10.01.2012

Weak Euro Cold Comfort for European Exporters

Currency hedging, dollar costs and the potential for a deeper economic crisis stand between European exporters and any easy win from weakness in the euro currency. The euro has lost 10% of its value against the dollar since late October and is close to a 16-month low at around 1.28, hit by mounting concerns over Europe's debt crisis and two interest rate cuts by the European Central Bank. more24.08.2010

Fluctuating Raw Material Prices

Before the economic crisis, raw material prices knew only one direction: upwards. The sky seemed to be the limit. Now the situation has changed. No one seems to know in which direction raw material prices will go. They go up and down with irregularity and without any discernible pattern. more