Jens Weidmann

The euro kicked off the week trading at $1.30 on Monday morning as investors prepared for the results of a preliminary purchasing executive survey which could force the European Central Bank to cut interest rates at their next meeting in May. According to Reuters, Markit's composite index based...

Futures Rise on Earnings, German Sentiment U.S. equity futures rose in pre-market trading following continued strong earnings and a better than expected report on German business confidence. The IFO Business Climate Index rose to 104.2 in January from 102.4 in December, better than economists...

Futures Indicate Lower Open on Imminent Cliff U.S. equity futures were higher but the Futures-Fair Value was lower, indicating a lower open for Wall Street Monday. Late Friday, futures crashed as investors feared that politicians were heading into the weekend neither with a deal nor a framework...

Futures Sharply Lower on Failed Fiscal Cliff Deal U.S. equity futures traded sharply lower overnight as House leader Boehner failed to gain enough votes to pass his Plan B to avoid the Fiscal Cliff. It is now unlikely that an agreement will be reached before Christmas, meaning leaders will have...

Late Tuesday, reports surfaced that the Bundesbank was preparing a lawsuit against the European Central Bank claiming that the ECB is violating its mandate in launching the latest round of bond purchases, known as the Outright Monetary Transactions. Unlike the Federal Reserve, which has a dual...

Rumors that Jens Weidmann -- head of Germany's Bundesbank -- would soon be resigning circulated the markets on Friday. In recent weeks, Weidmann has stood as a stark opponent to the more dovish members of Europe's elite, remaining the source of many headlines downplaying further easing actions by...

CSI Forex, a market data provider and investigative company, reported Friday that the rapid spike in the EUR/USD was caused by a rumor that European leaders may be about to implement a short selling ban on sovereign debt. Such a ban would effectively cap yields at current levels and potentially...

As Greece continues to slip further into depression, complete with massive unemployment, a credit crunch, and loss of economic confidence, it seems as though the ECB has started to implement a backdoor bailout of the European nation. Greece has a $3.7 billion maturing bond on August 20, so if...

Following last Thursday's press conference and interest rate decision, Spain may need to submit to a full sovereign bailout to receive any further European support for its finances. The news follows weeks of discussion over the mechanics of a banking sector bailout for Spain, which would add...

U.S. equity futures rallied early Monday on hopes of further central bank stimulus despite a failure to deliver in the previous week. Aside from reticence from conservative Bundesbankers, markets still anticipate the European Central Bank to purchase bonds once Spain and Italy submit to full...

Former chief economist of the European Central Bank Jurgen Stark has openly stated reservations about any further bond buying from his former employer. In a radio interview with Deutschlandfunk in his native Germany, Stark vehemently opposed bond buying by the ECB, stating that it was against the...