That's not to say this rule is infallible. One year, all the decision-makers went on holiday in late July, and came back to find themselves embroiled in World War I.
What traders and decision makers will find waiting for them when they get home from the beach could be almost as serious. Here's why...
A Laundry List of Problems
Greece has done nothing to redeem its position other than prepare an application for more money. Italy's GDP declined by 0.7% in the second quarter, and we are shortly to enter the run-up to the next Italian election.What's more, Spain is trying desperately to avoid asking for a bailout, and may just succeed in doing so, but one more hiccup in its recalcitrant provincial governments will push it over the edge.
Then there's Portugal, which has entered a deep recession, and is showing signs of missing its budget targets again.
And that laundry list of potential problems doesn't include the biggest one of them all.
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