An Early Halloween Trick or Treat

Halloween is here and the trick or treat query posed by the eurozone superstar Klaus Regling of the Chinese has resulted in a damp squib of a treat, although perhaps coming cap in hand to the Chinese was perceived by the Chinese as a trick. Who could blame them. The Chinese have made it clear that they are not disposed to become the eurozone's saviour which is consistent with what some commentators were saying a few days back. It is odd or rather embarrassing that the eurozone leaders did not do their homework before their visit. The markets will not be impressed. Neither was Simon Miller in his post today on The Commentator site here. Nor was an old Kazakhstani friend I met today. He specialises in economic issues throughout Europe and the East and told me that from what he hears, but which does not seem to be reported over here, is that the Chinese are not in a good economic state at the moment with workers being laid off and returning to their villages and with those still in jobs having their working days reduced to 4 days a week and the time they work each day reduced from 6 hours to 4 and their income proportionately. He has concerns about Russia which he says is also going through difficult economic times and that the election of Putin as president will be a disaster. He has never thought Putin would prove to be a  democrat. Looking at the European scene he has made bets that neither the CDU in Germany nor Sarkozy in France will be re-elected.