Africa Chart Pack Africa: IMF takes centre stage Events this month have underlined the continuing importance of the IMF for many economies across Africa. On 6 th April the government of Angola requested an IMF bailout to help stabilise an economy... 28th April 2016 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Surge in net external debt a long-term negative for dollar Although the current account deficit remains well below the peak reached in 2006, net external debt has soared to more than 40% of GDP, up from only 10% a decade ago. The external debt burden is still... 27th April 2016 · 1 min read
China Economics Update How long will the rebound continue? Stimulus that is already in the pipeline should sustain China’s economic recovery to near the end of the year. But policymakers are more aware than in the past of the damage that excessive stimulus... 27th April 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Mar.) March’s euro-zone monetary data suggest that economic growth remains fairly slow . While the ECB has since expanded its stimulus measures, we doubt that this will boost money and lending growth... 27th April 2016 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Global monetary conditions still loose Broad money and credit have been expanding steadily in most major advanced economies in recent months. They should continue to hold up well for the foreseeable future as global monetary policy will... 26th April 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Will bank worries prevent further ECB rate cuts? 22nd April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update No cuts in Indonesia likely until new policy rate comes into force With Bank Indonesia (BI) having announced on Friday that it is planning to replace its main policy rate because the current rate has little influence over commercial banks’ lending rates, a fourth... 21st April 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Why Ukraine still needs the IMF At first sight, the sharp fall in Ukraine’s current account deficit over the past few years suggests that the economy’s external vulnerabilities have diminished significantly. But that masks the fact... 19th April 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greece’s first bailout review still not a done deal The protracted and difficult negotiations surrounding the first review of Greece’s third bailout underline the challenges that still lie ahead for Greece, its creditors and the euro-zone’s... 18th April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update More than meets the eye to new Bank Indonesia policy rate Bank Indonesia today unveiled some adjustments to its policy regime which it hopes will prompt commercial banks to lower their lending rates. If the moves are a success, they should lead to an... 15th April 2016 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Brexit fears not weighing heavily on bank lending It is generally accepted that the main channel through which uncertainty ahead of the EU referendum will hit the economy is the negative impact on business investment. But on the whole, last week’s... 15th April 2016 · 1 min read
China Data Response Q1 GDP, March Activity & Credit While GDP growth edged down in Q1, there are at least signs in the more recent data that momentum was improving going into this quarter. With monetary and fiscal conditions still being loosened and... 15th April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update What is the end-game for Japan’s debt problem? If the end-game for Japan’s public debt problem is direct financing of the budget deficit by the Bank of Japan, this could be a step towards a solution rather than the disaster that many assume... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Is consumer spending about to take off? Following years of weakness, there are signs that private consumption in India is finally finding its feet. Cyclical factors such as looser monetary policy should help to support the nascent recovery... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Mar.) While corporate debt has been broadly stable relative to output in recent years, firms have never been in a better position to service their debt as interest rates have collapsed and profits have... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read