Pressure is on Europe to secure alternative gas supplies well before the winter sees temperatures drop again.
The EU is grappling with Russia’s demand that countries start paying for their gas in roubles rather than euros or dollars, as they traditionally have.
Bowing to such a demand could mean countries effectively breach their own sanctions brought against Russia as part of a co-ordinated move by the West to punish Moscow for its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
A recent report by credit ratings giant Moody’s warned that a halt to the energy trade between Russia and Europe would lead to recessions around the world
About 25% of the nearly 4,000 non-financial companies Moody’s analyses globally would “face significant stress” it said, although it would be a significantly higher 40% in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
It “will cause significant stress around the world”, Moody’s said.
Barclays warns of hit to currency, eurozone GDP if Russia turns off gas taps
Analysts at Barclays have warned of a 5 percentage point hit to eurozone GDP and a dive below dollar parity for the euro if Russia closes its gas taps as part of the escalating war in Ukraine.
Worries are mounting in Europe that Moscow could sharply reduce the amount of gas it supplies or stop it altogether as tensions rise and sanctions intensify over its assault on Ukraine.
The Kremlin has already cut off supplies to Bulgaria and Poland and this week sanctioned Gazprom’s European subsidiaries, including Gazprom Germania, prompting German economy minister Robert Habeck to warn of no more gas from Russia.
“If Russia closes its gas taps to Europe, we expect EUR/USD to fall below parity,” Barclays said in a note on the rising tensions.
The euro is at $1.03, having slumped about 8% in the past three months.
“Our economists estimate that a total loss of Russian supplies, combined with rationing of the remainder, could dent euro area GDP by more than 5 percentage points over one year.”
Pressure is on Europe to secure alternative gas supplies well before the winter sees temperatures drop again.
The EU is grappling with Russia’s demand that countries start paying for their gas in roubles rather than euros or dollars, as they traditionally have.
Bowing to such a demand could mean countries effectively breach their own sanctions brought against Russia as part of a co-ordinated move by the West to punish Moscow for its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
A recent report by credit ratings giant Moody’s warned that a halt to the energy trade between Russia and Europe would lead to recessions around the world
About 25% of the nearly 4,000 non-financial companies Moody’s analyses globally would “face significant stress” it said, although it would be a significantly higher 40% in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
It “will cause significant stress around the world”, Moody’s said.
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