European Market

The franc is the currency of both Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is also the legal tender in both countries, as well as the geographically separate Italian territory of Campione d'Italia. The Swiss franc (ISO code: CHF) is the only version of the franc still used in Europe. + Believed to be an integral part of Swiss history, the franc is regarded as far more than just legal tender, but as…

COVID Stimulus Package Guide: Eurozone Since March 2020, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Union have announced several major economic stimulus programmes and policy measures to protect businesses, consumers and institutions in the eurozone from the effects of the coronavirus. The ECB and the EU, in particular, are more limited in what they can do compared to sovereign countries, such as the U.S. and U.K. and their own…

United Kingdom Government Since March 2020, the government of the United Kingdom and the country's central bank, the Bank of England, have announced several major economic stimulus programs and policy measures to protect British businesses, consumers and institutions from the effects of the coronavirus. The government's support is mainly focused on supporting businesses and individuals through subsidized and government-guaranteed loan programs, outright grants, and tax and payment holidays. Coronavirus Business…

The most important stock index in the U.K. is the FTSE 100, which tracks the performance of the 100 largest companies in the country based on market capitalisation. The index, which is pronounced commonly as the "Footsie 100," was created in January 1984. At that time, its baseline value was established at 1,000 points, although stock prices were calculated retroactively back to 1969. In this article, we cover the 10…

What Is The Euro STOXX 50 Index? The EURO STOXX 50 is an index that tracks the performance of the 50 largest companies in the eurozone, similar to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which tracks the 30 largest publicly-traded companies in the U.S. The index includes stocks from 11 eurozone countries, namely Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The top 10 components in…

On 30 October 2019, British Parliament approved a general election that was scheduled to take place 12 December 2019. This event could impact the pound's price because it could grant either the Labour or Conservative Party a majority, making it easier for the U.K. lawmakers to finalise Brexit with the European Union (EU). If Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party attains a majority in Parliament as a result of the…

In the aftermath of the June 2016 vote for Brexit, several issues became points of contention regarding the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union. Monetary settlements, immigration policies and the future of trade relations spearheaded negotiations during an extended transition period. In addition to these concerns was the Irish border, what it was to become and how it was going to impact the U.K.-EU relationship moving forward. Throughout the…

The surprise outcome of the 2016 United Kingdom Brexit Referendum sent valuations of the British pound sterling (GBP) into chaos. Upon the final vote tally coming in at 51.9% for "leave" to 48.1% for "remain," the voting public showed its support of the U.K. withdrawing from the European Union (EU). The aftermath of the Brexit vote made it clear that a new era for both the U.K. and GBP had…

In the wake of the 2016 vote for Brexit, many questions regarding the future of the United Kingdom (U.K.) have come to the forefront. A fluid political and economic situation has ensued, causing existing members of the European Union (E.U.) and U.K. to reevaluate ongoing relationships. The Scottish Parliament has done just that, voting in favour of an independence referendum, which is the second since 2014. While a definitive schedule…

A BOE interest rate hike impacts many facets of the economic picture in the U.K, including the pound, exports and the credit markets.