Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Rising political risks in the eurozone have the potential to spark renewed financial stress in the currency block, warns Fitch Ratings in its new macroeconomic scenario analysis. Fitch said that renewed financial stress in the eurozone in response to increased investor concerns over political cohesion could have a significant adverse impact on the real economy.
The surge in support for populist and eurosceptic political parties across the continent - in the context of several key elections in 2017 - could rekindle some of the concerns about fragmentation that were evident in 2012, notes Fitch.
According to Fitch, political risks could trigger a composite financial shock which has three components: an increase in bank lending rates to households and the corporate sector; a surge in bond yields; and a stock market stress. The individual components of such a financial shock will affect peripheral eurozone countries, which include Italy, Spain and Portugal, more severely than core countries.
The scenario results show that GDP growth in 2017 would be below 1% in all larger member states and growth would stall in Italy (0%). This would be a sharp deceleration from 2016. It would be followed by a recovery in 2018, but growth rates would still be lower than in 2016.
