China Data Response Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Jan.) Today’s data point to a sharp acceleration in credit growth going into 2016. This is consistent with our view that growth is more likely to pick up than slow over the coming quarters. 16th February 2016 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update If 2004 was a conundrum, 2016 is even more of a puzzle Eleven years ago, Alan Greenspan described the behaviour of bond markets as a “conundrum” in testimony to the Senate. This was because long-term yields had trended lower, even as the US FOMC had... 15th February 2016 · 1 min read
China Economics Update PBOC still far from exhausting reserves The idea that the People’s Bank is running out of FX reserves doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. But the fact that many take it seriously is a sign of how far sentiment has swung against China. 15th February 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Will a stronger yen derail the BoJ’s efforts to hit 2% inflation? The recent appreciation of the yen, even if sustained for longer, should not have a major impact on external demand nor consumer prices. However, it will lower corporate profits and could reduce firms... 15th February 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response GDP (Q4 Preliminary) Japan’s economy shrank last quarter for the second time over the past year. While activity is set to pick up in coming months ahead of next year’s sales tax hike, the bigger picture is that spare... 15th February 2016 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Domestic price pressures continue to mount Futures markets now expect the Fed to leave rates unchanged for all of this year and anticipate a single 25 basis point hike next year. In contrast, we expect the Fed to begin raising rates again in... 12th February 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Is the debt crisis back? There are ominous signs that the turmoil in financial markets is starting to have bigger effects on the euro-zone. While Q4’s GDP figures showed growth maintained its pace at the end of last year, the... 12th February 2016 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Are negative rates doing more harm than good? In principle, cutting policy rates into negative territory should boost growth and inflation. But central banks have not communicated these benefits clearly, and the hesitant way in which they have... 12th February 2016 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Deflation Watch: Oil price falls won’t prevent inflation pick-up January’s consumer prices figures should show a continuing movement away from deflation. While falling oil prices are being passed through to lower fuel prices at the pump, fuel price deflation will... 12th February 2016 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Peru hikes again as inflationary pressures build, Chile holds The Peruvian central bank’s decision to hike interest rates by 25bp for the third consecutive month, to 4.25%, as well as the more hawkish tone of the accompanying statement, point to concerns that... 12th February 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP (Q4 Prov.) The fact that euro-zone GDP growth did not slow in Q4 last year provides little comfort in the current environment of global market turmoil and does not preclude the need for further decisive policy... 12th February 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly What will the Bank of Japan do next? The Bank of Japan unveiled a negative interest rate policy two weeks ago because it concluded that more forceful action was needed to lift inflation. Now, with equities slumping and the yen soaring to... 12th February 2016 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Are the monetary data pointing to global downturn? While some recent survey evidence has hinted that loan growth in the US may be about to slow, money and credit data in the four major advanced economies as a whole so far provide little support for... 11th February 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Sweden’s Riksbank cuts rates, but more work is needed Today’s decision by Sweden’s Riksbank to cut its repo rate further below zero demonstrated that it is prepared to set aside its worries about a housing market bubble and strong domestic demand in... 11th February 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Philippines to keep rates on hold The decision by the central bank of the Philippines (BSP) to keep its main policy rate on hold at 4.0% came as no surprise. With growth picking up but inflation low, we doubt the central bank will be... 11th February 2016 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Sweden’s Riksbank cuts rates, but more work is needed Today’s decision by Sweden’s Riksbank to cut its repo rate further below zero demonstrated that it is prepared to set aside its worries about a housing market bubble and strong domestic demand in... 11th February 2016 · 1 min read
