Europe Economics Update Sedlabanki holds, but will hike later this year Although the Icelandic central bank left its policy rate unchanged today, the Sedlabanki gave a strong indication that it is likely to tighten policy later this year. 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Sedlabanki holds, but will hike later this year Although the Icelandic central bank left its policy rate unchanged today, the Sedlabanki gave a strong indication that it is likely to tighten policy later this year. 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Yellen indicates that the Fed will continue with QE taper The two key takeaways from new Fed Chair Janet Yellen's first congressional testimony on monetary policy is that neither the recent drop off in the pace of employment growth nor the turmoil in... 11th February 2014 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Outlook The recovery will continue to accelerate The commercial property market is in something of a “sweet spot” at present, with improved investor confidence and low interest rates supportive of yield falls, and the growing economy likely to kick... 11th February 2014 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Inflation Monitor (Feb.) Chinese New Year usually delivers a spike in consumer price inflation. This year though, prices have remained unusually subdued. Inflation is unlikely to be of much concern to policymakers at least... 11th February 2014 · 1 min read
US Economics Update How will the Fed's forward guidance evolve? With the unemployment rate falling to 6.6% in January, putting it very close to the Fed's threshold level of 6.5%, new Chair Janet Yellen could use her congressional testimony this week to signal how... 10th February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rajan is laying foundations for long-term growth in India After five months in office, nobody would accuse Raghuram Rajan of keeping a low profile. Rarely has a central bank governor been such a regular fixture in local papers. The global media is also... 10th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly The ECB is too sanguine about monetary problems The euro-zone’s difficult monetary conditions will add to the disinflationary pressures in the region. Admittedly, Mario Draghi suggested last week that temporary factors such as the AQR were... 10th February 2014 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Five challenges for the new Fed Chair In her semi-annual monetary policy testimonies to Congress this week, we expect new Fed Chair Janet Yellen to emphasise that the weak tone of some of the incoming data and the turmoil in emerging... 10th February 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly All change again for the Inflation Report? The likely change to the MPC’s forward guidance alongside next week’s February Inflation Report could result in more changes to the contents of the Report. But the Committee’s inflation forecast... 10th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB will succumb to pressure for more action soon While the European Central Bank (ECB) disappointed hopes of more policy support today, the growing risk of deflation and dovish signals from President Mario Draghi suggest that further action will... 6th February 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Czech Bank hints at end to FX intervention in early 2015 Following today’s Czech rate-setting meeting, Governor Singer commented that the MPC could end its policy of FX intervention to weaken the koruna by early next year. With the economy recovering and... 6th February 2014 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Currency concerns force Bank of Ghana to act The decision by the Bank of Ghana to aggressively hike rates today, combined with the FX restrictions announced yesterday, should bring some temporary relief to the cedi. However, a lack of progress... 6th February 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update MPC on hold for a long time, whatever the new guidance The MPC’s decision to leave policy on hold today was almost certainly the last to be taken under the unemployment-focused forward guidance adopted just six months ago. But whatever replaces it... 6th February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rates to be kept low in the Philippines to support reconstruction Today’s decision by the central bank in the Philippines (BSP) to keep interest rates on hold at a record low of just 3.5% came as no surprise. With the recent increase in inflation likely to prove... 6th February 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update First Polish rate hike still looks some way off Poland’s economic recovery has caused some MPC members to become more hawkish on interest rates. But with inflation likely to remain below target both this year and next, we still think the first rate... 5th February 2014 · 1 min read
