BoE Watch Brexit uncertainty to keep MPC on hold for a while yet Weaker-than-anticipated inflation, lingering uncertainty in global financial markets and concerns about the impact that the EU referendum is having on the real economy means that this month’s interest... 7th April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Focus Is the grass greener in Tokyo? We expect Tokyo’s economy to outperform the rest of Japan in coming years, largely because demographic prospects in the capital are brighter. One consequence is that house prices in Tokyo should... 7th April 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: Fuel crisis another blow to struggling economy Government efforts to end Nigeria’s fuel shortage offer a temporary reprieve rather than a lasting solution. Without structural reforms, the economy will continue to be battered by recurrent crises. 6th April 2016 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Economy weathering Brexit uncertainty reasonably well We have already written about how Brexit uncertainty is affecting financial markets, with the pound in particular coming under pressure. But it is harder to find concrete evidence that the looming EU... 6th April 2016 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Peru’s election unlikely to mark shift in economic policy The run-up to Peru’s presidential election on Sunday 10th April has been overshadowed by concerns about the neutrality of the country’s electoral authorities. But, whatever the eventual outcome, the... 5th April 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (Feb.) & Final PMIs (Mar.) February’s euro-zone retail sales data point to strong consumer spending growth in Q1, but we doubt that this will be sustained. And the downward revision to March’s Composite PMI added to signs that... 5th April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Focus Will the Philippines continue to grow strongly after Aquino? Much is at stake as the Philippines prepares to go to the polls on 9th May. The current president, Benigno Aquino, who is forbidden from standing again, deserves much of the credit for turning the... 5th April 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greece/IMF spat underlines fragility of bailout The public spat between Greece and the IMF underlines the fragility of the country’s latest bailout deal and demonstrates that its long-term future inside the currency union is still far from assured... 4th April 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update What are the chances of a deal in Doha to freeze oil output? Comments from a leading Saudi Arabian official on Friday have led markets to reassess the prospect of a deal being done in Doha later this month to freeze OPEC and Russian oil production. In our view... 4th April 2016 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi Prince’s comments don’t indicate major change Comments today by Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in an interview with Bloomberg confirm our view that Saudi policymakers are comfortable with a period of low oil prices. What’s... 1st April 2016 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Markit/CIPS Report on Manuf. (Mar.) Another dismal UK Markit/CIPS manufacturing survey suggests that the sector is still struggling to put its troubles last year behind it. But the manufacturing sector’s prospects should begin to look... 1st April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Tankan (Q1) The pronounced drop in the headline index of today’s Tankan survey underlines that the recent strengthening of the yen has damaged business confidence and suggests that the Bank of Japan will announce... 1st April 2016 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update How big a threat does rising populism pose to globalisation? Growing support for populist politicians and political parties in a number of countries has fuelled fears that the global economy is set for an era of greater protectionism. But while world trade is... 31st March 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Cypriot success story comes with caveats Cyprus’ exit from its bailout and budding economic recovery are good news. But major challenges lie ahead in addressing non-performing loans and generating growth outside the financial services sector... 31st March 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update State elections take centre stage The raft of upcoming state elections in India are likely to have an important bearing on economic policy at the local level. But perhaps more significant, the outcome of the state elections could be... 31st March 2016 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Is there still a “Brexit premium” on UK assets? Despite the recent recovery in most UK markets, there is still evidence that they are bracing themselves for a possible Brexit. Accordingly, we think there is scope for markets to move significantly... 30th March 2016 · 1 min read
