Latin America Economics Update Peru rates on hold, cuts still unlikely this year Last night’s central bank meeting in Peru has done little to alter our baseline view that interest rates are going nowhere this year. We expect the economy to weaken in the coming months, however... 9th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Delayed income may be helping to drive recovery Given the headwinds that still face the economy, identifying what is driving the recent momentum in the economy is a puzzle. One factor which might be playing a role is the shifting of income by high... 9th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Markets Chart Pack Forward guidance is already helping to anchor gilt yields Much has already been made of the absence of a fall in interest rate expectations and short gilt yields in response to the “forward guidance” announced by the MPC yesterday. But this does not suggest... 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Chart Pack Early signs of slowdown in house price appreciation Mortgage applications for home purchase are showing the strain from higher mortgage interest rates, falling by 5.6% m/m in July. It’s too early to see the effect of higher rates on the existing home... 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
EM Markets Chart Pack Emerging market assets regain some poise Dollar-denominated emerging market government bonds have recovered some poise over the past month. This has been driven primarily by a decline in credit spreads, which have fallen significantly from... 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Inflation concerns ease in Brazil and Mexico July’s data will help to allay inflation concerns in Latin America’s two largest economies – Brazil and Mexico. Inflation fell back to within target range in both countries and looks set to remain... 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Focus Is the Bucharest commercial property market at a turning point? With domestic demand still weakening, the near-term outlook for Bucharest’s logistics and retail property sectors is subdued. But there is some potential for office-based employment to rise from here... 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa GDP Tracker suggests pick-up in Q2 The Capital Economics South Africa GDP Tracker suggests that the economy picked up pace in Q2, with annualised GDP growth accelerating to around 3.0% q/q, from 0.9% q/q in Q1. 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor EM trade steadies after first half slowdown There are some signs in the latest EM trade data that the slowdown in exports witnessed over the first half of this year has eased. Even so, export growth remains broadly flat in year-on-year terms in... 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Impact of forward guidance is greater than it seems The absence of a fall in market interest rates after yesterday’s forward guidance does not mean that the tactic has been ineffective, as evidence shows it had a significant impact before it was... 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi oil sector’s drag on growth starting to ease Saudi Arabia’s activity data for June provide further evidence that the slowdown in growth over the past year or so probably bottomed out in the second quarter. The non-oil sector continues to grow at... 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Arrears and Possessions (Q2) Low interest rates and lender forbearance are keeping mortgage possessions at levels which pose little threat to the outlook for house prices. But a meaningful drop in mortgage arrears is unlikely... 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response CML Buy-to-Let Lending (Q2) Lending to buy-to-let investors gathered pace in the second quarter. But the data do not suggest that landlords are playing a disproportionately large role in the nascent housing market recovery. 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China’s commodity imports surge higher After a year of being pitifully weak, China’s commodity imports rose rapidly in July, in many cases to record highs. This has sparked a rally in commodity prices but we doubt this will be sustained. 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Trade data add to evidence of renewed pick-up in investment The rebound in both China’s exports and imports in July was bigger than most had expected. On the export side, there are signs that foreign demand is recovering.Meanwhile, the import data provide... 8th August 2013 · 1 min read