Global Economics Update Can we still rely on the PMIs? The S&P Global PMI surveys have not been fully reliable guides to activity in major advanced economies over the past few years. But their relationship with GDP outside the US is still fairly strong... 21st February 2024 · 6 mins read
Industrial Metals Update Global Aluminium Production (Jan.) Global aluminium production was unchanged in January compared to December. This reinforces our view that production growth will soften this year. 20th February 2024 · 2 mins read
Long Run Economic Outlook AI productivity boom tempered by protectionist threat The AI revolution should deliver substantial productivity gains in the coming decade, particularly in advanced economies. But with working age populations falling in key areas and China’s economy in... 20th February 2024 · 1 hr, 9 mins read
Global Economics Chart Pack Global Economics Chart Pack (Feb. 2024) We think that global growth will undershoot consensus expectations in 2024 as various props to growth from 2023 fade and as the lagged effects of past rate hikes continue to feed through. Among the... 15th February 2024 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Europe's aluminium industry not dead yet Higher aluminium prices and lower production costs should incentivise Europe’s smelters to restart some production in both 2024 and 2025. The introduction of CBAM in 2026 means prices will then... 15th February 2024 · 3 mins read
Industrial Metals Update Wave of supply will keep nickel prices low We think the huge expansion in nickel supply will keep the market balance in a sizeable surplus this year. Accordingly, we don’t think the price will muster a recovery from its recent slump. 12th February 2024 · 2 mins read
Commodities Weekly Cocoa prices could be close to a melting point The price of cocoa was the star performer this week in commodity markets, rising by 16% on the week. The price has risen by 40% since the start of this year, on the back of consistently poor harvests... 9th February 2024 · 5 mins read
Global Economics Focus Financial stability in a world of higher interest rates Although the recent transition to a higher interest rate climate has not caused any lasting or systemic financial flare ups, it is probably too soon to sound the all-clear. And while a higher interest... 8th February 2024 · 19 mins read
FX Markets Update What the “dollar smile” means in the Fed’s “last mile” While not our base case, continued strength in the US economy would probably be a tailwind for the US dollar over the coming months. But even in that event, we think the dollar would eventually weaken... 7th February 2024 · 4 mins read
Global Economics Update Assessing the threat of a new bout of inflation We have argued that most of the inflation battle is already won and fears that “ the last mile will be the hardest” are overdone. But during our central bank online Drop-In session last week, clients... 7th February 2024 · 4 mins read
Capital Daily Will Treasuries keep ignoring oil prices? Oil prices have had only limited impact on US Treasury yields recently, and we suspect that this will remain the case in the next couple of years. 5th February 2024 · 4 mins read
FX Markets Weekly Wrap Can “King Dollar” draw investors’ gaze from “Goldilocks”? The DXY index seems set to close this week at its strongest level in almost two months, breaking out of a narrow range amid a flurry of data releases out of the US. Consistent with Fed Chair Powell’s... 2nd February 2024 · 5 mins read
Metals Chart Pack Metals Chart Pack (Feb. 2024) Our Metals Chart Pack has been updated with the latest data and our analysis of recent developments. Industrial metals demand will recover this year, boosted by rate cuts and stabilising economic... 2nd February 2024 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update PMIs: Lengthening delivery times not too concerning The big picture from January’s manufacturing PMIs was the growing outperformance of industry in major EMs compared to their advanced economy peers. The surveys also highlighted that Red Sea... 1st February 2024 · 2 mins read