Asia Economics Update Bank of Japan adds to its armoury Today’s announcement that the Bank of Japan is willing to provide subordinated loans to banks continues the drip-feed of unconventional policy measures it has introduced since October. The latest... 17th March 2009 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Rates still set for record lows despite market turmoil (Mar 09) 17th March 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Swiss National Bank joins the unconventional club The SNB’s decision to cut interest rates to 0.25%, provide more liquidity to the banking sector, intervene in currency markets and purchase bonds from the private sector, pushes it towards the top of... 12th March 2009 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Have Chinese interest rates bottomed out? A surge in lending might increase the chances that Chinese interest rates remain on hold this year, but if the economy remains weak, as we expect, the People’s Bank will still be forced to cut again. 12th March 2009 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update BoK pauses, but rates still heading towards zero The Bank of Korea left the benchmark rate on hold at a historic low of 2% today. But with the economy so weak, we think the central bank will resume cutting soon. We expect that rates will fall close... 12th March 2009 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Swiss National Bank joins the unconventional club The SNB’s decision to cut interest rates to 0.25%, provide more liquidity to the banking sector, intervene in currency markets and purchase bonds from the private sector, pushes it towards the top of... 12th March 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Have Chinese interest rates bottomed out? A surge in lending might increase the chances that Chinese interest rates remain on hold this year, but if the economy remains weak, as we expect, the People’s Bank will still be forced to cut again. 12th March 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update MPC takes a bold step into the unknown Today’s launch of quantitative easing (QE) marked a further significant step in the policymakers’ attempts to prevent the deep recession in the UK economy from turning into something closer to a... 5th March 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update MPC takes a bold step into the unknown Today’s launch of quantitative easing (QE) marked a further significant step in the policymakers’ attempts to prevent the deep recession in the UK economy from turning into something closer to a... 5th March 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB moving towards unconventional policy Following the expected 50bp interest rate cut to 1.5%, the ECB made some broadly encouraging comments about further policy support to come. No plan is in place for quantitative easing, but the Bank... 5th March 2009 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indian central bank still has a lot more work to do The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) decision to cut the key benchmark rate by 50bp today signals its determination to shore up a flagging economy. But with the key rate still relatively high at 5.0% and... 4th March 2009 · 1 min read
Global Markets Focus What does QE mean for government bonds? Quantitative easing (QE) has provided little support for government bonds so far, but regardless of exactly how this policy is implemented we still think that the wider economic and financial... 4th March 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Should the MPC have targets for QE? The uncertainties surrounding the likely quantity and effectiveness of Quantitative Easing (QE) in the UK have led to some suggestions that the Monetary Policy Committee should be set (or set itself)... 4th March 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Just how much QE is enough? With the launch of quantitative easing (QE) apparently imminent, speculation is growing over just how much needs to be done to have a material impact on the economy. While the answer is very uncertain... 3rd March 2009 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Bank of Canada cuts rates & hints at shift to QE With its key interest rate now perilously close to zero it was no surprise that the Bank of Canada (BoC) announced today that next month it will unveil a framework for the possible implementation of... 3rd March 2009 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Reserve Bank of Australia still has work to do Today’s unexpected decision to keep rates on hold reflects the resilience of the Australian economy in the last few months. But with business confidence collapsing and a big correction still to come... 3rd March 2009 · 1 min read
