Europe Economics Update Why has the euro-zone slowed so sharply? The surprisingly sharp slowdown in the euro-zone economy over recent months may be partly the result of temporary negative factors such as the Ukraine crisis. But the underlying picture is still one... 23rd October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB takes further steps towards QE Rumours that the ECB is considering corporate bond purchases suggest that the Bank is edging further into the realms of quantitative easing. But we think that it will need to buy sovereign bonds as... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Stress tests won’t revive the banking sector overnight The euro-zone’s latest bank stress tests may be more credible than previous versions and hence do more to restore confidence in the region’s banking sector. But the corrective measures required in... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Will Greece trigger another crisis? While there are some comforting distinctions between the recent jump in Greek bond yields and that which triggered the euro-zone crisis back in 2010, the scale of the economic challenges still facing... 17th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update In the euro-zone at least, the markets have got it right While the recent weakness of financial markets appears hard to square with the economic outlook insome parts of the world like the US, in the euro-zone the markets’ concerns appear more justified. 16th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update French fiscal slippage could promote more pragmatic policy The French Government’s submission today of a budget that flouts the European Commission’s fiscal rules will be a key test of EU authorities’ resolve. We expect a compromise to be reached that forces... 15th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Adverse market reaction hits Greek bail-out exit hopes The adverse market reaction to the Greek Government’s plans to exit its IMF bail-out early has underlined the fragility of market sentiment towards the country and presumably made it very unlikely... 14th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Why haven’t euro-zone exports recovered more strongly? The persistent weakness of euro-zone exports seems to have reflected the high level of the euro, tradelinks with Emerging Europe and cost and regulatory pressures on the region’s exporters. While... 3rd October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB’s Draghi suggests QE is on its way President Mario Draghi hinted strongly that a deterioration in the inflation outlook in the coming months would result in the ECB taking bolder, unconventional policy action, leaving the door wide... 2nd October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Sep.) Smaller budget deficits were seen in most of the peripheral economies in August, but France’s fiscal position continued to deteriorate. 2nd October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Aug.) Although August’s euro-zone monetary data showed further signs of improvement, lending is still contracting and, given the low uptake at the ECB’s first TLTRO last week, there is little sign that this... 25th September 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update What to expect from the TLTROs With the first of the ECB’s Targeted Longer Term Refinancing Operations taking place this Thursday,this Update addresses some of the key questions regarding their aims and likely effects. While... 17th September 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Early loan repayment underlines Irish progress The agreement amongst European finance ministers over the weekend that Ireland can start early repayment of its IMF loan highlighted again the rapid improvement of market confidence in the peripheral... 16th September 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Sweden’s return to the left won’t banish stagnation fears Sweden’s general election yesterday resulted in defeat for the centre-right coalition Alliance Government after two terms in power but produced no overall majority for the centre-left opposition... 15th September 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Vote of confidence to offer limited hope for France The French Government looks set to win a vote of confidence tomorrow, allowing it to pursue long-overdue business friendly reforms. But it could take many years for the reforms to bear fruit and... 15th September 2014 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Sweden’s return to the left won’t banish stagnation fears Sweden’s general election yesterday resulted in defeat for the centre-right coalition Alliance Government after two terms in power but produced no overall majority for the centre-left opposition... 15th September 2014 · 1 min read
