EUR/USD: Greek Crisis Raises Risk For Eurozone

 | Feb 08, 2017 05:59AM ET

Greece again has difficulties ahead of IMF fundings

IMF has not yet come to the single opinion on further financial help to Greece. On this news the yields of the 2-year bonds has reached 7-month high of 10% a year. The crisis in Greece raises the financial risks for the whole Eurozone. Will euro edge lower?

IMF has not yet decided on the budget surplus that Greece is to ensure till 2018. The fund considers the range of 1.5%-3.5%. This obliges Greece to continue the unpopular reforms and to cut the social support of the Greek people. As the Greek GDP is not to surpass the level of 1% in mid-term range, according to IMF, the budget surplus shall be ensured by means of austerity measures. Greece reckons on getting the 3rd IMF tranche of 86bn euros in Q3 2017 to restructure the previous debts. The total public debt of Greece will reach 180% of GDP.

Given the heightened economic risks, EUR/USD pair showed on Tuesday a record decline in 2017. The additional negative came from Marine Le Pen, the “National front” candidate for presidential elections in France. She introduced her political program where considered it necessary to hold a referendum for France to leave the EU. BVA Agency estimated her chances to win the presidential elections at 25%.

The unexpectedly weak manufacturing production data for December came out in Germany on Tuesday. It fell 3% compared to November which is the record decline in 8 years. Nevertheless, the negative data did not have major impact on the markets as most investors considered it accidental and expect the German industrial production to rise in January.