Europe Economics Update Are ECB corporate bond purchases already a success? The prospect of ECB corporate bond purchases, which begin today, has pushed corporate bond spreads down and prompted a pick-up in issuance. However, there are several reasons to think that spreads... 8th June 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Drop in inflation not enough to prompt rate cut Consumer price inflation is likely to have dropped in May, but not by enough to bring it below the RBI’s 5.0% target for March 2017. 8th June 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update RBI holds rates, loosening cycle likely at an end The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept its repo rate on hold at 6.50% today and, while the consensus is expecting further modest loosening later this year, we think that rates will remain unchanged... 7th June 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Update RBA treading water in uncharted territory It was no surprise after cutting interest rates in May that the Reserve Bank of Australia left rates on hold at 1.75% today. But by not sending a signal that rates will fall further, it has become a... 7th June 2016 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Are central bankers going soft on their inflation targets? It is often claimed that central bankers are less committed to their inflation targets than they were before the global financial crisis, but a closer look suggests that there has not been a dramatic... 6th June 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Data Response Russia CPI (May) Russian inflation remained unchanged at 7.3% y/y in May for the third consecutive month, but it looks like it is on course to edge up over the coming months. As a result, we think that the central... 6th June 2016 · 1 min read
Global Economics Chart Pack All eyes on the Fed and the UK referendum The weak US non-farm payrolls data for May and uncertainty ahead of the UK referendum on EU membership, scheduled for 23rd June, may push back the next Fed rate hike until July at the earliest, if not... 3rd June 2016 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Rise in inventory-to-sales ratio not a recession signal The rising business inventory-to-sales ratio is not a signal of an imminent recession. The increase in the ratio of some specific components – machinery – is a potential problem. But much of the rise... 3rd June 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: What to look for when CBN clarifies naira policy The long delay in explaining its new FX policy is another blow to the credibility of the Central Bank of Nigeria. In this note, we examine three key questions raised by the current FX policy... 3rd June 2016 · 1 min read
US Data Response Employment Report (May) The 38,000 increase in non-farm payrolls in May, which is still only 73,000 if we adjust for the 35,000 striking Verizon workers, means that a June rate hike from the Fed is now very unlikely.... 3rd June 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly QE expansion uneven across the euro-zone The expansion of the ECB’s QE programme may have contributed to the recent increase in euro-zone equity prices and economic sentiment. But purchases of government bonds have increased by more in the... 3rd June 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Will Vietnam’s exports continue to boom? Exports from Vietnam should continue to grow strongly in the short-term, helped by booming foreign direct investment into the manufacturing sector. However, the lack of spillovers from the dynamic... 3rd June 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Target2 imbalances highlight uneven effects of QE The recent increase in Target2 imbalances does not suggest that the euro-zone is set for another crisis on the scale of 2011/12. However, it does suggest that countries in the core might be... 3rd June 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly First quarter good, second quarter not so good The leap in GDP in Australia in the first quarter doesn’t significantly alter the outlook for underlying inflation, especially if we are right in thinking that economic growth will drop back below the... 3rd June 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economic Outlook Regional growth to strengthen as Russia exits recession Growth in Emerging Europe is set to strengthen over the next few quarters, helped in part by the fact that the drag from Russia will ease as it exits recession. However, while the acute stage of... 2nd June 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB holds fire but more easing still likely The ECB is in wait and see mode while it assesses the effects of its latest policy measures, but President Draghi left the door wide open to further policy action. We continue to believe that the... 2nd June 2016 · 1 min read
