Japan Economics Weekly Still in the grip of deflation The revision to the CPI base-year resulted in a marked downward revision to inflation, showing clearly that Japan is still in the grip of deflation. Although the Bank of Japan has only recently... 16th August 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly French fears deepen crisis Last week saw markets respond fairly positively to the ECB’s bond purchases and Spanish and Italian bond yields fell sharply from dangerously high levels. At the same time, though, France has been... 16th August 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Asia would benefit from a further fall in oil prices Oil prices have slipped back on fears that the world economy may be heading for another downturn. What’s more, our in-house view is that oil prices have further to fall. The impact in emerging Asia of... 16th August 2011 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Is the UK on the ratings hit-list? The downgrade of US sovereign debt and speculation that France might be next has prompted renewed questions over the UK’s own credit standing. While a UK downgrade is not an imminent threat, it is... 16th August 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Risks of fresh declines in French retail rents have increased To date, the strength of demand from international retailers seeking to enter the French retail market has been sufficient to offset softening demand from incumbent brands, in turn helping to support... 13th August 2011 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update What does the market turmoil mean for policy? In the wake of the recent market turmoil, the immediate priority for policymakers is to stabilise the region’s currencies. But if required central banks are more likely to rely on verbal or direct... 13th August 2011 · 1 min read
US Data Response Retail Sales (Jul.) The rise in retail sales values in July supports our view that there will be at least some rebound in economic growth in the third quarter and that another recession will, in all likelihood, be... 13th August 2011 · 1 min read
China Data Response Lending and Broad Money (July) Today’s data show that both net new lending and growth in broad money fell last month. These figures provide further support for our view that the balance of concerns in China is soon likely to shift... 13th August 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Another pause for Peru as policymakers take shelter Peru’s Central Bank (BCRP) kept interest rates at 4.25% for the third successive month last night as policymakers wait to see if the worst of the global market storm has passed over. In the very near... 13th August 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Prod. (Jun.) & French & Greek GDP (Q2) June’s euro-zone industrial production data and Q2’s French GDP figures provide further strong indications that economic growth in the region as a whole slowed sharply in Q2. 13th August 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Tunisia and Morocco are most at risk from the euro-zone crisis It goes without saying that the risks to North Africa’s economies from the deepening crisis in the euro-zone have increased in recent weeks. The EU is the major trading partner and source of tourism... 12th August 2011 · 1 min read
UK Markets Chart Pack Recovery fears spread from bonds to equities The sharp 15% or so fall in UK equities over the last month appears to have reflected a combination of both fading hopes of economic recovery and concerns that policymakers are relatively powerless to... 12th August 2011 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Super-strong Swiss franc hits Hungary & Poland The latest surge in the Swiss franc has turned the spotlight once again on Emerging Europe’s foreign currency debt problem. As it happens, only Hungary, Poland and Croatia have significant amounts of... 12th August 2011 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response International Merchandise Trade (Jun.) Reflecting the growing signs of a global economic slowdown, Canada's merchandise exports fell in June. Even so, there are still good reasons to expect that third-quarter export growth will rebound... 12th August 2011 · 1 min read
