China Economics Update Partial RRR cut illustrates reluctance to ease policy Details just published on the People’s Bank website about the targeted required reserve ratio cut that was first announced in late May underline how reluctant policymakers remain to pursue across-the... 9th June 2014 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Policymakers still resisting calls for broad stimulus In the past few weeks, policymakers have adopted an approach to supporting the economy that is the opposite of that followed in 2008. Then, banks were encouraged to flood the economy with credit. Now... 9th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly ECB still at the back of the pack While the ECB made a number of announcements last week, the policies involved are not as bold as they might seem. The interest rate cuts were clearly tiny and the decision not to sterilise bond... 9th June 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly What has the ECB done for us? On the face of it, the new policy measures unveiled by the European Central Bank (ECB) last week should have positive effects on the UK’s principal trading partner and hence on the UK’s own growth... 9th June 2014 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly The deleveraging process is largely over The bulk of the necessary deleveraging process, especially in the private sector, appears to have been completed. This means that when the Fed starts to raise interest rates in the middle of next year... 9th June 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Focus Can macro-prudential policies prevent bubbles? If policy-makers hope that macro-prudential measures alone will prevent asset price bubbles from occurring, they may well be disappointed. In principle, these regulations should be able to dampen... 6th June 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update BCB’s inflation headache goes from bad to worse The larger-than-expected rise in Brazil inflation in May leaves it on course to breach the upper bound of its target range over the coming months. This would be a major blow to the central bank... 6th June 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update The ECB and what it means for Central & Eastern Europe Yesterday’s move by the ECB is another reason to think that monetary policy in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) will remain loose for longer than most people expect. However, the impact of the ECB’s... 6th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB finally tackling deflation risks, but needs to do more The ECB unveiled an array of policies to boost bank lending and counter deflationary risks today. But there are uncertainties over how effective these policies will be. And while it is good news that... 5th June 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Still no pressing need to tighten While the strength of the economic recovery may have pushed one or two MPC members closer to voting to raise interest rates at today’s meeting, we still think that the benign inflation outlook and a... 5th June 2014 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Bank of Canada retains neutral bias The Bank of Canada retained its neutral rate bias in its latest policy statement and emphasised that, although core inflation has turned out slightly firmer than expected, it is more concerned than... 4th June 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Polish MPC strikes a more dovish tone The Polish National Bank’s Governor, Marek Belka, was more dovish at this afternoon’s post-meeting press conference, and didn’t rule out the possibility of a cut in interest rates this year. However... 3rd June 2014 · 1 min read
US Economics Update A new measure of labour availability A new measure of the availability of labour places another question mark over the Fed’s belief that there is much more slack in the labour market than the unemployment rate suggests. This supports our... 3rd June 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rate cuts unlikely any time soon in India The central bank left interest rates unchanged today, as expected. Looking ahead, rate cuts are unlikely any time soon despite subpar economic growth as consumer price inflation remains high. 3rd June 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia set for an extended period of low rates The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left its policy rate unchanged at 2.5% today, and once again said that it does not expect to make any changes in the near term. Given that the economy is likely to... 3rd June 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (May 14) Although the latest figures showed further signs of subdued growth in broad money and particularly bank lending, we doubt that this is a sign the economic recovery will lose steam soon. Indeed, it... 2nd June 2014 · 1 min read
