Central banks of the world’s major economies prepared
contingency plans to stabilise markets in case anti-austerity parties won
elections in Greece on Sunday, June 17. Moreover, leaders of the G20 meet in
Mexico on Monday, June 18 to discuss Europe’s debt crisis and clarify contributions
to the pledged IMF‘s fund worth of $430 billion US. It is expected that additional cash injections
into the financial system may calm public panic; however, could euro, the
second largest reserve currency, be broken easily?
Prolonged political tensions in Greece intensified
considerations whether it is able to meet bailout obligations. Moreover, it was
announced that in the middle of May the ECB stopped providing liquidity to some
Greek banks because of insufficient capitalization, overseas banks reduced
reserves holdings in euro and Greeks rushed to withdraw money from domestic
banks or transfer deposits to more stable ones. Euro deterioration to 1.24 against
US Dollar last week and international mistrust in European currency strengthen the
worst scenario – the end of euro.
It could be interesting to observe how European banks follow
the news of deteriorating assets. Euro might collapse if European banks hurry
to stabilize deteriorating assets by ridding of devaluated euro. However, the
other scenario is also possible. Self market regulation mechanism may come into
force and European currency may survive as long as European goods are traded in
euro.
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