Japan Economics Update For how much longer can the BoJ buy government bonds? While the share of government bonds held by the BoJ has risen sharply since the start of QQE, there are no compelling reasons why the central bank's holdings can’t increase much further. 22nd May 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Will India’s central bank stand in the way of a stronger rupee? With India’s economy set to benefit from the stability provided by the first single-party majority government since the 1980s, an influx of foreign investment should push the rupee higher against the... 21st May 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Sedlabanki on hold, but rates to rise later this year Iceland’s central bank kept interest rates unchanged at 6% at its meeting today, despite raising its medium-term forecasts for GDP growth. We continue to think that the Sedlabanki will have to raise... 21st May 2014 · 1 min read
UK Data Response MPC Minutes (May) & Retail Sales (Apr.) While the minutes of May’s MPC meeting suggested that one or two members may vote to raise interest rates soon, most seem content to leave policy on hold for a good deal longer. Meanwhile, April’s... 21st May 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update July easing seems to be off the table The optimistic tone of recent BoJ communication suggests that the chances of additional stimulus being announced as soon as July, as many had expected, have shrunk substantially. We however continue... 21st May 2014 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Sedlabanki on hold, but rates to rise later this year Iceland’s central bank kept interest rates unchanged at 6% at its meeting today, despite raising its medium-term forecasts for GDP growth. We continue to think that the Sedlabanki will have to raise... 21st May 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Monetary conditions ease further Bond yields and interest rate expectations have declined during the past few weeks. Moreover, our measure of the monetary base in advanced economies has expanded further as the Fed and BoJ have... 20th May 2014 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Modest interest rate hikes still likely in Nigeria The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) kept interest rates on hold at 12.0% today but, with inflation likely to accelerate and the naira likely to come under renewed pressure over the coming months, modest... 20th May 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egyptian pound may fall further as CBE reduces support The fall in the Egyptian pound in recent weeks is significant given that the central bank had maintained a tight grip on the currency over the past year. No official explanation has been provided for... 20th May 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update What role for exchange rate policy? In the majority of advanced economies, policymakers allow the exchange rate to be determined by the currency markets. We think they are likely to continue doing so for the foreseeable future, for... 19th May 2014 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Apr 14.) The rise in the annual growth rate of our measure of the M3* money stock, to a nine month high of 5.8% in April from 5.5% in March, is consistent with the recent rebound in core CPI inflation to... 19th May 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update The “Taper Tantrum” one year on A year on from the start of the so-called “taper tantrum”, in which concerns about the withdrawal of monetary stimulus by the Fed sent shock waves through EM financial markets, the vulnerabilities... 19th May 2014 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch On-target inflation forecasts don't preclude more easing The Bank of Japan will most likely leave policy settings unchanged at the upcoming May meeting, and Board members’ sanguine views on the economy suggest that the chances of additional near-term easing... 19th May 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Is the MPC's view on slack still plausible? May’s Bank of England Inflation Report proved to be a blow for those predicting that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) would signal its intention to raise interest rates soon. The MPC stood by its... 19th May 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Chile: Interest rates on hold for the rest of 2014 The Chilean central bank (BCC) left interest rates unchanged last night and, despite weak economic growth, our long-held view that rates will end the year at 4% looks increasingly likely. Elevated... 16th May 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Focus Is Japan’s private sector ready to releverage? A key aim of the BoJ’s QQE programme is to lower real interest rates in a bid to encourage firms and households to borrow and spend more and thereby eliminate the spare capacity that underpins... 16th May 2014 · 1 min read
