Asia Economics Update Weak Indian data bolster calls to cut rates soon Today’s industrial production data for India have dampened hopes that the sector is on the cusp of a sustained recovery. But the good news is that inflation has also slowed, which could open up the... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Strong jobs figure does not alter the picture for Australia Data released last week showed that Australia added more jobs in August than in any other month on record. But the jump does not change the broader picture of labour market weakness, and it does not... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
Global Inflation Watch Euro-zone and Japan yet to escape from deflation threat Six years after the onset of the global financial crisis, there is still a threat of deflation. The biggestworry is in the euro-zone, where inflation expectations have slipped and the ECB’s actions... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Recent EM currency falls partly a result of euro weakness There are good reasons to think that some EM currencies remain exposed to market turbulence as we move towards the first interest rate hike in the US. However, suggestions that the recent falls in EM... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Are commodity prices signalling a global slowdown? The recent weakness in the prices of several key industrial commodities – notably oil and iron ore – hasunderstandably fuelled concerns that the world economy is on the cusp of a major downturn. But... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russia keeps interest rates on hold, but hikes still on the cards The Russian central bank left interest rates unchanged today, having raised rates by 250bps over the firstsix months of the year. But with inflation set to rise further over the coming months and... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Irish lessons for an independent Scotland There is much that the Scots could learn from their Celtic neighbours. Irish independence is a story ofeventual, not immediate success. It took nearly 80 years for Irish per capita income to catch up... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Jul.) July’s rebound in euro-zone industrial production provided hope that industry mayfare slightly better in Q3 than it did in Q2. But with survey data pointing to acontinued slowdown, the sector’s... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Will public spending really reach a record next year? Ministries’ spending requests for the coming fiscal year have reached a record high, which might raise some questions about the government’s commitment to fiscal consolidation. However, these requests... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update A period of low interest rates for Chile and Peru Interest rates were cut by 25bp in both Chile and Peru last night and policymakers have room to reduce rates further if growth continues to slow. With little chance of a significant rebound in growth... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
China Data Response Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Aug.) Broad credit growth continued to slow in August. However, a rebound in net new bank loans last month suggests that concerns about weak demand for credit, following a collapse in lending in July, were... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea set to raise rates next year Interest rates in Korea, which were left on hold today, are likely to rise from next year as economic growth picks up. However, with inflation likely to remain fairly subdued, the pace of tightening... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Update How significant is the new Case-Shiller house price index? The new Case-Shiller house price index improves on its predecessors by giving a monthly read on nationa l house prices. The historical revisions suggest that the housing bust was not as deep as... 11th September 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Will global oil prices remain below $100? Some of the factors that have dragged the price of Brent crude below $100 per barrel may prove temporary, notably the weakness of European demand. Saudi Arabia might also cut output again in an... 11th September 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Scottish independence could encourage separatists worldwide From an economic point of view, it might be easier for some other regions with separatist movements to thrive as independent countries than it would be for Scotland. Few of them face the same... 11th September 2014 · 1 min read
