ECB Watch ECB to downplay early taper talk The ECB’s quantitative easing programme has got off to a solid start with the Bank buying the planned quantity of assets and financial markets responding positively. And with the recovery seeming to... 9th April 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook Most of Emerging Asia set for faster growth Most economies in Emerging Asia are likely to record decent growth over the next couple of years. However, with the pace of expansion in the region’s biggest economy, China, set to ease further in... 9th April 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Hungary’s Sunday trading ban symbolic of reform backsliding The decision taken by the Hungarian government to ban Sunday trading is unlikely to have a major impact on the economy at an aggregate level. But as we explain in this Watch, it may lead to a shift in... 9th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update MPC to leave rates on hold for at least another year The MPC left policy unchanged this month against a backdrop of looming deflation. The recent rise in the pound, weakening in the inflation outlook, softer US news and sharper planned government... 9th April 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Wealth effects in euro-zone and Japan will be small Quantitative easing in the euro-zone and Japan has provided a big boost to equity markets which in turn should bolster household wealth. But barring a major recovery in the housing market, the impact... 9th April 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Assessing the impact of a potential nuclear deal with Iran There are many details that still need to be ironed out, but earlier this month Iran and the West moved another step closer to securing an agreement over Tehran’s nuclear programme. As we explain in... 9th April 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rising financial risks to deter aggressive rate cuts in Korea The Bank of Korea (BoK) held its policy rate at 1.75% today, following a rate cut last month. The slow pace of recovery has raised speculation of further monetary policy loosening, but we think... 9th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economic Outlook Recovery prospects clouded by Greece Recent indicators have brought signs of a renewed recovery in the euro-zone economy, reflecting the beneficial effects of lower oil prices and the decline in the euro exchange rate. But the picture... 8th April 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Chart Pack Global growth to recover after weak Q1 For a second successive year, global GDP growth dropped sharply in Q1 due to a slowdown in the US and China. But business surveys, which may be a better gauge of the underlying health of the economy... 8th April 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Bank of Japan still likely to expand QQE later this month The Bank of Japan left policy settings unchanged today and Governor Kuroda indicated that the Board doesn’t see the need for additional stimulus at the moment. However, Mr Kuroda has a record of... 8th April 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Door for further rate cuts still open Governor Rajan opted not to follow up on March’s rate cut in today’s policy review, with the repo and the reverse repo rates kept on hold at 7.50% and 6.50% respectively. But further rate cuts are... 8th April 2015 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Update RBA misses a chance to weaken the dollar By deciding not to cut interest rates today from the current level of 2.25%, the Reserve Bank of Australia missed an opportunity to achieve the further weakening in the Australian dollar that it so... 8th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Inflation is dead, but should rise again before long For a country that has spent most of its recent history enduring high inflation, the recent release of figures showing that CPI inflation in the UK has now fallen to zero was a watershed moment. What... 7th April 2015 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch BoJ to ease policy at the end of the month Recent data cast doubt on the strength of the economic recovery while inflation continues to slow. With a disappointing Shunto dashing hopes that the tight labour market would result in robust wage... 7th April 2015 · 1 min read
US Data Response Unexpected weakness a temporary blip The well below consensus 126,000 increase in non-farm payrolls in March, particularly when combined with the 69,000 downward revision to earlier gains, will raise fears that the labour market is... 4th April 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Policymakers still have plenty of ammunition Growth looks likely to have slowed sharply in Q1, in spite of recent cuts to the required reserve ratio and benchmark interest rates. This has raised concerns that policymakers are now struggling to... 3rd April 2015 · 1 min read
