Billions have been raised by a variety of funds and investors to buy assets in Europe. While there is clear evidence that the financial situation in Europe has stabilized, it has not turned the corner to genuine improvement. Both the IMF and ECB have clearly been warning recently that Europe faces a potential Japan problem of deflation and stagnation. Spain and Italy are not going to default, and Greece is alive, but that is far from providing a sound investment environment. There are several banks still in serious problems like HSBC and Deutche. French banks have stabilized but are not healthy. France is stagnant and unlikely under Hollande to change for the better until the next election and then it will take awhile depending on who is elected. France is not a good place to be investing in illiquid assets. Greece has a far right wing problem that is so severe that the government has had to arrest members of the right wing party. In other countries, far right politicians have gained ground. Standards of living outside Germany are not improving and the Muslim immigrant population is increasing substantially. These are all the sorts of ingredients that breed political problems or worse, and will make it harder for Europe to find consensus to solve the economic problems.

Add to all of this the German issue. Germany, as the one major economy and the one with the money, is now viewed as pushing its exports vs building a domestic demand that would help other European countries. They are the creditor and have pushed other countries to do things their way- right or wrong- it rankles others. This makes it much harder to reach agreement on things like a uniform banking oversight program.

There is another phenomenon going on in Europe that is very under the radar but has real investment implications. Due largely to the huge influx of Muslims into many countries, the level of anti Semitism and harassment has increased materially to the point that many of the best and brightest of the Jewish population in France, Holland and some other important countries has begun to quietly leave permanently for Israel, the US and the UK. This is a slow brain and capital drain taking place that will over time impact business and in turn asset values. It is very quiet, but it is happening at rates that are growing. It is the group that build technology companies, and new businesses. It is not by accident that Europe is way behind the US and Asia in technology start ups and technological breakthroughs. This is not going to cause a crisis in Europe, but what it does do is keep the technology sector under performing and the entrepreneurs from staying. Over time this will inhibit growth and value enhancement to some degree. Not what Europe needs right now. In addition, the large influx of immigrants is a drain on national budgets as many of these people are living at the lower end of society and require subsides and other services that cost the government resources that are simply not there.