End of euro may mean end of Europe, says Soros
Billionaire investor George Soros said a fracturing of the euro area would have ?catastrophic? consequences and that markets have started pricing in the possibility of the region breaking up.
The disintegration of the 17-nation currency bloc would affect Europe and the ?entire global financial system,? Soros said in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad today in response to questions.
Leaders in the euro region have struggled to solve a sovereign-debt crisis that?s hampered the global recovery and is now in its third year. Greece, Ireland and Portugal have already been forced into bailouts and the European Central Bank has provided unprecedented cash injections, easing borrowing costs for Italy, Spain and Belgium.
Soros said it isn?t currently clear whether the crisis will be contained, adding many people ?feel? it?s ?over the brink? and ?insolvable.?
The euro fell to a 15-month low against the dollar on concern the region?s governments and banks will struggle to raise funds. It weakened 0.5 percent to $1.2875 at 9.38 a.m. London time, after falling as much as 0.7 percent to $1.2848, the least since September 2010.
Markets are ?far from equilibrium and extremely difficult to predict using the yardsticks or methods that were used in the past,? Soros said, adding investors ?have to play it safe? and that ?unless you can anticipate events correctly, it?s better to do nothing than to keep on losing money.? [Bloomberg]
