Bank of Japan Watch Policy Board to take stock and reassess its options The Bank of Japan’s Policy Board meeting next week is likely to be uneventful in so far as we are don’t expect to see any change in the asset purchase program. Nonetheless, it may still be important... 17th May 2012 · 1 min read
US Economic Outlook Recovery looks to be on firmer ground The US recovery looks to be on firmer ground, despite the mounting crisis in the euro-zone. We anticipate GDP growth of 2.0% this year and 2.5% in 2013. 17th May 2012 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update From currency wars to interest rate wars Not content with waging a “currency war” against the rest of the world, Brazil’s government is now doing battle with its own banks over the high interest rates charged on loans to consumers and... 17th May 2012 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Bank of England Inflation Report (May) May’s Bank of England Inflation Report struck a gloomy tone, suggesting that sticky inflation is preventing the MPC from doing anything to offset the deterioration in the growth outlook. However, we... 16th May 2012 · 1 min read
US Economics Focus Presidential election may make QE3 even less likely A look back at history throws cold water over suggestions that the Fed tends to alter its behaviour ahead of Presidential elections. Nonetheless, with political hostility towards the Fed currently... 15th May 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Will the Reserve Bank‘s support for the rupee succeed? We doubt that the Reserve Bank of India’s recent efforts to prop up the rupee will succeed. However, this may be a good thing, as India would benefit from a more competitive currency. 14th May 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysian central bank is playing a waiting game Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left its policy rate unchanged at 3% today, as expected. There have been signs of a slowdown in the economy in early 2012, and low inflation gives BNM room to cut. We still... 11th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Q1 GDP data should impress – but can it last? The raft of Q1 GDP data due to be released over the coming weeks will confirm that, having been on the brink of a crisis towards the end of last year, most economies in Emerging Europe have since... 10th May 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update QE3 likely later this year Today’s decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to pause its programme of asset purchases shows that the Committee is putting greater weight on the recent stickiness of inflation than the poor... 10th May 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea inflation worries to dissipate The Bank of Korea (BoK) kept its policy rate at 3.25% today, as expected. Given that inflation is in retreat and concerns for the global economy are on the rise, we think the BoK’s stance will soon... 10th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Is this Poland’s “ECB moment”? The post-MPC press conference did not provide much clarity on whether this morning’s surprise hike in Polish interest rates was a one-off event or the start of a new tightening cycle. On balance, we... 9th May 2012 · 1 min read
BoE Watch MPC won’t pause for long The recent weakness of the activity data has made this week’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decision much trickier than looked to be the case a few weeks ago. On balance, we think that the Committee... 8th May 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Is expropriation a risk in Asia? Recent developments in Latin America have raised concerns in some quarters that the region could be set for another wave of nationalisations. The level of protection offered to foreign investors is... 7th May 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly A tricky decision for the MPC Last week’s weak bank lending figures, as well as the softer business surveys for April, have intensified the dilemma facing the MPC ahead of its policy decision on Thursday. For now, we think that... 7th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Balance tips in favour of Polish rates staying on hold It remains a close call, but we think that the weaker run of data over the past couple of weeks has tipped the balance in favour of Polish interest rates being kept on hold at next week’s MPC meeting... 4th May 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB: 'Austerity' wins the day The ECB held its main refinancing rate at 1% today but perhaps more interestingly, appears to have favoured the path of ‘austerity’ in the euro-zone region. Developments on inflation were deemed to be... 3rd May 2012 · 1 min read
