Europe Economics Update Lisbon Treaty rejection could highlight growing divergences A “no” vote in Thursday’s Irish referendum on the EU’s Treaty of Lisbon would put a spanner in the works of the Treaty’s ratification process. Just as importantly, it may add to concerns that the... 11th June 2008 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Focus Romania: a 21st century manufacturing hub? Romania has the potential to become a regional manufacturing hub, but resistance to reform is likely to prevent it from fulfilling its true potential. Accordingly, a much-needed rebalancing of the... 4th June 2008 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Corporate Japan in good shape to weather global slowdown The relative resilience of capital spending in the first quarter survey from the Ministry of Finance supports other evidence that corporate Japan is in much better shape than at similar stages in... 4th June 2008 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Is India turning its back on liberalisation? A surge in populist policies and government interventions has sparked concerns that Asia’s third largest economy is turning its back on liberalisation. The moves follow on from the failure of the... 21st May 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Sarkozy one year on In the year since his election, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has failed to live up to the French public’s great expectations, but he has achieved more than he is given credit for. Provided that he... 6th May 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Berlusconi’s victory unlikely to ease Italy’s woes Silvio Berlusconi’s emphatic victory in the Italian general election ends two months of political uncertainty. But the deteriorating economic outlook and Berlusconi’s poor past stewardship of the... 15th April 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Slump in Spanish business surveys raises risk of recession The sharp fall in the latest indicators of Spanish business activity provides further evidence that the economic slowdown has spread well beyond the housing-related sectors. We maintain our view that... 3rd April 2008 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update No sign of recession or financial crisis in Japan’s Tankan The Bank of Japan's Tankan survey of business conditions in manufacturing was slightly weaker than the median forecasts, but the risks were always on the downside and the actual results are still... 1st April 2008 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update No sign of recession or financial crisis in Japan’s Tankan The Bank of Japan's Tankan survey of business conditions in manufacturing was slightly weaker than the median forecasts, but the risks were always on the downside and the actual results are still... 1st April 2008 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indian civil service pay raise won’t solve corruption, inflation India’s 6th Pay Commission recommendation for generous central government worker pay hikes may have little, if any, impact on constraining corruption in the civil service but it will certainly stoke... 25th March 2008 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Tankan to remain well above recession territory The Bank of Japan’s quarterly “Tankan” survey for March, due next Tuesday (1st April), will almost certainly show that business conditions have deteriorated. However, the markets are already prepared... 25th March 2008 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Tankan to remain well above recession territory The Bank of Japan’s quarterly “Tankan” survey for March, due next Tuesday (1st April), will almost certainly show that business conditions have deteriorated. However, the markets are already prepared... 25th March 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Clothing sales to suffer more heavily this time Today’s gloomy comments from clothing retailer Next about trading conditions over the coming year echo our view that clothing is unlikely to escape as lightly during this slowdown as it did in 2005. 19th March 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Clothing sales to suffer more heavily this time Today’s gloomy comments from clothing retailer Next about trading conditions over the coming year echo our view that clothing is unlikely to escape as lightly during this slowdown as it did in 2005. 19th March 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Zapatero's victory won't change the outlook for Spain Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s victory in Sunday’s general election paves the way for the implementation of a new fiscal package aimed at reviving Spain’s ailing economy. But on its own, this will not... 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
