As if Europe didn't have enough on its plate, it now faces a big drop in the price of one of its biggest exports, olive oil. Seventy percent of the world's olive oil supply comes from Spain, Greece and Italy.
Markets in Europe are mixed today: Greece is way up and Spain is down. Though both countries face major economic troubles, the level of uncertainty may be the key in determining their market variation.
Spain has officially slipped back into recession and to make matters worse, Standard & Poor’s has downgraded the credit rating on 11 Spanish banks. That makes it harder for those banks to borrow money.
In a matter of days, two countries at the center of the European debt crisis will hold elections: France is on the verge of electing a socialist as president and Greece may also shake up its leadership. But it's Spain that's causing some heartburn today.