The good news about 2014 (maybe)

By Robert J. Samuelson, Published: December 30

For four and a half years, we have waited for a powerful and self-sustaining economic recovery. More than once it seemed imminent. Then, for various reasons, it vanished, and we returned to a plodding expansion with too much unemployment and too little confidence. Could 2014 be the year when the recovery actually feels like a recovery? Well, it could.

I say this with humility. True, many forecasts have turned optimistic. Economic growth will (finally) accelerate. But similar predictions were made in the past, including by me, and were wrong. The same could happen again. Still, the case for a healthier recovery now seems the most plausible since the recession’s nadir in mid-2009. The reason: Many economic “fundamentals” are improving simultaneously.

Here are four.

Green Shoots In Greece

Forbes

As Europe struggles through an anaemic recovery, its structurally challenged South is trying to mend itself. It is a fascinating, and still undecided turnaround story, best illustrated by the Eurozone’s former bête noire – Greece. Exacerbating the problem, the media often do a poor job of helping explain both the current situation and its prospects- as a panel in London’s Southbank Centre will discuss on 19 October 2013.

Greece could return to debt market in late 2014, Stournaras says

BERLIN | Mon Aug 26, 2013 2:11am EDT

(Reuters) - Greece could return to debt markets to test the water in the second half of 2014 if his country returns to growth in the first half of next year and manages a primary surplus, its finance minister said in a German media interview out on Monday.

Euro Zone Returns to Growth, but Malaise Lingers

Updated August 14, 2013, 7:52 p.m. ET

Currency Area Emerges From Longest Postwar Economic Contraction

By MARCUS WALKER in Berlin and CHARLES FORELLE in LondonCONNECT

The euro zone's marathon recession has ended, spurred by solid economic performances in both Germany and France. But the modest recovery won't go very far in fixing the bloc's deeper problems and threatens to stoke a sense of complacency in European capitals.

The currency bloc's return to slow growth—confirmed by data published Wednesday that showed its economy grew at a 1.1% annualized rate in the second quarter—is likely to encourage European politicians to claim that the region's debt crisis is receding. Once-frantic efforts to fix the common currency's flaws are already showing signs of petering out.

Europe Heads Toward Recovery, but Slowly

German Growth Helps Drive Euro Zone to End of Longest Recession in Decades, Though Severe Unemployment Likely to Persist

By CHARLES FORELLE in London, NINA ADAM in Frankfurt and ILAN BRAT in MadridCONNECT

The Wall Street Journal

Europe's longest recession since World War II appears to be on the verge of ending, driven by a surge in German growth that is helping to blunt the severe economic pain faced by many in the region, but is too modest to lift the global outlook.

German Orders Gain Most in Eight Months in Recovery Sign

By Jeff Black - Aug 6, 2013

German factory orders increased by the most in eight months and U.K. industrial production beat forecasts in June, adding to evidence of a nascent recovery in Europe. Italy’s economic contraction slowed.

Luring Tourists Back to Greece

The New York Times

By LIZ ALDERMAN

Published: May 22, 2013

The sun was blazing above the Acropolis, draping the ivory pillars of the Parthenon in a golden sheen. The red-tiled roof of the ancient Agora museum glimmered in the heat, and a breeze ruffled the boughs of olive trees. On the rough cobbles of Plaka, a cafe-lined tourist area, crowds of camera-toting visitors paused to soak it all in.

Samaras Seeks China Investment to Revive Battered Greek Economy

By Bloomberg News - May 17, 2013

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras promised to give the “red-carpet treatment” to foreign investors as he visited China to help revive an economy that contracted for the 19th straight quarter.

Greece set for comeback as tourist destination

Fri Mar 8, 2013 2:46am EST

* European tourism seen up 2-3 pct in 2013

* Greece bookings rebound, Alltours sees 30 pct rise

* Emerging markets to be main driver of global tourism

By Michelle Martin and Victoria Bryan

BERLIN, March 8 (Reuters) - Tourism in Greece is bouncing back this year in an otherwise flat European market, held back by the weak economic climate, travel industry executives said.

Steinmetz Real Estate Hires RREEF’s Papachristophorou

By Elisa Martinuzzi & Sharon Smyth - Mar 4, 2013 3:53 PM GMT+0200

(Corrects Papachristophorou’s age in fifth paragraph.)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-04/steinmetz-real-estate-hires-rreef-s-papachristophorou-correct-.html

Chris Papachristophorou, former global head of Deutsche Bank AG (DBK)’s RREEF Opportunistic Investments, is joining Beny Steinmetz Group Real Estate to run a private-equity venture that aims to invest $2 billion.

Greece Gradually Emerging From Crisis, ECB’s Provopoulos Says

By Christos Ziotis and Marcus Bensasson on February 25, 201

Greece is gradually exiting from its crisis, with confidence building and deposits returning, even as it faces another difficult year in 2013, Bank of Greece Governor George Provopoulos said.

Jim Armitage: A glimmer of hope for Greece but it's still going to be a long haul

There have been real reforms made to reduce labour costs, pensions and so forth

JIM ARMITAGE    FRIDAY 08 FEBRUARY 2013

The Independent

Global Outlook To visit Athens these days is to witness the flesh-and-blood, bricks-and-mortar embodiment of an economy gone badly wrong.