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| Share markets rise in volatile trading | Share markets rise in volatile trading |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US and European shares have both risen, but trading remains volatile as concerns continue over eurozone debt. | US and European shares have both risen, but trading remains volatile as concerns continue over eurozone debt. |
| Wall Street's main Dow Jones index was up 3.3% in early afternoon trading on Wall Street, helped by data showing a fall in the number of unemployment claimants. | |
| In Europe, indexes closed higher after French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said they would meet to discuss eurozone financial governance. | In Europe, indexes closed higher after French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said they would meet to discuss eurozone financial governance. |
| The UK's FTSE 100 ended up 3.1%. | The UK's FTSE 100 ended up 3.1%. |
| Germany's Dax added 3.3% and France's Cac rose 2.5%. | Germany's Dax added 3.3% and France's Cac rose 2.5%. |
| A statement from President Sarkozy's office said he and Ms Merkel would also discuss "other international issues". | A statement from President Sarkozy's office said he and Ms Merkel would also discuss "other international issues". |
| French banking shares had started Thursday among the biggest gainers, with Societe Generale shares up 8%. The bank's shares then plunged as far as 8% down on the day, before recovering to finish 3% higher. | French banking shares had started Thursday among the biggest gainers, with Societe Generale shares up 8%. The bank's shares then plunged as far as 8% down on the day, before recovering to finish 3% higher. |
| It comes a day after Societe Generale denied negative speculation about its financial health. | It comes a day after Societe Generale denied negative speculation about its financial health. |
| The US unemployment data showed that the weekly number of people claiming benefits had fallen to 395,000, the first time it had dropped below 400,000 since April. | |
| This also lifted the two other main US share indexes, with the Nasdaq up 3.8% and the S&P's 500 adding 3.6%. | |
| 'Irrational fears' | 'Irrational fears' |
| Mr Sarkozy held emergency talks with senior ministers on Wednesday when France became the centre of market turbulence on rumours that the country was about to lose its AAA credit rating, and the concern about Societe Generale. | Mr Sarkozy held emergency talks with senior ministers on Wednesday when France became the centre of market turbulence on rumours that the country was about to lose its AAA credit rating, and the concern about Societe Generale. |
| The rumours about French government debt were denied by both the French Treasury and the three main global credit rating agencies. | The rumours about French government debt were denied by both the French Treasury and the three main global credit rating agencies. |
| Societe Generale chief executive Frederic Oudea said the speculation about his bank was "absolutely rubbish". | Societe Generale chief executive Frederic Oudea said the speculation about his bank was "absolutely rubbish". |
| Mr Oudea also spoke to France Info radio. "People are scared," he said, "so the tiniest information touches off irrational fears. To our clients, we have to tell them that these rumours are baseless and that they can have confidence in Societe Generale." | Mr Oudea also spoke to France Info radio. "People are scared," he said, "so the tiniest information touches off irrational fears. To our clients, we have to tell them that these rumours are baseless and that they can have confidence in Societe Generale." |
| The bank has asked the French market authorities to investigate the source of the rumours, which left its shares 23% lower at one point on Wednesday. | The bank has asked the French market authorities to investigate the source of the rumours, which left its shares 23% lower at one point on Wednesday. |
| Some analysts have been saying that many shares have been "oversold", meaning they are now cheap at the price. | Some analysts have been saying that many shares have been "oversold", meaning they are now cheap at the price. |
| Vincent Ganne, chartist at TradingSat, said the market was still too volatile and nervous for many investors: "Have we seen capitulation yet? Has the sell-off reached its paroxysm? It's not clear at this point." | Vincent Ganne, chartist at TradingSat, said the market was still too volatile and nervous for many investors: "Have we seen capitulation yet? Has the sell-off reached its paroxysm? It's not clear at this point." |
| 'Dangerous time' | 'Dangerous time' |
| As concerns continue about the high level of government debt in both the US and eurozone nations, Chancellor George Osborne said the UK government had been right to start to work hard to reduce its deficit. | As concerns continue about the high level of government debt in both the US and eurozone nations, Chancellor George Osborne said the UK government had been right to start to work hard to reduce its deficit. |
| He told Parliament that the coalition's efforts to tackle the deficit had make the UK a "safe haven" for investors. | He told Parliament that the coalition's efforts to tackle the deficit had make the UK a "safe haven" for investors. |
| Yet Mr Osborne warned that the UK economy was not "immune" to the international economic storm. | Yet Mr Osborne warned that the UK economy was not "immune" to the international economic storm. |
| "History teaches us that recovery from this sort of debt-driven balance sheet recession was always going to be choppy and difficult," he said. | "History teaches us that recovery from this sort of debt-driven balance sheet recession was always going to be choppy and difficult," he said. |
