.

SPIEGEL: Nevertheless, the financial world has changed since the weekend before last. The countries of the euro area have put together a previously unimaginable rescue package with a value of over €700 billion ($889 billion) in order to save reeling member states from default. Even your institution has relented on a few of its firmest principles and now intends to purchase even poorly rated government bonds.

Trichet: No, we have not relented on our principles. Price stability is our primary mandate and compass. That being said, it is clear that since September 2008 we have been facing the most difficult situation since the Second World War -- perhaps even since the First World War. We have experienced -- and are experiencing -- truly dramatic times.

SPIEGEL: That's been evident from the way that you and others have been behaving over the last few days.

Trichet: At times like these, you have to keep your composure and analyze the situation as lucidly as possible. Back in August 2007, we were the first major institution in the world to correctly judge what was happening on the capital markets with the start of the turbulence. And we reacted swiftly.

SPIEGEL: What exactly happened between Thursday and Sunday of the week before last, when Europe's heads of state and government launched the largest financial rescue package in the history of Europe?

Trichet: On Thursday afternoon and throughout Friday, we had a continuous deterioration of the situation in the financial markets, both in Europe and, as a consequence, at the global level. On Friday, markets closed and number of important indicators -- spreads on sovereign bonds in Europe, CDS spreads and the situation in the interbank market -- were signalling the spreading of severe tensions. I made those points to the heads of state and government on Friday evening. That is what happened between Thursday morning and Friday evening. Being permanently alert is of the essence when you have important responsibilities.

SPIEGEL: Hedge funds and other speculative investors currently manage assets with a total value of $2.6 trillion. But even an unimaginable sum like that should not really be enough to bet against the euro area. So, do you think that we're vulnerable?

Trichet: Not if we do our job, properly.

SPIEGEL: The speculators just exacerbate existing problems?

Trichet: One has to put one's own house in order first. These big and highly leveraged institutions are a major issue to be addressed at the global level.

SPIEGEL: So, what was in danger? Just the banks? The euro? The European Union?

Trichet: We are now experiencing severe tensions, which are coming after the events of 2007-2008. At that time, private institutions and markets were about to collapse completely. That triggered a very bold and comprehensive financial support by governments. And now we see the signature of some governments put into question. This is a problem for almost all industrialized countries. In the G-7, the major economies have a yearly deficit of around 10 percent of gross domesitc product (GDP). In the euro area as a whole it averages 7 percent of GDP. In this situation with extremely elevated deficits across the globe, the markets have singled out a weak link: Greece. Also taking into account the fact that its statistics were incorrect at one time, market pressure was concentrated there and a drastic adjustment program was necessary.