Global Economics Focus Does QE work? The launch of “full blown” quantitative easing by the ECB this year has been greeted enthusiastically by financial markets. However, the global track record of QE since it was first adopted by the... 1st April 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Focus “Abenomics” needs a fresh boost Japan’s economic recovery was dealt a severe blow by last year’s sales tax hike, and we think that the immediate outlook for growth is more gloomy than most believe. With inflation well below the 2%... 31st March 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Focus Outlook for China has actually brightened The recent news on China's economy has been generally downbeat. But less attention has been paid to some encouraging structural shifts which mean that the risks of a slump in growth have diminished... 27th March 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Bank of Canada in no hurry to cut rates The speech earlier today by Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz and his remarks during the press release shortly afterwards suggest that the Bank isn't in any hurry to cut rates further. Accordingly... 26th March 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Chart Pack Currency sell-off puts paid to further policy loosening Currencies in Latin America have regained some ground over the past week, but have still typically fallen by between 10-20% against the dollar over the past six months. The risk that the slide in... 26th March 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Kganyago paves way for South Africa rate hike Policymakers in South Africa kept interest rates on hold today, but the governor’s statement took a notably more hawkish tone that seemingly paved the way for rate hikes at the next meeting in May. It... 26th March 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Czech MPC keeps policy unchanged, but hints at loosening Having kept its two-week repo rate unchanged at 0.05% and maintained its exchange rate ceiling of 27/€ earlier today, the Czech MPC’s accompanying statement struck a markedly dovish note. As a result... 26th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Feb.) February’s euro-zone monetary data add to the evidence from activity surveys that economic growth in the euro-zone will pick up in the coming months. But troubles in the Greek banking sector remain a... 26th March 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Chart Pack Nigerian politics take centre stage All eyes are focused on Nigeria’s election on 28th March, which will almost certainly spark a brief period of political violence when (as seems likely) the losing candidate refuses to accept the... 26th March 2015 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Chart Pack Investment outlook weakens While some of the latest data have suggested that economic activity in Australia has accelerated since the turn of the year, the bigger picture is that the economy is still struggling to cope with the... 25th March 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Chart Pack Central Europe shaping up well at the start of 2015 Despite concerns about deflation, a recession in Russia and sluggishness in the euro-zone, the latest data out of Central Europe have been surprisingly robust. Industrial production growth has... 25th March 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Hungary: a few more small rate cuts on the cards Having resumed its easing cycle earlier today, the Hungarian MPC made it clear that a few more small rate cuts are likely over the coming months. For now, we have pencilled in 30bp of rate cuts, which... 24th March 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Exports take a turn for the worse Emerging Asia’s exports have taken a turn for the worse in recent months. Leaving out China, the region’s merchandise exports, measured in US dollar terms, contracted at the sharpest annual rate in... 24th March 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Polish easing cycle at an end, policy to stay extremely loose The Polish MPC was uncharacteristically forthright in its statement that today’s 50bp cut in the policyinterest rate, to 1.5%, marked the end of the easing cycle. But it’s clear that weak price... 24th March 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Taiwan is unlikely to join Asia's rate-cutting cycle Despite slowing growth, a bout of deflation and a housing market that has recently taken a turn for the worse, Taiwan is unlikely to join the Asian rate-cutting cycle at its upcoming meeting. 23rd March 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Colombia’s central bank to tread carefully Interest rates in Colombia were left unchanged at 4.50% on Friday and, although the latest sell-off in the peso and above-target inflation has weakened the case for rate cuts in the near-term, we... 23rd March 2015 · 1 min read
