Japan Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Mar.) The Bank of Japan now owns more Japanese government bonds than private pension funds and insurance companies combined. However, with the government pension fund continuing to shed bonds, and usage of... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update New government will struggle to revive Finland’s economy The opposition Centre Party looks likely to be the largest party in a coalition government after Finland’s general election on 19th April. But the outcome of the election is unlikely to have a major... 13th April 2015 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update What next for UK Gilts? We have revised down our forecasts for the 10-year Gilt yield in recognition of the fact that monetary policy in the UK is likely to be tightened even more gradually than we had previously anticipated... 13th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Is loose monetary policy inflating bubbles in Germany? With the ECB’s quantitative easing programme putting upward pressure on German asset prices in particular, some point to a risk of bubbles developing there. We think the greater risk is that such... 13th April 2015 · 1 min read
India Data Response Consumer Prices (Mar.) Consumer price inflation unexpectedly dropped in March as concerns over the impact of heavy rains on food inflation proved unfounded. What’s more, core inflation remains low, and headline inflation is... 13th April 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China’s commodity import volumes bounce back in March China’s commodity import volumes rose in March, admittedly from a low base in February. However, lower prices appear to be encouraging purchases and we expect volumes to remain higher in Q2. 13th April 2015 · 1 min read
China Data Response Trade (Mar.) We suspect that the slump in China’s exports last month was the result of seasonal disruption to output rather than weakness in demand. On the import side, the headline figures still look awful, but... 13th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Italian Industrial Production (Feb.) February’s Italian industrial production data added to signs that the long recession may finally be coming to an end. But the recovery still looks surprisingly slow given the boost provided by falls... 13th April 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update North Africa: 5-6% growth achievable, but reforms are crucial The outlook for the North African economies of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia has brightened over the last twelve months and we expect growth to strengthen again this year. Further ahead, low income... 13th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update New government will struggle to revive Finland’s economy The opposition Centre Party looks likely to be the largest party in a coalition government after Finland’s general election on 19th April. But the outcome of the election is unlikely to have a major... 13th April 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (Feb.) Despite small declines in January and February, machinery orders remain well above their Q4 14 average, so business investment should finally have started to rebound last quarter. 13th April 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Weaker currency will partly cushion hit from low oil prices The Canadian dollar, which has slumped in response to low oil prices, weakening domestic fundamentals and an easing in monetary policy, probably still has further to fall. An even weaker currency... 13th April 2015 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Wacky weather According to the National Climatic Data Center, we now know that the Northeast suffered its coldest winter ever this year. At the same time, the West Coast saw record high average temperatures. The... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Labour Force Survey (Mar.) Employment rose by 28,700 in March, more than anyone expected, though not by enough to reduce the jobless rate from 6.8%. The details, however, were less impressive. Even so, the odds of a rate cut by... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Oil shrugs off Iran deal A preliminary deal between Iran and the West saw oil prices fall sharply early this week, but they quickly rebounded as it became apparent that the return of Iranian oil exports would be delayed until... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
