Global Economics Update Should central banks do more about the "AI bubble"? Concerns about a stock market bubble are unlikely to dictate central banks’ interest rate decisions in the near term. It’s difficult to call a bubble and even harder to manipulate stock markets... 10th December 2025 · 3 mins read
Global Economics Update World trade defying tariff headwinds World trade grew relatively strongly in Q3 and looks to have maintained this momentum at the start of Q4. Despite signs of weakness in some Asian economies’ exports in October, the region should... 3rd December 2025 · 4 mins read
Global Economics Update Global industry muddling through in Q4 November’s manufacturing PMI surveys paint a picture of soft growth in both activity and prices for global industry, with global supply chains still showing no signs of stress from tariffs. 1st December 2025 · 3 mins read
Equities Update What if the AI stock market boom turned to bust? If the AI stock market boom turned to bust, we suspect the correction would be somewhat smaller but significantly shorter-lived than the one that took place after the dotcom bubble burst. 21st November 2025 · 6 mins read
Global Economics Update How to think about AI investment The surge in AI investment has so far been more apparent in company reports of nominal CapEx than in real investment in the wider economy. But the latter impact is growing. And while individual... 12th November 2025 · 11 mins read
Global Economics Update Global economy resilient in H2 Q3 GDP estimates and early data for October indicate that the global economy continues to expand apace, defying expectations of a slowdown. Several Asian economies are leading the way, with strong AI... 6th November 2025 · 3 mins read
Global Economics Update World trade still holding up amid tariffs After falling in Q2, growth in global goods trade looks to have picked up somewhat in Q3 on the back of strong Asian exports. The latest survey data point to a slowdown in global goods trade. But as... 5th November 2025 · 3 mins read
Global Economics Update Explaining our non-consensus views on central banks We recently hosted an online Drop-In session to review the latest Fed and ECB decisions and preview the Bank of England’s November meeting. (Recording available here.) This Update provides answers to... 3rd November 2025 · 6 mins read
Global Economics Update The advanced economy impact of China’s deflation Deflation in China has added to disinflationary forces in advanced economies over the past few years, reducing the level of headline CPI by around 0.3-0.5% on average. Tariffs are likely to reverse... 15th October 2025 · 4 mins read
Commodities Update Key questions (and answers) on rare earth elements With China’s rare earth export controls back in the spotlight, this Update answers seven key questions on the in-vogue elements and the economic consequences of disruption to their supply. 13th October 2025 · 5 mins read
Global Economics Update Has the threat from QT passed? Quantitative tightening has not been the main driver of higher bond yields in recent years, but it has contributed. With the process now at or near an end in the US and Canada, the threat that further... 9th October 2025 · 5 mins read
Global Economics Update Slowdown in world trade will remain gradual With the volatility surrounding tariff front-running seemingly in the past, global goods trade appears to be slowing. But the latest official and survey data support our view that this slowdown will... 6th October 2025 · 3 mins read
China Economics Update China’s catch-up is faltering A weak currency and sustained deflation mean that China’s economy is on course to shrink as a share of the global economy for a fourth consecutive year, when measured at market exchange rates. China... 2nd October 2025 · 3 mins read
Global Economics Update PMIs imply softer price pressures The latest PMIs suggest that global industry has remained relatively resilient in the wake of US tariffs and that the outlook has improved slightly. Meanwhile, goods price pressures have softened... 1st October 2025 · 2 mins read
Global Economics Update Inside the latest central bank decisions We recently hosted an online Drop-In session to unpack the September meetings of major advanced economy central banks. (Recording available here.) The key takeaway was that in the US, markets seem to... 22nd September 2025 · 7 mins read
Global Economics Update Why r* is still heading to 2% Recent bond market movements suggest that equilibrium real interest rates may have risen further, perhaps justified by strong AI investment and persistently high government borrowing. But some recent... 11th September 2025 · 6 mins read