UK Economics Update 100 year gilt issue underlines UK safe-haven status Reports that the Chancellor is considering issuing bonds of 100 years or more in order to take advantage of the government’s low borrowing costs underline the UK’s perceived safe-haven status relative... 14th March 2012 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Reconstruction to drive improvement in Business conditions The government’s Business Outlook Survey indicates conditions deteriorated slightly Q1, consistent with a further contraction in both the Q1 Tankan and GDP. However, the survey also suggests a rapid... 14th March 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Jan.) & HICP (Feb.) January’s small rise in euro-zone industrial production does little to alter the picture of a sharp slowdown in the sector. 14th March 2012 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Labour Market Data (Jan./Feb.) Today’s labour market figures painted a pretty weak picture, with unemployment rising further and pay growth weakening sharply. 14th March 2012 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Update Financial and business services sector jobs (Q4) The number of workforce jobs in the financial and business services (FBS) sector rose strongly again in Q4 and, given the normal lags of six to nine months, this points to continued growth in Central... 14th March 2012 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update New forecasts for bond and stock markets We have revised our projections for the major Western government bond and stock markets, and for emerging markets, partly to reflect changes to our US economic forecasts and partly due to reduced... 14th March 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update TARGET2 imbalances highlight euro-zone problems The growing imbalances in the euro-zone’s TARGET2 payments system are another indication of the huge underlying problems still facing the currency union. 14th March 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update New 2012 forecasts for Sri Lanka The central bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) left its repurchase rate on hold at 7.5% today. With the central bank still assessing the impact of a number of major policy changes introduced last month, the... 14th March 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economic Outlook Growth still set to disappoint Tensions in financial markets have eased in recent months, but the outlook for Emerging Europe remains challenging. We expect the region to grow by just 1.3% this year and 3.0% in 2013. This is well... 14th March 2012 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Fed remains cautious The statement released after today's FOMC meeting included a slightly more upbeat assessment of the economic outlook, but the Fed can hardly be accused of acting as a cheerleader for the recovery... 13th March 2012 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexico set for period of steady, yet unspectacular, growth The outlook for Mexican economy has brightened in recent months. Demand from the US is strengthening, while there are signs that domestic activity is recovering. But even so, we doubt that the current... 13th March 2012 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Focus Was Japan’s 2011 trade deficit a one-off? In 2011, Japan recorded its first full-year trade deficit since 1980. The three main factors responsible were the Great East Japan Earthquake, the slowdown in global demand and the increase in... 13th March 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Middle East Markets Monitor (Mar.) The performance of equity markets across the Arab world has diverged since the beginning of the year. Stock markets in Egypt, Dubai and Saudi outperfromed the rest of the region and indeed the MSCI... 13th March 2012 · 1 min read
US Data Response Retail Sales (Feb.) The recent improvement in retail sales should gain further traction in the coming months, as the stronger gains in employment translate into faster income and consumption growth. 13th March 2012 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Update Do surveys alleviate worst fears about the refinancing outlook? Encouragingly, recent surveys suggest that there could be enough debt available this year to meet the UK commercial property market’s refinancing needs of perhaps £30bn to £35bn. But these estimates... 13th March 2012 · 1 min read
