STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Monday, 11 November 2013

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23. Euro Zone’s Fizzling Growth Seen to Back Draghi Cut Case

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-11/euro-zone-s-fizzling-growth-seen-to-back-draghi-cut-case.html

Euro-area growth data this week may show the region’s nascent recovery slowing to a crawl, supporting Mario Draghi’s case for an interest-rate cut to help the economy get back to its feet.

Gross domestic product in the region rose just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, according to the median forecast of 41 economists in a Bloomberg News survey. In the 3 1/2 hours before that report on Nov. 14, economists predict a series of data releases to show growth slowing in Germany and stalling in France, with Italy remaining mired in an unprecedented slump.

Such an outcome would confirm that the recovery is grinding after a second-quarter growth spurt of 0.3 percent that ended the region’s record-long recession. The data are due one week after the European Central Bank president’s surprise rate cut to 0.25 percent. Draghi said at the time that the euro zone faces the danger of a “prolonged” period of low inflation.

“There are a few minor bright spots, for example Spain, (SPNAGDPQ) but Italy will continue to remain in contraction and growth in France will likely be flat at best,” said Nick Matthews, a London-based economist at Nomura International Plc. “That plays into the scenario the ECB is seeing, which is a very weak and fragile recovery.”