Europe Economics Update Fears of a German housing bubble are overblown German house price inflation is modest by international standards, housing remains affordable andmortgage debt is low. Accordingly, fears of overheating seem overdone and should not ultimatelyprevent... 21st July 2014 · 1 min read
China Chart Pack Mixed ownership no guarantee of stronger performance Six state-owned firms were named last week to take part in pilot reforms intended to boost state sector performance, partly by encouraging private investment. The experiment could have far-reaching... 21st July 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Why tin should be the next metal to stage a price rally Tin prices have barely moved this year, probably because unofficial stocks are being drawn down tomeet demand. However, in our view, there remains a strong case for prices to rally as demand appearsto... 21st July 2014 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Slack in labour market has increased Canadian labour market conditions appear to have deteriorated over the past year and a half, even though the unemployment rate has been unchanged. While net employment gains have been unusually weak... 21st July 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Is the worst over for pay? Last week’s labour market data was something of a curate’s egg. Although a further fall in theunemployment rate indicated that the jobs recovery has continued at a rapid pace, the earningsfigures... 21st July 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly ECB edging slowly towards quantitative easing ECB President Mario Draghi’s statement last week that “QE falls squarely in our mandate” was perhaps the strongest signal yet that the ECB is considering bolder policy support. But Bundesbank... 21st July 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Don't write off the recovery in business investment The sharp drop in machinery orders in April and May casts doubts on the prospects for capital spending. However, we are not too worried. Business investment was exceptionally strong in Q1, so a fall... 21st July 2014 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Consumer Prices (Jun.) The further rise in headline inflation in June, which is largely due to higher food prices, is unlikely to worry the Bank of Canada. Although most measures of underlying inflation also nudged higher... 18th July 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update The implications of the latest twist in the Ukraine crisis Russia is a vital source of global supply of a wide range of commodities, from energy to metals andgrains. At the time of writing, the likely repercussions of the shooting down of a civilian aircraft... 18th July 2014 · 1 min read
US Data Response Uni. of Mich. Consumer Confidence (Jul.) The rise in gasoline prices was behind the dip in consumer confidence in July. But rising equity prices and the improving labour market should help consumer confidence to increase before too long. 18th July 2014 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Market fall-out from Ukraine crisis unlikely to be over The relatively muted reaction in the financial markets so far to the latest tragic turn in the crisis inUkraine – as well as the escalation of the conflict in Gaza and the gains by ISIS in Iraq –... 18th July 2014 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Business investment rebounds The weakness of business investment over the past couple of years has been disconcerting, but a range of indicators point to a much stronger showing in the second quarter while, more generally, rising... 18th July 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Slump in cotton prices not over yet Extraordinarily high levels of stocks, excessive production and increasing competition from man-madefibres should all put further downward pressure on the price of cotton over the next few years. 18th July 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly How much do commodities matter to Malaysia? As one of the region's few net commodity exporters, there are some concerns that Malaysia is vulnerable to a fall in commodity prices. But Malaysia is not as dependent on commodities as is often... 18th July 2014 · 1 min read
