UK Economics Update A welcome step, but still much more to do The details of the Bank of England’s latest measures to tackle the problems in the credit markets should ease some of the concerns surrounding the potential risks for taxpayers and possible... 21st April 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Bank of England initiative no substitute for further rate cuts Sentiment towards the financial sector has been helped this week by speculation of a new initiative from the Bank of England to free-up the money markets in the UK. However, the acid test is whether... 17th April 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Housing and the credit crunch in Europe There are growing concerns that the credit crunch could trigger a sharp downturn in European housing markets with significant adverse effects on the wider economy. But while euro-zone house price... 17th April 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Rate cuts are reducing aggregate mortgage payments The rise in mortgage payments facing borrowers coming off fixed rate mortgages has fuelled talk of monetary policy “pushing on a string”. In fact, the fall in payments of households with tracker or... 16th April 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Rate cuts are reducing aggregate mortgage payments The rise in mortgage payments facing borrowers coming off fixed rate mortgages has fuelled talk of monetary policy “pushing on a string”. In fact, the fall in payments of households with tracker or... 16th April 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Auction results suggest that Bank has more work to do The relatively subdued demand for today’s Bank of England auction of three month money may not mean that banks do not want extra cash, rather that they are unable to get their hands on it. Either way... 15th April 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update How worried should we be about German banks? The recent stream of write-downs by German banks might look like a worrying sign that the crisis in financial markets is set to have a devastating impact on the economy. But there are a number of... 8th April 2008 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Focus How strong are Emerging Europe's banks? We do not expect Emerging Europe to suffer a major banking crisis despite the recent collapse of major Western institutions such as Bear Stearns and Northern Rock. But while there is scope for the... 3rd April 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Bank's new auctions are no silver bullet The Bank of England’s announcement that it will inject more liquidity into the money markets is a welcome development that should help to bring interbank interest rates down to more normal levels. But... 11th March 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update End of 100%+ LTVs to dent household good sales The popularity of mortgages with loan to value ratios (LTVS) of over 100% appears to have been a strong support to household goods sales over the past year or so. The decline in these products is... 10th March 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update End of 100%+ LTVs to dent household good sales The popularity of mortgages with loan to value ratios (LTVS) of over 100% appears to have been a strong support to household goods sales over the past year or so. The decline in these products is... 10th March 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Rising LIBOR means that the MPC will have to work harder The recent renewed rise in interbank lending rates is an unwelcome development which means that the MPC will have to work harder to support economic activity. This supports our view that interest... 4th March 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Corporates face tighter credit conditions across the board Attention has focused on the fact that credit conditions are tightening for even non-subprime households. However, corporates are suffering too. Not only have banks tightened their lending conditions... 4th March 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus How hard will the credit crisis hit the City? We estimate that two thirds of the financial and business services (FBS) sector – or one fifth of the total economy - will be directly adversely affected by the recent turmoil in financial markets. We... 28th February 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Chancellor to confess to breaking the rules As Northern Rock’s £100bn of liabilities have already been taken onto the Government’s books, nationalisation does not change anything from an accounting point of view. However, it does mean that the... 18th February 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Northern Rock another blow to the public finances The decision by National Statistics to take Northern Rock onto the Government’s books may not necessarily break the Government’s Sustainable Investment Rule. Nonetheless, it clearly deals another blow... 7th February 2008 · 1 min read
