It's a complicated business with a very simple story--restructuring and turning around a very large company. |
The strength in European earnings is the result of a tremendous rise in productivity. That explains why even though profits are up and stock markets are rising, unemployment is still high. European companies are not hiring, but they're growing. |
This has been the great paradox--very successful European equity markets surrounded by a lukewarm economic environment. It's the opposite of the U.S. |