Europe Commercial Property Update Euro-zone office rental values to show further steady growth Amidst a slowly improving economic backdrop, prime euro-zone office rents have risen in recent quarters. We expect further gradual increases in occupier demand, coupled with constrained supply, to... 8th May 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Tory win removes risk of prolonged political uncertainty With the Conservatives on course to achieve an overall majority, the UK general election result is a surprisingly market-friendly outcome and removes the risk that the economy suffers a prolonged... 8th May 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Industrial Production & Trade (Mar.) March’s German industrial production and trade data offer some signs that the weaker euro is providing a boost to the economy, but seem to confirm that GDP growth slowed in Q1 compared to Q4. 8th May 2015 · 1 min read
China Data Response Trade (Apr.) A weaker-than-expected recovery in export growth suggests that foreign demand has softened going into Q2. Domestic demand also appears subdued, though the contraction in imports is still largely... 8th May 2015 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly Growing pressure on RBNZ to join rate cutting club Last week’s news that the unemployment rate in New Zealand is not falling as widely expected and is rising as we thought it might has added to the pressure on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) to... 8th May 2015 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update New Finnish coalition’s austerity to drag on growth The new coalition government is likely to impose significant budget cuts that would drag on Finland’s already ailing economy. But there are reasons to think that fiscal consolidation might be less of... 8th May 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack Prices rally as investors turn positive 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... 7th May 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil heads deeper into the fiscal mire It is, in truth, too soon to expect any improvement in Brazil’s public finances as a result of the belt-tightening measures introduced over the past few months, but the fact that the fiscal position... 7th May 2015 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Chart Pack Active housing demand depressed despite fall in mortgage rates A few indicators suggest that the recovery in housing market activity is losing some traction. But with mortgage rates at record lows, employment at record highs and house price expectations rising... 7th May 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Could a debt default revive the Greek economy? While euro-zone officials appear increasingly resigned to some form of Greek sovereign debt default, we doubt that this alone would revive the economy and secure the country’s membership of the euro. 7th May 2015 · 1 min read
Global Markets Outlook Will tighter Fed policy rattle the markets? We forecast that US Treasury yields will increase further as the FOMC raises the federal funds rate more rapidly than policymakers, investors and the consensus of economists envisage. By contrast, we... 7th May 2015 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Focus Budget Preview: Disappointing as well as “dull” While Tuesday’s Federal Budget may well live up to the “dull” label slapped on it by the Prime Minister, the failure to provide any extra support to the economy will be disappointing. This would place... 7th May 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Update Oil prices will struggle to rally further The recent bounce back in oil prices has prompted speculation about whether they are about to return to the $100 per barrel levels of the last few years. However, there are some major headwinds, both... 7th May 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Mexico Consumer Prices (Apr.) Annual inflation in Mexico held steady at 3.1% for the second consecutive month in April and the recent stabilisation of the peso against the dollar should help to ease fears that inflation will... 7th May 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Is the rebound in oil prices a threat to the global recovery? Oil prices have recovered to levels that should still provide a major boost to consumers, while easing the pressure on producers. However, further increases could undermine the recovery in weaker... 7th May 2015 · 1 min read
