Capital Daily Better news still coming on inflation despite higher oil prices 7th March 2012 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Outlook Housing is healing Lingering constraints on demand and the overhang of foreclosures mean that the healing of the housing market will be a long and gradual process, but it does at least appear to be underway. Home sales... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
Commodities Update India’s ban unlikely to prevent further falls in cotton prices The spot price of the benchmark Memphis cotton price have jumped more than 5% to around 87 cents per lb after India, the world’s second largest producer and exporter of cotton, banned exports of the... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
US Fed Watch Fed waiting to see which way the recovery breaks Next Tuesday's FOMC meeting (13th March) is expected to be a quiet affair, with Fed officials waiting to see whether the recent improvement evident in the labour market develops into a more vigorous... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Why would Russia benefit from lower oil prices? The numerous benefits of high oil prices for the Russian economy have concealed the bigger picture that over the past decade they have also served as a hindrance to much-needed political and economic... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update How significant are the latest mortgage rate rises? The increases in mortgage interest rates highlighted by the press this week are fairly small, are coming off a very low base and will affect a limited number of borrowers. But they should not be... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Will strong investment demand in Spain be sustained? One interpretation of the sharp jump in investment activity in Spain at the end of last year is that overseas investors stepped up their interest in distressed property in anticipation that values may... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rates cut in Vietnam to help struggling banking sector The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) today announced that it would be reducing its key policy rate “over the next few days”. The cut comes after sharp falls in inflation over the past six months and is... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil avoids recession but “two-speed” growth is unsustainable Brazil avoided falling into recession in the fourth quarter of last year by the narrowest of margins, thanks to a renewed pick-up in consumer spending. But while there are signs that growth has... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Commodity price moves do not herald a surge in inflation The recent strength of oil prices means that headline inflation may not decline as quickly as it would otherwise have done, but inflation in energy costs is still set to fall. What’s more, while oil... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP Breakdown (Q4) The second euro-zone GDP release for Q4 revealed that the 0.3% decline was due to falls in household spending, investment and exports. While GDP might stabilise in Q1, we suspect that this broad-based... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Focus on oil prices neglects wider commodity picture The recent rise in oil prices has sparked fears that CPI inflation will not fall as fast as hoped. However, the focus on oil prices ignores the fact that other commodity prices have risen by less, if... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Data Response Mergers and Acquisitions (Q4) Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the UK strengthened a little in Q4, but remains subdued by past standards. At the margin, this will dampen Central London office occupier demand, adding to our... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Will oil continue to outperform? Many of the usual relationships between oil and other commodity prices have broken down in the past year, with the cost of crude rising to its highest level since 2008 while the prices of key... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Halifax House Prices (Feb.) On its own, the latest dip in house prices is nothing to be too concerned about. But with mortgage interest rates edging up again and unemployment still rising, the downward trend in prices is likely... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
