UK Data Response Nat. Accounts, Bal. of Payments (Q3) & MPC mins. (Dec.) The raft of UK data released today did little to improve the prospects for the economy next year, highlighting a number of reasons to be concerned over the sustainability of the recovery. 22nd December 2010 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Bank of Japan looks overseas for salvation The Bank of Japan left policy on hold today, as universally expected, while the accompanying statement lent heavily on hopes of a strong recovery in the rest of the world. The problems at home were... 21st December 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Is the MPC's credibility really in danger? Last week’s November CPI figures showing inflation rising again to 3.3% has prompted further concerns that the Monetary Policy Committee is in danger of losing its anti-inflation credibility. A year... 20th December 2010 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Chilean rates edge higher but future pace of tightening will slow The Central Bank of Chile (CBC) hiked interest rates by 25bps to 3.25% last night, as expected. But the tone of the accompanying statement was less hawkish than in previous months, reinforcing our... 17th December 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Turkey takes a bold step to stem speculative inflows Tonight’s decision by the Central Bank of Turkey (CBRT) to cut its benchmark interest rate by 50bps to 6.5% is a bold step aimed at slowing speculative capital inflows. Ultimately it may have to be... 16th December 2010 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Could the next move in Brazilian rates be down? The incoming administration in Brazil has a historic opportunity to re-balance the policy mix in favour of tighter fiscal policy and looser monetary policy (and a weaker currency). What’s more, there... 16th December 2010 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Further substantial easing to come The Bank of Japan’s Policy Board is unlikely to announce any major policy initiatives at the two-day meeting which concludes next Tuesday. However, we continue to think that the central bank will have... 16th December 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update India's monetary policy tightening to resume soon India’s Reserve Bank (RBI) kept its repo rate unchanged today at 6.25%, as was widely expected. Nevertheless, the monetary policy tightening is not over. The upswing will stay strong in coming... 16th December 2010 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Swedish Riksbank signals more rate hikes to come The Swedish Riksbank responded to the recent strong economic data by raising interest rates today for the fourth time since July. But while further rate hikes are inevitable, we expect monetary policy... 15th December 2010 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Fed sticks to its guns The Fed was always going to leave the size of the second round of quantitative easing (QE2) unchanged today as it is too soon to judge whether it has been a success or a failure. If we are right in... 15th December 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Swedish Riksbank signals more rate hikes to come The Swedish Riksbank responded to the recent strong economic data by raising interest rates today for the fourth time since July. But while further rate hikes are inevitable, we expect monetary policy... 15th December 2010 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Nov.) The rate of decline in our Capital Economics' measure of M3 has eased, while the growth rates of M1 and M2 have picked up again slightly. However, there is nothing here to suggest that inflation is... 14th December 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Monetary policy to get creative in 2011 For much of Emerging Europe growth concerns continue to outweigh inflation worries. Accordingly, monetary policy will remain accommodative in most countries next year. The exception to this is Turkey... 14th December 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus What can euro-zone policymakers do? Euro-zone policymakers face enormous challenges to avoid a near-term financial disaster, reduce governments’ debt burdens in the medium term and foster economic growth. Given the scale of these tasks... 13th December 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly India's Reserve Bank to pause, not stop The Reserve Bank (RBI) will probably keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.25% on Thursday, while the cash reserve ratio will almost certainly be held steady at 6.0% given ongoing tight liquidity... 13th December 2010 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Peruvian rates on hold as currency concerns persist Last night, the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCRP) held interest rates at 3.0% for the third consecutive month. Even though the outlook for inflation is deteriorating, currency concerns are likely to... 10th December 2010 · 1 min read