UK Housing Market Update Rising interest rates don’t signal a credit crunch We don’t think the surge in high-LTV interest rates signals an incoming credit crunch. Rather, it probably reflects lenders prioritising demand from less risky borrowers. As the surge from pent-up... 18th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Nordic & Swiss Central Bank Watch SNB to hold again; Norges Bank set for hawkish shift We expect the Swiss National Bank and the Norges Bank to both leave their policy settings unchanged next Thursday (24th September). But while the former will no doubt sound as dovish as ever... 17th September 2020 · 6 mins read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi consumer resilience unlikely to last Consumer spending in Saudi Arabia seems to have bounced back quickly in recent months, but the steep VAT hike and the suspension of the Cost of Living Allowance means that this is unlikely to be... 16th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Nordic & Swiss Central Bank Watch Riksbank to keep policy settings on hold next week After a tweak-laden last policy meeting, the Riksbank is likely to maintain the status quo next Tuesday (22nd September). While there is no burning platform for policy change, we think that the next... 15th September 2020 · 5 mins read
China Data Response Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Aug.) Broad credit growth hit its highest level in two and a half years as growth in direct financing and shadow credit picked up amid steady bank lending. We think that this acceleration has further to run... 11th September 2020 · 2 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Business investment plunging, money supply soaring Revised data show a slump in business investment in Q2 and we believe that capital spending won’t recover until next year. By contrast, the money supply is going from strength to strength. With around... 11th September 2020 · 6 mins read
India Economics Update What next for government borrowing costs? The use of traditional monetary policy tools alongside financial repression will keep government borrowing costs in India in check over the coming years. That should help to ensure that only modest... 9th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Slump in the Russian ruble has further to run The Russian ruble looks set to lose further ground over the coming months as geopolitical tensions and the threat of international sanctions ratchet up. We expect the ruble to drift towards 80/$ by... 8th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Update Australia - Stealth QE doesn’t let RBA off the hook Proposals by the banking regulator and the RBA that banks will need to hold more government bonds could be interpreted as financial repression. However, the surge in the outstanding stock of... 8th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Emerging Markets Financial Risk Monitor Spate of financial crises avoided, but hangovers loom Most major EMs have managed to avoid acute balance of payments, banking sector and sovereign debt problems so far this year. But pockets of vulnerability remain. In particular, the risk of another... 4th September 2020 · 8 mins read
Asia Economics Update Is Bank Indonesia’s independence under threat? Proposed changes to Bank Indonesia’s mandate, which include a shift to focus more on growth and unemployment, could lead to major changes in how the central bank operates. However, given the country’s... 2nd September 2020 · 3 mins read
Latin America Economics Update A closer look at Argentina’s debt deal The completion of a deal to restructure almost all $66.2bn of Argentina’s international sovereign bonds will give the government some much-needed breathing space over the coming years, as will an... 1st September 2020 · 4 mins read
UK Data Response Money & Credit (Jul.) July’s money and credit data confirm the resurgence in the housing market while recovering consumer credit suggests that households’ appetite for big ticket purchases is returning. 1st September 2020 · 2 mins read
Japan Economics Update BoJ’s T-Bill purchases yet to boost the money supply The Bank of Japan’s recent purchases of Treasury Bills have yet to feed through into the money supply as the government’s deposit account at the Bank has ballooned. That will provide a further boost... 31st August 2020 · 2 mins read
Latin America Economics Weekly Argentina & the IMF, Banxico’s mixed signals Argentina’s government formally requested talks with the IMF over a new financing deal this week, but the conditions likely to be demanded by the Fund could prove to be a major sticking point... 28th August 2020 · 7 mins read
China Chart Pack Recent stimulus has set back domestic rebalancing The consumption share of GDP had edged up in recent years, but that progress has been reversed by the COVID-19 stimulus response, which has focused on boosting investment. The consumption share should... 27th August 2020 · 11 mins read
