Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia to keep rates on hold until 2015 Bank Indonesia (BI) today left interest rates on hold for a third consecutive month. With the rupiah showing signs of resilience, inflation likely to fall back in the second half of the year, and the... 13th February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea in no rush to tighten monetary policy The Bank of Korea’s (BoK) decision to keep interest rates on hold for a ninth consecutive month comes against a background of weak price pressures. Looking ahead, with inflation set to remain subdued... 13th February 2014 · 1 min read
Capital Daily UK monetary policy likely to remain loose for some time yet 13th February 2014 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Rates hikes in Sweden remain a distant prospect The Swedish Riksbank reiterated at its meeting today that it does not expect to raise interest rates until early next year. But we think that the expected start date of its tightening cycle will... 13th February 2014 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Teranet-National Bank House Prices (Jan.) January's pick-up in house price inflation isn't that surprising when you consider last year's home buying rush that was triggered by fears of rising mortgage rates. Now that home sales are dropping... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Focus Gold's last hurrah? The recent partial recovery in the price of gold vindicates the cautiously positive view we have held since the slump in the first half of 2013. We continue to expect further gains over the course of... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Focus How and why Russia needs to reform The need for economic reform in Russia is now widely accepted. However, a key point that is often overlooked is that a comprehensive programme of reform that takes in a wide range of different areas... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Chart Pack Equity market slump unlikely to derail the recovery January’s sell-off in the equity market and the strengthening yen are unlikely to have much impact on the Japanese economy. Equities have regained some ground over the past week and the Nikkei is... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Revamped forward guidance to help keep rates low The decisions of the Fed and the Bank of England to place less emphasis on the unemployment rate as a guide to future policy should give them more wriggle room to keep interest rates low. The changes... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update India's policy options limited by stubborn inflation Today’s output and inflation data from India were, in each case, a little better than expected but they won’t drive away the dark cloud that hangs over the outlook for the economy. Industrial... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response CML Lending Trends (2013 Q4) Data from the CML confirm that first-time buyers have been the driving force behind the recovery in mortgage lending. But buy-to-let lending is also making a steady comeback, with the number of loans... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China's imports not as strong as headlines suggest Although China’s imports of many commodities reached new “record highs” in levels terms in January, this headline can be written most months. Indeed, the data were probably flattered by demand brought... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor EM exports picking up, but recovery uneven Surprisingly strong export growth from China last month has raised hopes of a broader recovery in EM exports. However, the country level data suggest that export performances are highly uneven, with... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Bank of England Inflation Report (Feb 14.) The revamp of the Bank of England’s forward guidance unveiled in February’s Inflation Report is likely to shift the emphasis back to the benign outlook for inflation and should therefore ensure that... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi Arabia: a disappointing end to 2013 Our GDP Tracker suggests that the Saudi economy ended last year on a weaker note. We expect growth to pick up this year, but this will largely be due to a rebound in the oil sector. Activity in the... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Dec.) December’s weak industrial production figures highlight that the euro-zone’s industrial recovery remains fragile. 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
