Europe Commercial Property Update Euro-zone office rental values set to grow at strongest rate since 2008 The boost to euro-zone office rents stemming from a pick up in economic growth and employment over the next year or so will be partially offset by high vacancy rates. Nevertheless, the fact that... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Chart Pack Homebuilding finally gets back on track Housing starts surged by 20% m/m to a seven-year high of 1.14m annualised in April, as homebuilders finally put the weather-related difficulties at the start of the year behind them. Looking ahead... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Debt relief is still the key obstacle to a Greek solution Greece and its creditors appear to be inching slowly towards each other on some elements of a potential deal to complete the current bailout. But deciding on and implementing the debt relief clearly... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Global steel demand to struggle again this year Global growth in apparent steel usage was just 0.6% in 2014 and was concentrated in the advanced economies. Consumption in China and a number of other key emerging markets fell. As we expect China’s... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response World Gold Official Reserves (Apr.) Global central banks continued to buy gold for diversification purposes in April. Buying was mostly concentrated among emerging markets’ central banks, with Russia once again particularly active. 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Has food price inflation reached a trough? There are good reasons to think that food price inflation has reached a trough. That said, intense supermarket competition seems unlikely to lift soon, meaning that inflation in the sector could... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Chile Consumer Prices (May) The further decline in inflation in Chile last month means that the annual rate is now right on the upper bound of the target range, having spent over a year above the 4% threshold. The continued fall... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexico elections: a glass half-full Elections in Mexico on Sunday delivered a broadly market-positive result, with the coalition led by the ruling PRI Party retaining its majority in Congress. But while this should ensure that Mexico... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China’s import volumes slip in May China’s commodity import volumes slipped in May but we think this was a temporary dip related to the surge in prices early in the month. We continue to expect industrial metal import demand to rebound... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update MERS raises economic risks in Korea If Asia’s experience with SARS is anything to go by, the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in Korea could have a short-lived but quite sharp negative impact on Korea’s economy. We... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Gold price to benefit from further central bank buying We expect official purchases to be one of several factors that boost gold prices in the next year or two, despite the prospect of tighter US monetary policy and renewed strength in the dollar against... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Oil windfall felt unevenly across EMs The fall in oil prices hasn’t so far been the boon for household spending in the emerging world that might have been expected, but it does appear to have contributed to stronger private consumption in... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Chart Pack Early signs that housing demand is recovering With mortgage interest rates at record lows and wages finally starting to grow it is not surprising that housing market activity and house prices are now picking up. Those supports will remain in... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Spain’s trio of economic tailwinds to fade Spain has benefitted from a trio of temporary tailwinds over the last year: the weaker euro, falling oil prices and a pause in fiscal austerity. So official forecasts may be wrong to assume that the... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Industrial Production & Trade (Apr.) After a disappointing start to the year, April’s German industrial production and trade data both suggested that the economy will pick up steam in Q2. 8th June 2015 · 1 min read