US Housing Market Data Response Housing Starts (Jan.) With mortgage credit conditions loosening, the labour market on fire and household formation strengthening, January’s decline in housing starts should soon give way to solid gains in homebuilding. 18th February 2015 · 1 min read
Global Markets Focus Is the bull market in US Treasuries over? US Treasuries have come under pressure recently amid signs that the labour market is on fire. But while we think the bull market in government bonds may be over, we expect only a slow grind higher in... 18th February 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Update US natural gas to burn brighter this year A combination of lower production and higher demand means that US natural gas prices should rise over the next few years, regardless of the weather. 18th February 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Strong dollar likely to dent US soybean exports US wheat exports have struggled this year as the rising US dollar reduces competitiveness. We think the same could happen to soybean exports as the South American harvest gets under way. 16th February 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly What could the Bank of Canada do beyond rate cuts? The Bank of Canada's recent focus on the dangers to the economy of low oil prices may well prompt it to cut interest rates again. At only 0.75% now, however, the scope for additional interest rate... 16th February 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Survey of Manufacturing (Dec.) December's stronger than expected gain in manufacturing sales suggests that GDP grew more strongly than we had assumed in that month. We now estimate that fourth-quarter GDP expanded by 2.4%... 13th February 2015 · 1 min read
US Data Response Uni. of Mich. Consumer Confidence (Feb.) The fall in February's University of Michigan consumer confidence index is nothing to be alarmed about. The decline merely reversed the gain in January and, other than that reading last month... 13th February 2015 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Oil price slump bad news for Texas and North Dakota The collapse in crude oil prices does not bode well for Texas and North Dakota, the two key producers of shale oil. These states have experienced a surge in oil production since 2008 and are now... 13th February 2015 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Have Basel III regulations fuelled the rally in US Treasuries? Basel III regulations appear to have increased US banks’ demand for Treasuries and helped to depress yields at the short end of the curve. What’s more, the continued phasing in of the regulations... 13th February 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Chart Pack Bank of Canada to cut interest rates again The slump in oil prices has dramatically altered the outlook for economic growth and inflation. Following the Bank of Canada's surprise move last month to cut its policy rate to 0.75%, from 1.00%... 12th February 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Teranet-National Bank House Prices (Jan.) The Teranet-National Bank index shows that house price inflation slowed to 4.7% in January, from 4.9% in December, which reflects the recent softening in housing activity triggered by the slump in... 12th February 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Don’t expect China, Russia or the US to save Greece Suggestions that China or Russia might come to Greece’s rescue are wishful thinking as it is not in the economic or political interests of either country to do so. Nor is it likely that the US will... 12th February 2015 · 1 min read
US Data Response Retail Sales (Jan.) Even if we ignore the 0.8% m/m drop in January's retail sales, since it was entirely due to a massive 9.3% m/m price-related slump in the value of gasoline station sales, non-gas sales were still only... 12th February 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report Another week of record stock levels and production will disappoint those hoping that last week’s surge in prices was the start of a new bull market. However, the rate of growth of stocks and output is... 11th February 2015 · 1 min read
US Economic Outlook Recent market moves a net positive for GDP growth As a result of the recent slump in crude oil prices and the decline in long-term borrowing costs, we are raising our real GDP growth forecast for 2015 to 3.3%, from 3.0%. The boost to real consumption... 10th February 2015 · 1 min read
US Economics Update NFIB & JOLT surveys highlight labour market strength The latest NFIB and JOLT surveys point to further strong job gains and a pick-up in wage growth. 10th February 2015 · 1 min read
