RBNZ Watch New Zealand - Preparing the ground for rate cuts We expect that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) will use the policy meeting scheduled for Thursday 11 th June and the publication of the accompanying Monetary Policy Statement to further prepare... 4th June 2015 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Finland GDP (Q1 15) Q1 GDP data confirmed that Finland’s economy is still in the doldrums. While we think that growth will pick up later in the year, Finland is likely to be among the euro-zone’s weakest economies in... 4th June 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Chart Pack Flagging economy will prompt more rate cuts The futures market indicates that most investors are now convinced by the Bank of Canada's view that the January interest rate cut will be enough to prevent the economy from being derailed by the... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response International Merchandise Trade (Apr.) While April's slight pick-up in exports volumes might prompt suggestions that the economy began the second quarter on a stronger footing, the sharp decline in imports indicates that domestic demand... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Outlook for periphery’s exporters is improving The depreciation of the euro over the past year or so appears to be finally starting to help euro-zone exporters. The latest data show that annual growth in euro-zone export values picked up to 7.3%... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report US crude oil stocks continued to fall last week. However, the drop was the smallest since stocks began declining at the start of May 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack US dollar strength undermines the price rally The S&P GSCI industrial metals index fell sharply in May and under-performed other commodities. Renewed strength in the dollar coupled with subdued Chinese economic data undermined investor sentiment... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack Silver continues to outshine other precious metals Despite renewed strength in the US currency, precious metals prices held up well in May compared to other commodities. Silver outperformed gold (by nearly 4%), as is usual when the prices of both... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Polish MPC a little less dovish, but nothing to suggest rate hikes The Polish MPC’s press release, which followed the decision to leave interest rates unchanged earlier today, suggested that the Council is slightly more upbeat on the economy’s growth prospects and... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Draghi sends dovish message that ECB may extend QE ECB President Mario Draghi gave a dovish message today that the Governing Council remains cautious over the strength of the euro-zone economic recovery and intends to implement its quantitative easing... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update World to benefit from long period of “just right” oil prices Crude oil prices appear to be settling in a range of $60 to $70 per barrel, which we regard as ideal (a “Goldilocks” scenario) for the global economy. Prices are high enough to ease the pressure on... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
US Data Response International Trade (Apr.) The drop back in the trade deficit to $40.9bn in April, from $50.6bn, confirms that the spike in March was a temporary surge caused by the ending of the West Coast port dispute in February and... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Applications (May) Refinancing activity took another big hit in May as mortgage interest rates rose to their highest level this year. However, mortgage applications for home purchase held on to their recent gains and we... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Reviving investment helping economy to rebalance Although net trade dragged on GDP growth in the first quarter, a more encouraging development from the point of view of a rebalancing of the economy was the 1.7% quarterly rise in real business... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Unemployment (Apr.) & Retail Sales (Apr.) The latest euro-zone unemployment and retail sales data point to a further gradual improvement for consumers at the start of Q2, indicating that household spending is likely to remain a key driver of... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
