Bloomberg - The First Word

Feb. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Elga Bartsch, chief European economist at Morgan Stanley & Co. in London, says a G-7 statement issued today does not address differences over currency issues. Bartsch talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Michael Purves, Greenwich, Connecticut-based Weeden & Co.'s head of derivatives research, says global currency debasement illustrates the lack of control over monetary policy. Purves talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Jane Foley, a senior currency strategist at Rabobank International in London, says the euro "is really not an overvalued currency" even though it has been the best performing currency over the past six months. Foley talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Peter Dixon, economist at Commerzbank AG, says Italian election results may "trigger concerns that reforms have stalled." Dixon talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Neil Dutta, head U.S. economist at Renaissance Macro Research LLC, says U.S. economic growth will be three percent "or more" this year. Dutta talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Riccardo Barbieri, chief European economist at Mizuho International Plc, says Japanese officials are trying to appease complaints about a weaker yen. Barbieri talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Nigel Gault, chief U.S.economist for IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts, says consumer spending will be on the "soft side" at the start of this year and then strengthen later this year. Gault talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Craig Veysey, head of fixed income at Sanlam Private Investments Ltd. in London, says the Bank of England needs more flexibility in monetary policy to combat a slowing U.K. economy. Veysey talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Nic Brown, head of commodity research at Natixis SA in London, says any move by the Federal Reserve to dial back asset purchases is a "downside risk for gold." Brown talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Kit Juckes, head of foreign-exchange research at Societe Generale SA, says the "enormous competitive advantage" of the Korean won "is being reversed" by the "engineered weakness" of the Japanese yen. Juckes talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Steen Jakobsen, chief economist at Saxo Bank A/S, says the political situation in Spain and Italy will have a "major impact on the market." Jakobsen talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Paul Bednarczyk, a currency strategist at 4Cast Ltd. in London, says the Japanese currency "could easily go to 110" yen against the U.S. dollar. Bednarczyk talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- James Knightley, an economist at ING Bank NV in London, says a euro zone recession may be "shallower" than first forecast. Knightley talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Sebastien Galy, a senior foreign-exchange strategist at Societe Generale SA in New York, says "attractive yields" in Europe mean the euro will be "grinding higher." Galy talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)

Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Bill Blain, a bond broker at Mint Partners Ltd., says European yields "have gone as far as they can." Blain talks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee on Bloomberg Radio's "Bloomberg - The First Word." (Source: Bloomberg)