Latin America Data Response Mexico Industrial Production (Feb.) Mexican industrial production rebounded in February, largely due to an encouraging rise in manufacturing output. However, the bigger picture is that industrial production has had a soft start to the... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Fed tightening pace dependent on market reaction New York Fed President William Dudley noted last week that the pace of rate hikes will depend a lot on the reaction to the initial lift-off in financial markets. The upshot is that, while there is an... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update More bad news for grain & soybean prices The USDA’s latest set of estimates suggest that the global glut of grain and soybeans will be evenlarger. With ample supplies and high stocks, we continue to expect the prices of corn, wheat... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Should we trust the upbeat business surveys? The last few weeks have seen mixed messages on the health of the economic recovery, with the upbeat tone of the business surveys contrasting with initial official estimates of output in the first two... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Oil and euro boosts to growth will fade next year We have revised our forecasts for euro-zone GDP growth higher to reflect the positive effects of lower oil prices and the decline in the euro. But growth could slow again next year as those positive... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore looks set for more policy loosening We expect the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to loosen policy again at its meeting on Tuesday, most likely by re-centring its target band for the exchange rate to allow some depreciation. But... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack Metals prices searching for direction The GSCI industrial metals index has risen slightly since the end of February, but there have been some large price moves in individual metals. The lack of clarity on China’s future demand appears to... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Deflation Watch: UK could now be in deflation Tuesday’s inflation figures could well show that the UK entered deflation last month. But the fact that this mainly reflects lower energy prices makes it a good thing for the economy and there is no... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update How will gilts fare following the UK election? Historically, the yield of 10-year gilts has sometimes moved immediately upon a surprise election result and over the next six months in response to sweeping reforms of a newly elected government... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Industrial Production & Construction Output (Feb.) While February’s official industrial and construction figures suggest that GDP growth in Q1 may be disappointingly weak, we doubt that they signal that the economic recovery is now a busted flush. 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
Energy Update Oil spreads to continue narrowing The spread between the price of Brent and the price of the US benchmark oil, WTI, should continue to narrow over the next few years as the glut of crude which has been built up in the US recedes. 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Peru signals end of easing cycle Interest rates in Peru were left unchanged last night and a subtle shift in language in the statement accompanying the decision suggests that policymakers appear to have closed the door to further... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response French & Spanish Industrial Production (Feb.) February’s French industrial data suggested that activity in the euro-zone’s second-largest economy may have gained a little pace at the start of 2015. And the healthy rise in Spanish production... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Re-shoring not as beneficial as widely thought Despite press reports that suggest the opposite, there is no evidence that Japanese firms have returned manufacturing production to their homeland on a large scale. Even if they did, this would be no... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Government’s export targets are unlikely to be met The government’s ambitious plans to almost double exports by 2020 from current levels are no bad thing, but in truth the targets look unrealistic. Reforms that would significantly boost export... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read