Metals Watch Solid fundamentals should support lead prices By setting a lower mid-point for the renminbi’s trading band the People’s Bank has sparked speculation that it is embarking on a competitive devaluation of the currency in order to shore up exports... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Trade (Jun.) The widening of the trade deficit in June is likely to be the start of a further deterioration in coming months, thanks to the stronger pound and the weakness of demand in the euro-zone. 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore at 50: facing life after the miracle As Singapore celebrates its 50th anniversary since independence on 9th August, it can look back on a half-century in which it achieved enormous economic success. However, the country goes into its... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Currency depreciation won’t help producers much longer Depreciating producer currencies have played a major role in cushioning mining companies’ margins in recent years. However, with the prices of most precious metals below production costs even in local... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly The “Third Arrow” has slowed to a crawl Prime Minister Abe returned to power in late 2012 with the intention to lift average real GDP growth to 2% by implementing policies at “unprecedented speed”. Despite some success incertain areas... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Bank of Japan likely to ease policy in October While the Bank of Japan today decided to stick to its guns, the recent sharp slowdown in economic activity and the prospect of a prolonged period of near-zero inflation should soon convince... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German, French & Spanish Industrial Production (Jun.) June’s industrial production from the euro-zone’s major economies suggested that next week’s figures on GDP growth in the currency union will reveal a slowdown from the already modest growth rates... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly Our take on the labour market puzzle While our analysis suggests that it is the surprising leap in the unemployment rate in Australia in July that is sending the false signal and not the surprising strength of employment growth, there... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Data Response Turkey & Hungary Industrial Production (Jun.) The faster-than-expected expansion in Turkish industrial production, of 5.5% y/y, in June was, in part, due to a rebound in the auto sector following strikes in May. But overall, this figure adds to... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update What to make of Saudi Arabia’s return to the bond market? Media reports suggesting that the Saudi central bank will issue bonds in greater volumes over the rest of this year have raised fresh concerns about the government’s seemingly relaxed response to the... 6th August 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Weak demand to push soybean prices lower The continued fall in China’s pig herd is likely to undermine soybean demand growth over the second half of the year. Coupled with ample supplies, we think soybean prices will end the year lower. 6th August 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Chart Pack Yield compression takes a breather in Q2 Euro-zone commercial property investment recorded another strong quarter in Q2. Nevertheless, the rate of yield compression slowed sharply, with aggregate euro-zone all property yields declining by... 6th August 2015 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Update How much upside is there for distribution rental values? Distribution warehouse rental value growth hit 2.9%y/y in Q2, a 15-year high. But with output in the distribution sector growing at above-average rates and real rental values more than 10% below a... 6th August 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Czech MPC hints at policy staying loose for longer The Czech MPC kept its policy interest rate and exchange rate ceiling unchanged earlier today, but the Council dropped its strongest hint yet in the accompanying press release that extremely loose... 6th August 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Chart Pack Global growth set to recover further Global growth rebounded in the second quarter and the latest business surveys suggest that it has picked up further at the beginning of Q3. Growing fears of a hard landing in China have weighed on... 6th August 2015 · 1 min read
