Global Markets Focus A mid-year review of our big calls This Focus provides an interim report on the calls that we published at the start of the year. We were right to be cautious on the prospects for the global economy and equity markets and to forecast... 14th July 2011 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Dip in Polish inflation takes pressure off NBP Poland has become the latest country in the region to report slower than expected inflation for June. Once again, the sharp drop in food prices appears to have been caused by one-off factors relating... 14th July 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thailand’s central bank to focus on fiscal developments The Bank of Thailand (BoT) raised its repo rate by 25bp to 3.25% today, as expected. Fiscal policy is likely to be looser under the incoming government than the outgoing administration. The upshot is... 14th July 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Italy’s troubles raise risk of euro-zone break-up The growing recognition that highly indebted economies need more than temporary loans has caused the spotlight to turn on Italy. With EU taxpayers unlikely to stump up enough cash to rescue such a... 14th July 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Outlook No relief in sight for the housing market Our views on valuation, as well as our expectations that the economy and housing market activity levels will remain weak, mean that we anticipate further falls in house prices. But the fact that... 14th July 2011 · 1 min read
Canada Chart Pack Housing starts may have peaked this year Housing starts reached an annualised 197,000 units in June, up from a revised 194,000 in the month before. Housing starts this high are arguably well above estimates of demographic requirements, which... 14th July 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Should we be concerned about the drop in Polish footfall? June’s drop in Polish footfall might suggest that the health of Poland’s retail occupier market is not as strong as many believe. However, the footfall figures are volatile. Together with the strong... 14th July 2011 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Are the best days for German Bunds behind us? German Bunds have prospered from the escalating crisis in the euro-zone. Earlier this week, the 10- year yield briefly hit 2.5% – a new low for the year – before edging up again to 2.7% now. Our base... 14th July 2011 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Update Outperformance by leisure services may not last much longer For now, leisure services operators are managing to combine positive sales volumes growth with price increases. That points to a positive near-term outlook for leisure property rental values... 14th July 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (May) May’s euro-zone industrial production data confirm that the recovery in the sector is far past its peak and suggest that growth in the economy as a whole slowed pretty sharply in the second quarter. 14th July 2011 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Hard landing fears recede, but imbalances grow China’s stronger-than-expected Q2 GDP data should reduce fears about a hard landing in the near future. But the structural trends were less encouraging: consumer spending continues to fall as a share... 14th July 2011 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Labour Market Data (May/Jun.) The labour market figures are still painting a bit of a mixed picture about the strength of the jobs recovery. But with the economic recovery still struggling, we continue to expect unemployment to... 14th July 2011 · 1 min read
China Economics Update What was behind the lending rebound? Last month’s lending rebound was driven by short-term credit and may have done more for asset markets than the economy. Medium and long-term lending increased by the least since 2008. 13th July 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil: credit where credit’s due? The debate about whether or not Brazil is in the midst of a consumer credit bubble has reached fever pitch over the past few days. Our view is that the current pace of credit growth is unsustainable... 13th July 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update The beginning of the end for the euro? The continued failure of European policymakers to agree on a new package to support Greece and the growing signs that larger economies like Spain and Italy are being dragged further into the crisis... 13th July 2011 · 1 min read
