Latin America Economics Update China's slowdown: who is most vulnerable? The past week has seen renewed concern that a slowdown in China will drag on growth in the rest of the emerging world, including Latin America. We think these concerns are justified. But while Latin... 18th April 2013 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil tightening cycle to be smaller than most expect The decision by Brazil’s central bank to raise interest rates by 25bps – as opposed to the 50bps that was priced into the market – suggests that the tightening cycle is likely to be less aggressive... 18th April 2013 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Retail Sales (Mar.) March’s fall in the official measure of retail sales volumes was unsurprising given that month’s unusually severe weather. This still left sales up in the first quarter of 2013 as a whole. Nonetheless... 18th April 2013 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update What does the fall in oil prices mean for the MENA region? The recent fall in oil prices is unlikely to unduly trouble the Gulf States. Prices need to drop much further and stay there before they run fiscal deficits, and even then large savings and low debt... 18th April 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Slighter better trade data still little to cheer The March data on exports and the overall trade balance were marginally better than the consensus had expected, but the detail is less encouraging. In particular, the improvement in exports probably... 18th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack Consumer spending starts to soften EM consumer spending has been one of the bright spots in the global economy in recent years, supported by healthy wage growth, low unemployment and loose monetary policy. But retail sales growth... 18th April 2013 · 1 min read
China Chart Pack Recovery hopes dashed The release of China’s weak Q1 GDP data jolted markets worldwide. Consensus forecasts for 2013 growth have been lowered. The prospect of significant policy tightening, including benchmark rate hikes... 18th April 2013 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Bank of Canada sticks with rate tightening bias The Bank of Canada's decision to stick with its rate tightening bias, despite growing economic slack and below-target inflation, rests uncomfortably on its faith that economic growth will accelerate... 17th April 2013 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Teranet-National Bank House Prices (Mar.) Despite house prices rebounding by 0.4% m/m in March, the annual rate of house price growth dropped to a three-year low of 2.6%, down from 2.7% in February. We expect that, as existing home sales... 17th April 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Boost to confidence from “Abenomics” may be waning Consumer confidence rose in March, but by less than expected. What’s more, Japanese households may not view the prospect of an end to deflation quite as positively as businesses and investors. 17th April 2013 · 1 min read
UK Data Response MPC Minutes (Apr.) & Labour Market Data (Feb./Mar.) The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) still seems to be in a state of paralysis ahead of the new Governor’s arrival in July, despite indications that the weakness of the economy is finally starting to... 17th April 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Debt concerns still dominating the Riksbank’s thoughts The Swedish Riksbank’s decision to leave interest rates unchanged at 1.0% was no surprise given the recent run of encouraging economic data. But while the chances of an imminent cut have perhaps... 17th April 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update What is the outlook for Budapest office rents? The recovery in employment in Hungary last year, might suggest that the recent uptick in Budapest office rents marks a turning point. But there is no evidence that job creation has boosted office... 17th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russia: the implications of oil's fall to below $100pb The drop in oil prices over the past month will limit the room for fiscal stimulus in response to the slump in Russia’s economy since the turn of the year and is another reason to expect the recovery... 17th April 2013 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi dollar peg here to stay for the long-term Concerns that Saudi Arabia’s dollar peg is no longer suitable in light of the country’s growing trade ties with Asia look wide of the mark. There are a myriad of other tools that Saudi policymakers... 17th April 2013 · 1 min read
