Europe Economics Update European stress tests nowhere near stressful enough The announcement that fairly detailed stress tests of EU banks will be published later this month brings only limited comfort. The adverse scenario that will be considered is nowhere near adverse... 8th July 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (May), Bank Credit & EWS (Jun) The relapse in machinery orders in May was not quite large enough to conclude that the investment recovery is over before it has really begun, but it is unwelcome. The resilience of sentiment in the... 8th July 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Banking strains won’t ease soon On the face of it, there were some encouraging signs last week that the euro-zone banking system is becoming less reliant on the ECB for funding and is switching to borrowing from more conventional... 5th July 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Jun.) Growth of the Monetary Policy Committee’s favoured measure of the money supply has continued to pick up pace, but we doubt that this means that a strong pick-up in money spending is soon to come. 29th June 2010 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Mortgage Lending (May.) The latest mortgage lending numbers from the Bank of England were little changed from last month, indicating a lending market that remains very subdued. 29th June 2010 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Mortgage Lending (May.) The latest mortgage lending numbers from the Bank of England were little changed from last month, indicating a lending market that remains very subdued. 29th June 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Jun.) May’s euro-zone money supply and bank lending figures suggest that banks remain in no mood to lend, highlighting the need for the ECB to maintain its unconventional policy support measures. 28th June 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Banks still in no position to lend much more Given that the Bank of England has been criticised for not shouting loudly enough about the risks of a banking crisis, the gloomy tone of its latest Financial Stability Report (FSR) is perhaps... 25th June 2010 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Hot inflows not likely to be a major threat With expectations for the pace of future renminbi appreciation low, speculative capital flows into China are unlikely to take off. Even if they do, the People’s Bank is capable of responding... 23rd June 2010 · 1 min read
China Economics Update The view from the ground – Q2 2010 China’s businesses and banks are still confident and do not think the economy is overheating, but consumers are unhappy about prices and wages and reluctant to spend. Mortgage demand is down and few... 17th June 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indonesia aims to manage capital inflows, not stop them Indonesia yesterday joined the regional trend and introduced new measures designed to reduce the volatility of capital flows and encourage foreign investment in longer term financial instruments. The... 17th June 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Region’s banks still facing a tough time Our latest ‘Heat Map’ suggests that pressures on the region’s banks have eased in recent months. Capital levels have been rebuilt and loan to deposit ratios are falling. But familiar vulnerabilities... 16th June 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korea leads the way on capital controls Curbs on capital flows recently announced in Korea are designed to reduce extreme swings in the won and are not an attempt to influence where the currency will move over the long run. Korea is a... 15th June 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Euro-zone banks back in the spotlight The past week’s data have added to concerns that strains in the region’s periphery are spreading to broader economic activity. While business sentiment remains consistent with a continued recovery for... 7th June 2010 · 1 min read
