Europe Economics Update Is Greece the next Lehmans? The crisis in Greece could pose as big a risk to the global economy and financial markets as the collapse of Lehman Brothers did in September 2008. In some respects the wider fall-out might even be... 28th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Could a banking crisis add to Greek woes? Greek bond yields have continued to surge as doubts remain over whether the euro-zone will actually be able to provide financial support to Greece. But a growing worry is that the ongoing crisis... 15th April 2010 · 1 min read
China Economics Update How strong are speculative inflows? Speculative inflows into China’s economy were weak in the first quarter, but they seem to have picked up in the last few weeks as expectations have strengthened that the renminbi’s appreciation... 12th April 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Bank Lending & Broad Money (Mar.) Just as the surge in bank lending in late 2008 was hardly evidence of strength in Japan's economy, the recent year-on-year declines may not be a sign of renewed weakness. What's more, in contrast to... 12th April 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Who’s been hit hardest by the credit squeeze? On the whole, firms, rather than households, have borne the brunt of the credit squeeze in Emerging Europe. In fact, lending to consumers has already started to pick up in those countries with... 9th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Data Response CIPS/Markit Manufacturing (Mar.) & Credit Conditions Survey (Q1) The latest manufacturing data suggested that the industrial recovery is progressing nicely. But the Bank of England’s credit conditions survey did little to alter our view that a prolonged period of... 1st April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Ireland’s problems still far from over Yesterday’s announcement of a raft of measures aimed to lift the troubled Irish banking sector from its knees, was an important step towards ending the economic slump. But the economy faces other... 31st March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Mar.) More than a year after the Bank of England began its quantitative easing programme, broad money and bank lending are still struggling to rise. The latest worrying development is a renewed drop in net... 29th March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Mortgage Lending (Feb.) Although, perhaps, still artificially weak following the poor weather and the end of the previous stamp duty holiday, today’s mortgage lending data do not inspire confidence that last year’s housing... 29th March 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Credibility lost in the Post The plan to raise the caps on postal savings deposits and life insurance is being interpreted by some as positive for Japanese government bonds (JGBs) and by others as a major threat to the banking... 26th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Mar.) February’s euro-zone money supply figures provided few signs that the ECB’s unlimited provisions of liquidity are prompting much of a pick-up in broad money and bank lending. 25th March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update New lending targets will make little difference The Chancellor appears set to announce new lending targets for the partly-nationalised banks RBS and Lloyds Group in his Budget tomorrow. However, the chances of the new targets significantly... 23rd March 2010 · 1 min read
China Economics Update The view from the ground – Q1 2010 China’s businesses and banks remain confident and do not think the economy is overheating, but consumers are unhappy about prices and reluctant to spend. 16th March 2010 · 1 min read
