09 September 2011

EUROZONE / GERMANY : 10 Sept UPDATE: Markets Swoon After ECB Chief Economist Stark Resigns Abruptly.

                                   LINK CHANGE/ NYTIMES/ 2 screen read combined
   
       Europe's markets plunged...and the euro sank to a 6 month low of $1.3657...after the European Central Bank's chief economist Juergen Stark (above) abruptly resigned.
      The ECB said the German was leaving "for personal reasons" but would stay until a successor is found.
      Germany's BILD headlined: "Our most important euro banker throws in the towel."
      There is widespread speculation he is leaving over conflicts within the ECB about its bond-buying program of large indebted eurozone nations like Italy and Spain, as well as troubled Ireland, Greece and Portugal.  
      Stark is exiting almost 3 years before his term expires in May 2014.