Nordic & Swiss Data Response Swedish CPI (Oct. 14) The rise in Sweden’s headline inflation rate in October will do little to dispel fears that the country is succumbing to a damaging bout of deflation and will maintain pressure on the Riksbank to... 11th November 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Will negative yields render ECB QE useless? Any optimism surrounding the ECB’s progress towards QE has been dulled by concerns that the already low level of yields on many assets will make the policy ineffective. But there is still scope for QE... 10th November 2014 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Falling commodity prices to keep inflation subdued The recent sharp falls in local food and global oil prices are likely to have kept both consumer and wholesale price inflation subdued in October. This would strengthen our view that the RBI is likely... 10th November 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly What will trigger ECB QE and when? The ECB suggested last week that preparations are finally underway to launch full-blown quantitative easing. It seems that action will be triggered by either of two factors: evidence that existing... 7th November 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russia’s central bank to be forced into further rate hikes The continued slide in the ruble is likely to force the Central Bank of Russia into making a one-off intervention in the currency market, permitted under its new exchange rate policy, rather more... 7th November 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB’s Draghi signals QE is imminent Today’s statement from Mr Draghi that ECB staff are preparing further monetary policy measures provided the firmest support yet for our long-held view that the Bank will implement full-blown... 6th November 2014 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Naira’s decline increases chance of a rate hike The sharp fall in the Nigerian naira today probably reflects reduced intervention by the central bank, and increases the probability that policymakers will raise interest rates later this month. We... 6th November 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Case for rock-bottom rates remains strong for now With inflation easing and uncertainty about the economic outlook growing, the MPC’s decision to keep Bank Rate at 0.5% looks set to be repeated for a few more months. And while the MPC will not wait... 6th November 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Chart Pack Growth is slowing (but not collapsing) Global growth appears to have softened at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The stagnation in the euro-zone has continued and Japan has still not recovered from the effects of April’s consumption... 6th November 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia’s policy rate to stay on hold until mid-2015 Against a backdrop of softer domestic growth and weakening exports, the Malaysian central bank (BNM) unsurprisingly kept its policy rate on hold at 3.25% today. As the accompanying statement took on a... 6th November 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Significant slowdown still looks unlikely Fears that the UK’s economic recovery is rapidly losing steam appear largely overblown. Admittedly, the Markit/CIPS Composite PMI, which weights together the headline indices for the manufacturing... 5th November 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Polish central bank governor shifts emphasis to growth Following the surprise decision to leave interest rates on hold today, when most had expected a 25bp cut, Governor Belka didn’t close the door on further easing. But he did shift the emphasis onto... 5th November 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Bank lending still a major drag on growth The latest data have shown tentative signs of improvement in the euro-zone banking sector, with the pace of contraction in lending slowing slightly in September (see Chart) and the Bank Lending Survey... 5th November 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Returning presidents dent hopes for reform Dilma Rousseff’s triumph in last month’s Brazilian presidential election made it a hat-trick of victories for incumbents in Latin America this year. Meanwhile, in Uruguay the Frente Amplio party is on... 5th November 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Sedlabanki cuts rates but may tighten next year Iceland’s central bank unexpectedly cut its main interest rate to 5.75% today, the first change in two years, as it lowered its inflation and growth forecasts. But we think it may have to reverse... 5th November 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thailand's monetary policy to stay accommodative With the economic recovery still in the slow lane, the Bank of Thailand (BoT) unsurprisingly held its policy rate at 2.0% at its meeting today. As inflation is unlikely to emerge as a major policy... 5th November 2014 · 1 min read