Latin America Economics Update Brazil’s growth model under the spotlight News that Brazil last year overtook the UK to become the world’s sixth largest economy is further evidence, if any was needed, of the continued rebalancing of global economic power towards the... 20th March 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update It’s the levels, stupid! The wide dispersion of growth rates across Emerging Europe masks big differences in the fundamental health of the region’s economies. In this Watch we explain why looking at levels of GDP is a much... 20th March 2012 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly What can be done to boost growth? The Bank of Japan’s extension last week of its program to support growth sectors is unlikely to make a major contribution to lifting Japan’s relatively low potential growth rate of just 0.5%. Although... 19th March 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Does the US still matter to Asia? The recent run of improved data from the US has led us to raise our US GDP growth forecasts for 2012 and 2013. But we believe that improved prospects for the US will make little difference to emerging... 19th March 2012 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexican interest rates still more likely to fall than rise The Mexican Central Bank (BANXICO) left interest rates on hold at 4.5% this afternoon after the outlook for economy brightened. Rates look set to remain on hold for the time being. But while the... 16th March 2012 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update SNB’s support won’t rescue the Swiss economy The Swiss National Bank pledged to maintain its extremely supportive policy stance today, keeping interest rates as close to zero as possible and defending a minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20 per euro... 15th March 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Reserve Bank of India leaves repo rate unchanged The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) left its repo rate unchanged at today’s meeting and took a hawkish tone in its policy statement. Given that measures of activity have picked up recently and inflation... 15th March 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update SNB’s support won’t rescue the Swiss economy The Swiss National Bank pledged to maintain its extremely supportive policy stance today, keeping interest rates as close to zero as possible and defending a minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20 per euro... 15th March 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update New 2012 forecasts for Sri Lanka The central bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) left its repurchase rate on hold at 7.5% today. With the central bank still assessing the impact of a number of major policy changes introduced last month, the... 14th March 2012 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Fed remains cautious The statement released after today's FOMC meeting included a slightly more upbeat assessment of the economic outlook, but the Fed can hardly be accused of acting as a cheerleader for the recovery... 13th March 2012 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Further monetary easing in the pipeline The Bank of Japan’s decision to extend its support for lending to “growth sectors” rather than add to its Asset Purchase Program (APP) today appears to have disappointed some but was the outcome that... 13th March 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Savers’ plight won’t move the MPC Last week marked the third anniversary of official interest rates at just 0.5%. And while there are bound to be both winners and losers, it seems as if no-one is happy about it! 12th March 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Global upturn stays Malaysian central bank’s hand Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) held its policy rate at 3% today, as was expected. Inflation has eased in the last four months, but a general improvement in economic data both at home and abroad has... 9th March 2012 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Peruvian inflation poised to fall further in coming months Peru’s central bank (BCRP) kept interest rates on hold at 4.25% last night, maintaining a resolutely neutral monetary policy bias. Nevertheless, with inflation set to fall back more sharply in the... 9th March 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB puts the ball in governments’ court The ECB struck a downbeat tone at its policy meeting today. But having recently provided massive long-term loans to the banking sector, it is not prepared to offer more support before it has taken... 8th March 2012 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Policy Board on a roll after launch of QE5 The Bank of Japan is likely to have been pleased with the market response to the policy measures it announced in February, especially as neither the additional asset purchases nor the tweaks to the... 8th March 2012 · 1 min read
