Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt refrains from hiking interest rates The Egyptian central bank’s decision to hold interest rates today came as a surprise, but with the country still on the brink of a full-blown balance-of-payments crisis we would not be surprised if... 9th May 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Waiting for Carney The Monetary Policy Committee’s continued inaction shows it has limited appetite for helping the economy to break out of its current insipid state. Upon his arrival in July, Mark Carney may have his... 9th May 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Further rate cuts in Korea likely by year-end The Bank of Korea unexpectedly cut interest rates today amid fears over the strength of the global economy and concerns about the weakness of the Japanese yen against the won. Low inflation means... 9th May 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Further cut in Polish rates looks likely Following today’s cut in Polish interest rates, Governor Belka was guarded in his comments about whether further policy easing is on the cards. But with inflation likely to fall further below the Bank... 8th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Norges Bank will be forced into a cut by end-2013 The Norges Bank left interest rates unchanged today as concerns about rising household debt once again outweighed the need to weaken the currency and boost inflation. But our expectation for the euro... 8th May 2013 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Is the euro vulnerable to a shift in ECB policy? Last Thursday’s cut in the ECB’s refinancing rate and hints from the central bank’s President that the deposit rate could be reduced below zero have weighed on the euro. But the fall in the exchange... 8th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Can the ECB make negative rates work? The ECB appears to have concluded that it can limit the adverse side-effects of imposing negative interest rates on commercial banks’ deposits. But even if this is the case, negative rates are not... 8th May 2013 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Norges Bank will be forced into a cut by end-2013 The Norges Bank left interest rates unchanged today as concerns about rising household debt once again outweighed the need to weaken the currency and boost inflation. But our expectation for the euro... 8th May 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Kenyan rates unlikely to fall further The Central Bank of Kenya cut its benchmark interest rate by a larger-than-expected 100bp to 8.50% today but, with inflation having bottomed out and the current account deficit still a cause for... 7th May 2013 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazilian consumers starting to feel the strain The recent slump in retail sales in Brazil probably overstates the true weakness of consumer spending. Nonetheless, putting to one side the volatility of the monthly data, there are signs that Brazil... 7th May 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economic Outlook The squeeze continues The squeeze on consumers’ real pay will intensify even further over the next few months. Thereafter it should abate, although sub-par rates of spending growth are likely to continue for some time. 7th May 2013 · 1 min read
BoE Watch King unlikely to get his way before he leaves Mervyn King looks unlikely to get his wish for more asset purchases fulfilled before he leaves at the end of June. Hopes therefore rest on Mr Carney spurring the Committee into action when he arrives... 7th May 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia likely to cut its policy rate again The Reserve Bank of Australia cut its cash rate by 25bp to 2.75% at its policy meeting today. We expect it to cut again before the end of Q3 to compensate for a cooling mining boom. 7th May 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update India set to take a more cautious approach to rate cuts Today's policy rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to be the last for several months. We think the RBI will pause to assess the impact of the 75bp of rate cuts seen so far this year... 3rd May 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Romania signals rate cuts Romanian policymakers provided pretty clear signs this afternoon that they plan to start easing policy. They were ambiguous on the timing, but we think that interest rate cuts could come once... 2nd May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB rate cut will be of limited use The ECB’s widely anticipated interest rate cut should provide troubled banks in the region’s periphery with some much-needed support. But it will not be enough to drag the euro-zone out of recession... 2nd May 2013 · 1 min read
