Japan Data Response External trade (Sep.) Japan's trade deficit edged higher in September, against expectations, but a weaker yen, falling commodity prices and the sluggishness of domestic demand should combine to deliver a narrower deficit... 22nd October 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Two sides to Russia’s investment challenge The recent fall in the oil price has underlined the perils of Russia’s over-reliance on its energy sector and the corresponding need to develop non-energy sources of growth. Part of the route back to... 22nd October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB takes further steps towards QE Rumours that the ECB is considering corporate bond purchases suggest that the Bank is edging further into the realms of quantitative easing. But we think that it will need to buy sovereign bonds as... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Existing Home Sales (Sep.) The increase in existing home sales in September took sales activity to a 12-month high. Falling mortgage interest rates and a steadily improving labour market bode well for existing home sales from... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Calls for looser fiscal policy likely to go unheeded There have been renewed calls for a relaxation offiscal austerity during the past month or so,primarily aimed at the surplus countries and, inparticular, at Germany. However, Germany’sgovernment... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Stress tests won’t revive the banking sector overnight The euro-zone’s latest bank stress tests may be more credible than previous versions and hence do more to restore confidence in the region’s banking sector. But the corrective measures required in... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Monetary Indicators (Sep.) The tapering of the Fed's monthly asset purchases might finally be having a knock-on impact on the growth rates of the broader monetary aggregates. Our estimate of the broadest M3 measure shows that... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Focus Gulf: Fall in oil prices unlikely to trigger another “lost decade” Concerns that the recent fall in oil prices could lead to another “lost decade” for the Gulf, similar to the 1980s, are probably overdone. The region’s large accumulated savings mean that most... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Tighter policy in Ghana to lead to further growth slowdown While Ghana’s authorities continue discussions with the IMF about a possible programme, the macroeconomic situation in the country appears to be getting worse. We suspect that the eventual tightening... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Could rising risk aversion take the steam out of commercial property? The current rise in risk aversion may dent the growth in property investment volumes in H1 2015 as demand for secondary assets wanes. However, with bund yields remaining low, prime property demand and... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
China Data Response Q3 GDP & September Activity Data Today's data suggest that slowing investment, particularly in the property sector, continues to put downwards pressure on growth. That said, healthy consumption growth and strong foreign demand mean... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Decline in oil prices still no major threat The further slide in world crude oil prices has prompted speculation that Canada's booming energy sector may soon swing into reverse, dragging the economy under with it. But even if oil prices remain... 20th October 2014 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Fed shouldn’t respond to lower inflation expectations Since the recent fall in US inflation expectations is solely being driven by the decline in oil prices, it won’t prevent the Fed from ending QE3 or raising interest rates next year. 20th October 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Why fuel subsidy reform matters for India and Indonesia Indian consumer price inflation fell to its slowest pace on record in September. With the latest data also pointing to continued weakness in the industrial sector, we remain of the view that interest... 20th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus How bad is Belgium’s competitiveness problem? The improvement in southern euro-zone nations’ competitiveness has left some core countries, such as Belgium, lagging behind. If Belgium and other uncompetitive economies are unable to close the... 20th October 2014 · 1 min read
