Europe Economics Update Macron’s labour reforms now look more achievable Centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his proposals to overhaul the French labour market in last night’s head-to-head television debate with his rival Marine Le Pen. While his... 4th May 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Focus Will Korea’s election put the economy on a new path? In addition to the growing geopolitical crisis on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea’s next president, who will be elected on 9 th May, will face a mounting number of economic challenges, including... 4th May 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Has Marine Le Pen gone soft on “Frexit”? National Front presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has often been at pains throughout this election campaign to avoid the topic of a French exit from the European Union and the euro. But this is... 3rd May 2017 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Brexit Watch: EU to confirm negotiating stance Leaders of the EU27 are set to convene in Brussels tomorrow to formally agree Brexit negotiating guidelines. By insisting that sufficient progress is made on a withdrawal agreement before future trade... 28th April 2017 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Activity, Labour Market & Inflation (Mar.) Despite sharp falls in “core” household spending and industrial production in March, we expect GDP growth to accelerate from 0.3% q/q in Q4 to 0.7% in Q1. However, there is still no evidence that the... 28th April 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Macron can’t rely on National Assembly support for reforms Even if centrist Emmanuel Macron wins the second round of the presidential election, his En Marche! party almost certainly won’t secure a majority in the National Assembly following June’s legislative... 27th April 2017 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Trump's new tax plan looks a lot like the old one The “new” tax plan that the White House unveiled today looks a lot like President Donald Trump’s old economic plan from the election campaign, with deep cuts to corporate and individual tax rates... 26th April 2017 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Apr.) While the decline in small business confidence in April can largely be attributed to seasonal patterns, the survey remains consistent with a stagnation in industrial output. What’s more, there are no... 26th April 2017 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Sensex rises to record highs Indian equities have rallied over the past few months, with the benchmark Sensex stock index hitting an all-time high in early April. This reflects in part a broader pick-up across most major EM... 25th April 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Macron-Le Pen run-off raises hopes for French revival The opinion polls were right for once and a strong showing for centrist liberal reformer Emmanuel Macron in the first round of the French election has raised hopes of growth-boosting labour market... 24th April 2017 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Brexit Watch: Markets give snap election the thumbs up The positive response of the pound to the surprise announcement of a snap General Election suggests that a larger Conservative majority, and stability in Government over the Brexit implementation... 21st April 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Key questions about the French election After a tumultuous and ultimately nail-biting campaign, French voters head to the polls on Sunday to begin the process of electing their President. The opinion polls suggest that this first-round vote... 21st April 2017 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Will Mr Hammond now “reset” fiscal policy? By freeing the Government from its previous manifesto commitments, the snap general election on June 8th could give the Chancellor Phillip Hammond (if he is still in the position) more elbow room to... 21st April 2017 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Is the pound set for a pre-Brexit rally? The jump in sterling after Theresa May’s surprise announcement of a snap general election has posed the question of whether the pound might defy expectations and rise further as Brexit approaches... 21st April 2017 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Flash Manufacturing PMI (Apr.) The manufacturing PMI remained at a high level in April and suggests that the sector had a strong start to the second quarter. What’s more, there are mounting signs that price pressures are... 21st April 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Quantifying the economic costs of political tensions Fears that last month’s cabinet reshuffle will knock South Africa’s economy off course have dominated the headlines. But it will be some time before we have enough information to fully quantify the... 20th April 2017 · 1 min read
