Politics

German Bund yields edge off highs, Italian politics in focus – Reuters

Published

4 years ago

February 9, 2021

By Reuters Staff

* Euro zone periphery govt bond yields tmsnrt.rs/2ii2Bqr

MILAN, Feb 8 (Reuters) – Euro zone core bonds yields were almost flat on Tuesday, edging off Monday highs, as Italy’s borrowing costs held near recent lows as Mario Draghi faces a last day of consultations with political parties.

Asian stock markets rose on Tuesday after a record-setting day on Wall Street but, in a sign that positive sentiment may run out in European trading, European stocks futures were down. Oil also hit 13-month highs, helped by rising optimism about a return in fuel demand.

“Reflation is set to remain the theme in rates markets,” ING analysts wrote in a note.

However, Italy was still in focus with its political developments.

Anti-establishment 5-Star Movement said on Monday it would consult members on whether it should back a government led by Draghi, increasing the uncertainty over the make-up of his coalition.

It is unclear whether Draghi will wait until the results of the 5-Star vote before reporting back to President Sergio Mattarella.

Italy’s 10-year bond yield was almost flat at 0.517% , near almost one-month lows hit on Friday. Its spread over benchmark 10-year Bund yields was around 95 bps , close to its tightest levels in five years.

Germany’s 10-year bond yield was flat on the day at -0.444% , after hitting five-month highs on Monday at -0.412%.

From the supply side, Germany will sell a new Bundei due in April 2033.

Spain mandated on Monday banks for a new 50-year bond to be issued soon, possibly on Tuesday.

“This might continue to pose some selling pressure at the long and extra-long end of EGB curves,” UniCredit wrote in a daily report.

Data on Monday showed that the European Central Bank money printing slowed in latest week.

ECB President Christine Lagarde said on Monday the ECB must keep copious stimulus in place to revive a recession-hit economy but needs governments to keep up spending.

Reporting by Sara Rossi, editing by Larry King

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Politics

New Brunswick election candidate profile: Green Party Leader David Coon

Published

4 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

FREDERICTON – A look at David Coon, leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick:

Born: Oct. 28, 1956.

Early years: Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, he spent about three decades as an environmental advocate.

Education: A trained biologist, he graduated with a bachelor of science from McGill University in Montreal in 1978.

Family: He and his wife Janice Harvey have two daughters, Caroline and Laura.

Before politics: Worked as an environmental educator, organizer, activist and manager for 33 years, mainly with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

Politics: Joined the Green Party of Canada in May 2006 and was elected leader of the New Brunswick Green Party in September 2012. Won a seat in the legislature in 2014 — a first for the province’s Greens.

Quote: “It was despicable. He’s clearly decided to take the low road in this campaign, to adopt some Trump-lite fearmongering.” — David Coon on Sept. 12, 2024, reacting to Blaine Higgs’s claim that the federal government had decided to send 4,600 asylum seekers to New Brunswick.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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Politics

New Brunswick election profile: Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs

Published

5 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

FREDERICTON – A look at Blaine Higgs, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.

Born: March 1, 1954.

Early years: The son of a customs officer, he grew up in Forest City, N.B., near the Canada-U.S. border.

Education: Graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1977.

Family: Married his high-school sweetheart, Marcia, and settled in Saint John, N.B., where they had four daughters: Lindsey, Laura, Sarah and Rachel.

Before politics: Hired by Irving Oil a week after he graduated from university and was eventually promoted to director of distribution. Worked for 33 years at the company.

Politics: Elected to the legislature in 2010 and later served as finance minister under former Progressive Conservative Premier David Alward. Elected Tory leader in 2016 and has been premier since 2018.

Quote: “I’ve always felt parents should play the main role in raising children. No one is denying gender diversity is real. But we need to figure out how to manage it.” — Blaine Higgs in a year-end interview in 2023, explaining changes to school policies about gender identity.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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Politics

Climate, food security, Arctic among Canada’s intelligence priorities, Ottawa says

Published

5 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

OTTAWA – The pressing issues of climate change and food security join more familiar ones like violent extremism and espionage on a new list of Canada’s intelligence priorities.

The federal government says publishing the list of priorities for the first time is an important step toward greater transparency.

The government revises the priorities every two years, based on recommendations from the national security adviser and the intelligence community.

Once the priorities are reviewed and approved by the federal cabinet, key ministers issue directives to federal agencies that produce intelligence.

Among the priorities are the security of global health, food, water and biodiversity, as well as the issues of climate change and global sustainability.

The new list also includes foreign interference and malign influence, cyberthreats, infrastructure security, Arctic sovereignty, border integrity and transnational organized crime.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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