In the integrated market of today, most of the concerned people are aware of the fact that the US companies have large shares in the European market. But due to the weakening of the European zone, it is common sense to believe that the US companies will have to offset the losses incurred from the region. However, large US companies have managed to avoid the troubles related to the European crisis, but they have yet to face a number of problems in the other aspects of the market. Analysts’ forecasts on Europe are not very favorable as the situation continues to deteriorate. However, so far the American companies are doing quite well.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, as shown by the stock index of S&P’s, the earnings of the US companies in the European sector grew by 11.4% compared with the indicators a year ago. The total increase in revenues for the quarter was 13.1%-and this is despite the suspended status of the euro and the plight of a number of European countries.

The Americans were surprised with the strength of Europe. There is a general impression that 10% unemployment in 17 countries is something from a parallel reality. For example, the manufacturer of heavy equipment Caterpillar Inc. for example, grew its European revenues by nearly a third. Harley-Davidson Inc. cheerfully reported that the proportion of the total market sales reached a record high.

However, if some American ships continue to cultivate the spaces of Europe, others have been nailed to the shore by the financial storm in Europe. Generally, stable sales were observed only in Germany. The countries of the Mediterranean - Spain, Italy and Portugal - have failed to please the American entrepreneurs with their purchasing power.

Difficulties in Europe can easily be traced on the example of one particular company or even one unit. At United Technologies Corp., the sales of industrial air conditioners grew 8 percent, which executives attributed to the desire of customers to improve energy efficiency. At the same time, the demand for industrial refrigerators fell by 10 percent. In 2012 we do not expect much growth, but neither do we expect big surprises. We have a long, slow recovery of positions in Europe ahead.