Dutch growth expected to pick up by year-end

Inflationary pressures on the Dutch economy, exacerbated by taxation system changes, are expected to ease in the fourth quarter, allowing positive economic growth. The switch of emphasis from direct to indirect taxation helped push up inflation rates to 4.6% in July, according to Nico Klene, economist at ABN Amro Asset Management. Over the 12 months to the end of July 2001, the Amsterdam exchanges index has fallen 16.98% in sterling terms compared to a fall of 10.41% in the FTSE All Share. However, consumer demand is expected to pick up, which should support the equity market, Klen...