Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Oct.) Despite a rise in October, small business confidence still points to stagnant industrial production at best, and the outlook is not any better. 26th October 2016 · 1 min read
US Data Response Conference Board Consumer Confidence (Oct. 16) Despite the decline in the Conference Board index of consumer confidence in October, it is still at a level consistent with annualised consumption growth of more than 2.5%. Furthermore, given that the... 25th October 2016 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update First thoughts on Colombia’s tax reform Colombia’s much-anticipated tax reform bill is impressive and, if passed by Congress, would put the public finances on a more sustainable footing. However, it would create some near-term economic pain... 25th October 2016 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Core price pressures remain elevated Much of the focus both before and after the RBI’s decision to cut the repo rate by 25bp (to 6.25%) in early October has been on the sharp fall in headline inflation over the past couple of months. But... 25th October 2016 · 1 min read
UK Data Response CBI Industrial Trends Survey (Oct. & Q4) The CBI Industrial Trends Survey for October and Q4 suggests that the uncertainty created by the Brexit vote is weighing on the manufacturing sector, but that the fall in the pound will help... 24th October 2016 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Brexit Watch: Higher borrowing won’t deter the Chancellor This week’s economic data broke from the recent upbeat trend, with inflation jumping up and the latest public finances figures highlighting the challenge that the Chancellor faces in the Autumn... 21st October 2016 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly GDP growth boosted by strong export performance The third-quarter GDP figures, due for release late this week, could provide a further boost to Clinton’s chances of winning. Although if our estimate that GDP growth picked up to 2.5% annualised is... 21st October 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Shift away from US could damage Philippines’ economy The Philippines’ shift towards closer ties with China is unlikely to bring many economic benefits to the country. And by upsetting the US there is a risk that President Duterte undermines a much more... 21st October 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Political risks take toll on lira and leu Domestic political risks have taken a toll on Emerging Europe’s two worst performing currencies – the Turkish lira and Romanian leu – over the past month. For the lira, in particular, we think... 21st October 2016 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly How much has the economy slowed? It’s been a long time coming, but we will finally get the official verdict this week on how much economic growth has slowed in the third quarter following the referendum outcome. Encouragingly, the... 21st October 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Reform progress in Indonesia not enough to revive growth Despite the progress Joko Widodo has made in pushing through some important economic reforms during his first two years in office, we see little prospect of a sustained rebound in economic growth in... 21st October 2016 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Update What is driving overseas demand for UK property? The widely held view that the drop in the pound is the primary factor propping up demand for UK property among overseas buyers is not wrong – but it is too simplistic. The fall in sterling will have... 21st October 2016 · 1 min read
Global Economics Focus Can we forecast elections and referendums? The failure of opinion polls or bookmakers to predict the UK’s June vote to leave the EU caught many investors by surprise. However, both polls and betting markets have a reasonable track record in... 19th October 2016 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentina: is Macri already a busted flush? The Argentine government’s recent upward revision to its 2017 budget deficit forecast has added to concerns that President Macri’s reform agenda is already starting to slow after less than a year in... 19th October 2016 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Would a Clinton win really be a boon for the stock market? The conventional wisdom is that a Clinton administration would represent a near seamless continuation of the current Obama administration, but that view could be under-estimating the potential for a... 18th October 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Rise in French unemployment is a worrying sign The recent increase in French unemployment seems unlikely to be reversed rapidly. And while a new government may be elected next year promising job-boosting reforms, its success will be limited by... 18th October 2016 · 1 min read