| The KUIK Market Update for Monday, February 17: | |||||||
| US Markets are closed in honor of President’s day but here are some of the stories we’re following in Europe. | |||||||
| The German economy expanded in January according to the Bundesbank, Germany’s central bank, indicating that Europes ’s largest economy, is likely to see further growth in the first quarter. Data from the German Statistics Agency showed Germany’s economy grew by 0.4% in the fourth quarte, beating expectations of 0.3% growth forecast in a poll conducted by The Wall Street Journal. The government also increased its forecast for economic growth last week and now says the economy will grow by 1.8% in 2014, rather than the 1.7% forecast earlier, because of strong domestic demand. | |||||||
| Russia’s industrial output fell 18.8% in January from December 2013, because of the long New Year holidays. Data from The Federal Statistics Service showed that industrial output declined only by 0.2% in January compared with the same period a year earlier. Industrial production showed no growth in 2013. Economists have repeatedly called for a cut to Russian central bank interest rates but the latter has said it would consider monetary easing only after inflation slows to its target range. Last week the Bank of Russia left its rates unchanged for the 16th time in a row but said it is ready to tighten policy if the recent ruble weakening indicates higher inflation. | |||||||
| Serving the West Side first, I am Bill Roller of BR Capital for AM 1360 KUIK. | |||||||
| http://www.marketwatch.com/story/german-economy-on-upswing-in-winter-bundesbank-2014-02-17 | |||||||
| http://www.marketwatch.com/story/russias-industrial-output-falls-188-in-january-2014-02-17?dist=lcountdown | |||||||
| For today’s Market Update Report click to listen-> | |||||||