| "The whole world now realises that the huge overhang of debt means that the recovery will take longer and be harder than had been hoped. | "The whole world now realises that the huge overhang of debt means that the recovery will take longer and be harder than had been hoped. |
| "Markets are waking up to this fact and that is what makes this the most dangerous time for the global economy since 2008." | "Markets are waking up to this fact and that is what makes this the most dangerous time for the global economy since 2008." |
| Shadow chancellor Ed Balls told Mr Osborne that the government was trying to cut the deficit too quickly, warning that this was weakening the UK economy at a time of increased global risks. | Shadow chancellor Ed Balls told Mr Osborne that the government was trying to cut the deficit too quickly, warning that this was weakening the UK economy at a time of increased global risks. |
| "We do need a tough, medium-term plan to get our deficit down," said Mr Balls. | "We do need a tough, medium-term plan to get our deficit down," said Mr Balls. |
| "But it is your reckless policies, too far and too fast, that have ripped out the foundation of the house, and left our economy deeply exposed to this brewing global hurricane." | "But it is your reckless policies, too far and too fast, that have ripped out the foundation of the house, and left our economy deeply exposed to this brewing global hurricane." |
| Italy's options | Italy's options |
| In Italy, Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti addressed a special parliamentary session to outline his country's response to the eurozone debt crisis, which is expected to include deficit reduction measures to meet its target of balancing its budget by 2013. | In Italy, Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti addressed a special parliamentary session to outline his country's response to the eurozone debt crisis, which is expected to include deficit reduction measures to meet its target of balancing its budget by 2013. |
| Mr Tremonti said budget cuts next year would be "very strong", but he queried European Central Bank demands for cuts in public sector salaries and labour law reforms to make firing easier. | Mr Tremonti said budget cuts next year would be "very strong", but he queried European Central Bank demands for cuts in public sector salaries and labour law reforms to make firing easier. |
| He said: "The numbers and details are under discussion. The political choice about how we focus ourselves, for 2012 and 2013, is still a political choice we have to make." | He said: "The numbers and details are under discussion. The political choice about how we focus ourselves, for 2012 and 2013, is still a political choice we have to make." |
| Mr Tremonti told parliament that Italy needed to reduce its deficit of about 3.9% of national income this year to closer to 1% next year. | Mr Tremonti told parliament that Italy needed to reduce its deficit of about 3.9% of national income this year to closer to 1% next year. |
| Italy's debt is the second highest in the eurozone after Greece at 120% of gross domestic product, but its deficit is among the lowest, meaning its debt is rising at a slower rate. | Italy's debt is the second highest in the eurozone after Greece at 120% of gross domestic product, but its deficit is among the lowest, meaning its debt is rising at a slower rate. |
| Weak economies | Weak economies |
| The market turmoil of the past week stems from fears that tackling the high levels of national debt on both sides of the Atlantic could hurt already weak economic growth. | The market turmoil of the past week stems from fears that tackling the high levels of national debt on both sides of the Atlantic could hurt already weak economic growth. |
| This is particularly true in the US, the world's largest economy, where the unemployment rate remains above 9%, and the Federal Reserve, the US central bank, warned that the economy was considerably weaker than expected. | This is particularly true in the US, the world's largest economy, where the unemployment rate remains above 9%, and the Federal Reserve, the US central bank, warned that the economy was considerably weaker than expected. |
| The biggest market falls were seen on Monday, in the first day of trading following the decision of credit rating agency Standard & Poor's to downgrade its assesement of US national debt from AAA to AA+. | The biggest market falls were seen on Monday, in the first day of trading following the decision of credit rating agency Standard & Poor's to downgrade its assesement of US national debt from AAA to AA+. |
| Before that, markets were concerned at the inability of US politicians to agree to raise the US debt ceiling, something that was finally agreed at the 11th hour. | Before that, markets were concerned at the inability of US politicians to agree to raise the US debt ceiling, something that was finally agreed at the 11th hour. |
| In Europe, the concern centres on whether Spain and Italy will have to follow Greece, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland and require bailouts. | In Europe, the concern centres on whether Spain and Italy will have to follow Greece, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland and require bailouts. |
| The fear has since spread this week to whether other eurozone countries, and most notably France, can afford to put funds into an expanded European Financial Stability Facility that will pay towards any required future bailouts. | The fear has since spread this week to whether other eurozone countries, and most notably France, can afford to put funds into an expanded European Financial Stability Facility that will pay towards any required future bailouts. |