UK Economics Focus Firms better placed than consumers to withstand rate rises Debt servicing costs in the corporate sector are even closer to their early 1990s highs than those in the household sector. But there are a number of reasons why higher interest rates and therefore... 24th May 2007 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Focus Japanese rates on hold until August, but risks still on the upside The weakness of the latest CPI and activity data, combined with cautious growth and inflation forecasts from the Bank of Japan, has prompted us to tweak our rate forecasts down slightly. We now expect... 27th April 2007 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Norges Bank won’t wait long to continue tightening Although the Norges Bank unexpectedly kept rates on hold at 4% today, we do not think that this represents a fundamental change in the outlook for Norwegian interest rates ahead. 25th April 2007 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Falling inflation to offset drag on spending from rate rises The outlook for consumer spending this year hinges on which proves to be dominant - higher interest rates or falling inflation. The boost to real income growth from falling inflation should offset the... 20th March 2007 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Falling inflation to offset drag on spending from rate rises The outlook for consumer spending this year hinges on which proves to be dominant - higher interest rates or falling inflation. The boost to real income growth from falling inflation should offset the... 20th March 2007 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response SNB hints that tightening cycle is nearing peak Today’s decision by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to raise the target mid-point for the 3 month Libor by 25bps to 2.25% was fully expected – indeed, the 3 month Libor itself had already reached 2.25%... 15th March 2007 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Norge Bank signals significant further tightenin The Norges Bank hiked interest rates today by 25bps to 4.0%, marking a fourth consecutive move and the ninth step in the tightening cycle which began in June 2005. This also keeps rates a step ahead... 15th March 2007 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Modest growth eases pressure on SNB to hike Data released earlier today showed Swiss GDP growth picking up only slightly in Q4, to 0.5% q/q from Q3’s disappointing 0.4%. The outturn was below the consensus forecast, which had been for arise of... 6th March 2007 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Focus Markets are complacent about upside risks to Japanese rates Most commentators have been quick to dismiss the significance of today’s increase in Japanese interest rates, taking their cue from the apparently dovish statement accompanying the announcement... 21st February 2007 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus When will ECB rates no longer be "low"? The European Central Bank’s stance that euro-zone interest rates are still “low” suggests that it might have to raise them significantly further to contain inflation. But the existence of some spare... 20th February 2007 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Is Monetarism back from the dead? The greater attention devoted to the money supply in recent months does not herald the return of full-bloodied Monetarism as the key foundation of UK economic policy. Rather, it reflects current... 5th February 2007 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Surprise hike by Norges Bank and plenty more to come Today’s surprise hike in interest rates by the Norges Bank lifts the official rate by 25bps to 3.75% andreopens a positive interest rate differential with the euro-zone for the first time in three... 24th January 2007 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Focus Wages pick-up to drive Japan’s inflation and interest rates higher Japanese wage inflation has so far remained subdued despite the downward trend in unemploymentn since 2003. This probably reflects consumer uncertainty over the outlook for the economy, with employees... 24th January 2007 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update SNB signals further rate hikes to come Today’s decision by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to raise the target mid-point for the 3 month Libor by 25bps to 2.0% came as no surprise whatsoever. After all, the press statement accompanying its... 14th December 2006 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Norges Bank signals next move likely to be March The Norges Bank hiked interest rates by 25bps to 3.5% today. This marks the seventh step in thetightening cycle which began in June 2005 and keeps rates tidily in line with those of the euro-zone.(See... 13th December 2006 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Norges Bank signals significant further tightening The Norges Bank hiked interest rates by 25bps to 3.25% today. This marks the sixth step in the tightening cycle which began in August 2005 and keeps rates tidily in line with those of the euro-zone.... 1st November 2006 · 1 min read
