Precious Metals Update What are global auto sales telling us about PGM demand? Despite slowing auto sales in China, we believe autocatalyst demand for platinum and palladium will increase by at least 3% in 2015, helping to underpin our positive view on the prices of both metals... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Turkish central bank keeps rates on hold, but hikes on horizon The statement accompanying today’s Turkish central bank decision, at which interest rates were lef tunchanged, made it clear that the MPC isn’t reading too much into June’s much sharper-than-expected... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Iran oil production to rebound to previous levels and more The recent deal between Iran and the Wes tmeans that it is now very likely that substantial volumes of oil from Iran will return to the market. (We note that although a final agreement is not... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Retail Sales (Jun.) The weaker tone of June’s retail sales figures does not alter the big picture that the consumer recovery remains in full swing. And with the UK set to experience another period of “good” deflation... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt’s gas sector reaches a turning point This week’s announcement that Italian energy group Eni has discovered gas reserves in the Nile Delta provides the first concrete evidence that the Egyptian government’s energy reforms are starting to... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update A stronger BDI need not signal higher commodity prices The sharp rebound in the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) since the end of May has been seen by some as a harbinger of a more positive outlook for demand and prices of bulk commodities. However, we would argue... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update New inflation gauges do not alter the outlook for monetary policy The Bank of Japan has started to publish a wider set of inflation measures in its monthly report. With all of them showing inflation well below the 2% target, we think suggestions that this shift... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Korea GDP (Q2 Preliminary) Korea's economy slowed sharply in the second quarter, reflecting the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). But with the worst of the MERS outbreak over, Korea's economy should recover... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Activity weak enough to justify another rate cut The alternative economic indicators that the Reserve Bank of India is now putting more weight on to assess the health of the economy still point to weakness. They will convince policymakers, we think... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External trade (Jun.) While today’s data showed a rebound in export values in June, we think that net trade remained a drag on GDP growth last quarter. 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Update New Zealand - Heading towards 2% The 0.25% reduction in interest rates, to 3.00% from 3.25%, announced by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand today is the second in a series of cuts that we think could take interest rates all the way... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Economic Outlook Economy being dragged down by investment slump The slump in oil prices has already pushed the Canadian economy into a mild recession and things could yet go from bad to worse. Falling energy investment will hit both production and jobs, which will... 22nd July 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Investor sentiment towards commodities tanks Broad-based weakness saw industrial commodity price indices slip between mid-June and mid-July. The S&P GSCI agriculture index bucked the trend, although it too has eased back recently. What’s more... 22nd July 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Outlook Lack of homes for sale will drive house prices higher in 2015 Housing demand is finally responding to a strong economic backdrop and record low mortgage interest rates. But with the numbers of homes for sale at historic lows, that increased demand is feeding... 22nd July 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Steel Production (Jun. 15) World Steel Association (WSA) data for June show a 2.4% y/y decline in global steel output, with falls in most of the largest producers. 22nd July 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report US crude stocks rose last week as another unseasonal increase in commercial inventories was complemented by an addition to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. 22nd July 2015 · 1 min read
