US Housing Market Data Response Case-Shiller Prices & New Home Sales (Jan./Feb.14) The rapid, double-digit increases in house prices are unlikely to continue now that housing market supply conditions are loosening. 25th March 2014 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: modest interest rate hikes on the cards In its first MPC meeting since the suspension of Governor Lamido Sanusi, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) kept interest rates on hold at 12.00% today. The case for conventional tightening is building... 25th March 2014 · 1 min read
US Chart Pack Threat from twin deficits quietly fades The current account and Federal budget deficits have narrowed markedly over the past few years, indicating that the US economy is the closest it has been to both internal and external balance in more... 25th March 2014 · 1 min read
UK Data Response CBI Distributive Trades Survey (Mar.) Despite the slightly weaker tone of March’s CBI Distributive Trades Survey, retailers enjoyed decent sales growth over Q1 as a whole. And looking ahead, we expect the consumer recovery to maintain its... 25th March 2014 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response BBA Mortgage Lending (Feb.14) The slight decline in mortgage approvals for house purchase in February is almost certainly a blip, and doesn’t herald the end of the revival in mortgage lending. But it does suggest mortgage lending... 25th March 2014 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Consumer Prices & Producer Prices (Feb.) The further fall in CPI inflation in February took it another step towards the 1% rate which we think it could reach later this year and which would provide additional support to the economic recovery... 25th March 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Ifo Survey (Mar.) March’s German Ifo survey echoed the message from other recent surveys that sentiment towards the economy might be starting to soften a little bit. But the current conditions index still points to... 25th March 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Mar.) Despite reaching a multi-decade high in March, small business confidence is set to weaken sharply in coming months. 25th March 2014 · 1 min read
Capital Daily Emerging Asia equities likely to stop underperforming soon 25th March 2014 · 1 min read
Global Trade Monitor Sluggish start to 2014 The volume of world exports rose by 0.6% m/m in January according to data published today by the CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis. This follows a small fall in December and means... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Further slowdown in China, but recovery in US and euro-zone Preliminary PMIs for March suggest that the US economy is rebounding from its weather-induced soft patch and that the euro-zone is continuing its gradual recovery. However, they also provide further... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Danish central bank unlikely to tolerate further krone falls The fall in the Danish krone to its weakest level against the euro since early 2006 has increased speculation that Denmark’s central bank will have to respond to maintain the krone’s peg. We agree... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
US Economics Focus Medical inflation is coming back to life A rebound in medical inflation from recent 40-year lows will add to a wider strengthening in price pressures to push core PCE inflation above the Fed’s 2% target next year. This may prompt the Fed to... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russian markets suffer as Ukraine crisis deepens Russia’s financial markets have posted heavy losses following the escalation of the crisis on the Crimean peninsula. Indeed, Russia’s stock market and the ruble have been the worst performers among... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Euro's strength against the US dollar unlikely to last The euro has been on an upward trend against the US dollar for nearly two years, largely reflecting improving sentiment towards the euro-zone economy and reduced fears of break-up. But the relative... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Currency sell-off sees Colombia overtake Argentina A depreciation of the Argentine peso has caused Colombia to overtake Argentina as the region’s third largest economy. Meanwhile, with a shortage of hard currency biting and the bolivar weakening... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
