Global Economics Update China and the SDR: fuss about nothing Reports that the IMF has decided not to add the renminbi to the SDR basket until September 2016 at the earliest miss two more important points. First, China’s currency may not be added to the basket... 20th August 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greek bailout approved, but implementation doubtful The German Parliament’s approval of the third Greek bailout should prompt payments allowing Greece to narrowly avoid default yet again. But Grexit risks have not disappeared and are likely to flare up... 19th August 2015 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Gold price to be supported by central banks’ buying In the last month, China has added a further 19 tonnes to its official holdings of gold. This supports our view that China’s gold accumulation will continue and that official purchases will be one of... 18th August 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Has bank lending turned a corner? The sharp slowdown in bank lending to the private sector over the past four years appears to have bottomed out, as cuts to policy rates gradually feed through to commercial banks’ lending rates. But... 18th August 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Greek GDP (Q2, Prov.) Q2’s Greek GDP figures brought some rare good news. But they relate to an entirely different economy than the one currently being strangled by capital controls. 13th August 2015 · 1 min read
China Data Response Activity & Spending (Jul.) July’s weaker-than-expected activity and spending data will undoubtedly add to speculation that policymakers are trying to engineer a sustained devaluation of the renminbi in order to shore up growth... 12th August 2015 · 1 min read
DM Markets Chart Pack How has the lower oil price affected US credit spreads? It is tempting to interpret the recent increase in the average spread of US corporate bonds over Treasuries as a sign that the economic recovery is faltering. However, the increase appears to have... 11th August 2015 · 1 min read
China Data Response Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Jul) The recent rebound in broad credit growth accelerated last month. With the impact of looser monetary policy still feeding through, we see further upside for credit growth in the months ahead which... 11th August 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Renovation tax credit would only worsen housing excesses The Conservative campaign pledge to introduce a new home renovation tax credit if elected this autumn is possibly more misguided than the NDP and Liberal pledges to raise taxes during a recession... 10th August 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Massive economic damage means Grexit still likely The scale of the damage done to the Greek economy by the country’s renewed crisis and imposition of capital controls looks set to be far worse than the provisional plans for a third bailout envisaged... 3rd August 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Conditions to stay loose despite looming Fed hikes Even though the US Fed is likely to begin raising interest rates in September, global monetary conditions are set to remain ultra-loose over the coming years as a number of other central banks ease... 31st July 2015 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Update Looser credit conditions will support mortgage recovery Most evidence suggests that credit conditions are loosening, albeit very gradually. As it becomes clearer that the housing and wider economic recoveries are strong enough to cope with a gradual rise... 29th July 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Household Borrowing Monitor (Jun.) June’s money and credit figures showed a further pick-up in lending to households and the housing market recovery regaining some momentum. But there is little to suggest that consumers are embarking... 29th July 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil’s credit bubble deflating, consumers feel the squeeze A combination of increases in policy interest rates and curbs on lending by some public banks is taking some of the air out of Brazil’s credit bubble. So far it seems that the bubble is deflating... 28th July 2015 · 1 min read