euro

An ASML executive says the Dutch chipmaking equipment giant currently sells no machines within Europe, despite being the world's leading supplier of lithography systems used to make advanced chips. The remark highlights how little semiconductor manufacturing takes place on the continent, with most customers concentrated in Asia and the United States.

ASML, the Dutch maker of the lithography machines essential for advanced chips, says it sold 'absolutely nothing' in Europe in 2026, with its equipment going almost entirely to Asia-based chipmakers. The company is calling on the European Union to help create demand for advanced semiconductor manufacturing on the continent. The remark is drawing attention as Europe pushes to build domestic chip capacity and reduce reliance on Asian supply chains.

Markets face a data-heavy week with the U.S. jobs report due alongside inflation figures from the United States, Eurozone, Australia, South Korea and Tokyo. The Reserve Bank of Australia holds a policy meeting, and investors will also parse speeches from Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of England officials. Traders are watching for clues on interest rate paths and economic momentum.

Hungary's central bank has lowered its inflation target, and bond investors are taking it as a sign the country is steering toward meeting the criteria for euro adoption. Analysts say the move could anchor expectations, support further rate cuts and make Hungarian government debt more attractive, though the timing of any euro entry remains uncertain.

Cities across Europe are looking for ways to increase the supply of affordable housing as rents and property prices continue to strain households. The issue has become a central concern for urban policymakers, with local governments under pressure to act as housing shortages deepen in many major European cities.

The Council of the EU is highlighting the question of whether Europe should develop its own independent payment system, reducing reliance on US-dominated networks like Visa and Mastercard. The discussion reflects concerns about digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy, with debates ongoing over initiatives such as the digital euro and a potential European card payment scheme.

The European Central Bank's digital euro has entered wholesale financial markets for the first time, marking an early step in the eurozone's central bank digital currency project. The debut focuses on interbank and institutional settlement rather than consumer payments. Observers are watching closely to see whether the experiment could eventually reshape how euro-area banks move money and settle transactions.

Retail investors across Europe are keeping a close watch on defense stocks, with Sweden's Saab and France's Airbus topping the list of names in focus. Interest comes as European defense spending rises amid security concerns, making manufacturers like Saab and Airbus prominent picks for individual investors positioning around the sector's growth.

A Kyiv Post opinion piece asks whether Central and Eastern Europe could market itself internationally as a single, unified economy. The article weighs the region's economic integration prospects, building on EU membership of many states in the area and growing cooperation in trade and investment. The argument invites debate over whether a common regional identity could attract investors and strengthen the region's global standing.

Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former Fox News host and fiancee of Donald Trump Jr., is reportedly traveling across Europe seeking business deals, accompanied by a man whose identity and role have not been publicly explained. The Wall Street Journal has highlighted the pairing, drawing attention to Guilfoyle's commercial activities in Europe and the questions surrounding her low-profile traveling companion.