US Economics Weekly Fed's patient approach at odds with incoming data While the strength of real economic growth and employment suggest that the Fed should begin to raise interest rates very soon, the mixed news on wages, the lack of any pick-up in core inflation and... 23rd January 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Focus Banxico can cut interest rates even as the Fed begins to hike We think the prevailing view that close economic ties with the US will force Mexico to raise interest rates if, as expected, the Fed starts to tighten later this year is wrong. Indeed, with lower oil... 23rd January 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update The implications of King Abdullah’s passing The passing away of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has raised concerns about the issue of succession and whether this might lead to disruptions to policymaking in the Kingdom. The key point, though, is... 23rd January 2015 · 1 min read
China Data Response HSBC/Markit Flash Manufacturing PMI (Jan.) Following stronger-than-expected industrial output growth for December, today's flash manufacturing PMI reading provides a further sign that, although the economy continues to face headwinds from a... 23rd January 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Korea GDP (Q4 Preliminary) Today's advance estimate suggests Korea's economy ended 2014 on a soft note, with growth slowing to a seasonally-adjusted 0.4% q/q in Q4 from 0.9% the quarter before. However, growth should rebound in... 23rd January 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update QE meets expectations, but won’t work miracles The ECB’s much-anticipated quantitative easing programme appears to have met or even exceeded expectations in terms of size and shape. But we remain sceptical that it will revive the euro-zone economy... 22nd January 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Which central banks will resist the policy-loosening trend? Central banks in several economies have loosened monetary policy this week and there is likely to be further easing to come. However, there are some exceptions among emerging markets, and we still... 22nd January 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update What does QE in the euro-zone mean for commodities? The European Central Bank’s decision to launch a large-scale programme of government bond purchases under quantitative easing (QE) is unlikely to provide a major boost to the prices of global... 22nd January 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update ECB QE and what it means for emerging markets The programme of asset purchases announced by the European Central Bank (ECB) earlier today was larger than had been expected only a few days ago, but fears that it could fuel destabilising inflows to... 22nd January 2015 · 1 min read
US Chart Pack Consumer confidence soaring While financial markets are concerned that the slump in energy prices and the drop back in long-term interest rates partly reflect the weakness of economic growth in Europe and Asia, consumers have no... 22nd January 2015 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Further rate cuts are on the way The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shocked markets earlier this month by cutting its main policy rates at an unscheduled meeting. The accompanying statement also paved the way for further policy... 22nd January 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update What to look for from the ECB today It would be one of the biggest shocks in recent monetary policy history if the European Central Bank (ECB) did not announce some form of quantitative easing (QE) today. But will it live up to... 22nd January 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil’s central bank suggests more hikes to come The big news from yesterday’s central bank meeting in Brazil isn’t the decision to raise interest rates to a three-year high of 12.25% - this was expected by pretty much everyone. Instead, the major... 22nd January 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Bank of Canada shocks markets with rate cut The Bank of Canada shocked markets this morning by lowering its policy interest rate from 1.00% to 0.75%, in response to the collapse in oil prices that now threatens the outlook for economic growth... 21st January 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Danish central bank needs to do more to defend euro peg The viability of Denmark’s currency peg with the euro has been called into question following the Swiss National Bank’s decision to abandon its exchange rate ceiling. We think that the Danish peg will... 21st January 2015 · 1 min read
US Fed Watch Patient Fed now unlikely to raise rates until mid-year While the strength of real economic growth and employment suggest that the Fed should begin to raise rates very soon, the mixed news on wages, the lack of any pick-up in core inflation and recent... 21st January 2015 · 1 min read