Europe Commercial Property Update What do jobs data imply for the peripheral occupier markets? Since the crisis, employment in the periphery has underperformed the euro-zone average. But recent data does at least show some positives for Portugal. And while sustained employment growth in Spain... 4th April 2014 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch Sales tax hike alone unlikely to prompt further stimulus The Bank of Japan will almost certainly maintain its current policy settings at the conclusion of the first of this month’s two Board meetings on Tuesday (8th), despite the hit to GDP from the... 4th April 2014 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Halifax House Prices (Mar.14) Halifax reported the largest monthly fall in house prices in almost two years in March. But that only partly reversed last month’s jump and on a more stable measure prices, while not accelerating, are... 4th April 2014 · 1 min read
US Economics Focus Dwindling spare capacity will provide boost to investment There are finally reasons to expect a more sustained pick-up in business investment this year and next. Admittedly, economists have been forecasting that business investment would become a driving... 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Falling inflation enhances recovery prospects The last month has brought more good news on inflation. CPI inflation eased from 1.9% to 1.7% in February, the lowest rate since October 2009. Meanwhile, past falls in commodity and import prices... 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB edging towards more action Although the ECB left policy on hold again today, President Draghi turned his dovish rhetoric up a further notch. With the economic recovery set to remain too weak to diminish the threat of deflation... 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Algerian elections unlikely to herald major reforms Algerians are set to take to the polls later this month as they vote for their next president. In theory, this could be an opportunity to kick-start much-needed economic reform. But, as we explain in... 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response International Merchandise Trade (Feb.) February's merchandise trade report, which revealed only a partial rebound in export volumes, can be partly blamed on bad weather. Nevertheless it still seems that Canada's economy isn't benefitting... 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
US Data Response International Trade (Feb.) The unexpected widening in the monthly trade deficit to a five-month high of $42.3bn in February, from $39.3bn, suggests that first-quarter GDP growth was only 1.5% annualised, lower than our previous... 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economic Outlook Focus shifts to home-grown vulnerabilities Concerns about the impact on emerging economies of tapering by the US Fed have taken a back seat as investors have begun to focus on issues closer to home. The worst fears about a “hard landing” in... 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Rehashed spending commitments don’t equal stimulus Policymakers everywhere have to be seen to respond to economic concerns. But the measures unveiled in Beijing last night are simply reheated versions of previous announcements that shouldn’t change... 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (Feb.) & Final PMIs (Mar.) February’s retail sales data offered hope that the euro-zone’s recovery is slowly broadening to households, while the final PMIs suggest that the recovery may have strengthened in Q1. 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Bank of England Credit Conditions Survey (Q1 14) In both the residential and commercial property sectors, credit supply and demand are rising. However, those looking to secure a mortgage may find things more difficult over the next few months, with... 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Data Response Bank of England Credit Conditions Survey (Q1 14) In both the residential and commercial property sectors, credit supply and demand are rising. However, those looking to secure a mortgage may find things more difficult over the next few months, with... 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
UK Data Response CIPS Report on Services (Mar.) & Credit Con. Survey (Q1.) The further deterioration in the tone of the CIPS/Markit services survey in March shouldn’t ring too many alarm bells about the strength of the economic recovery. 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
