Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Apr.) The flash euro-zone Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for April confirmed that economic activity in the region as a whole is still defying the continued problems in the periphery. 19th April 2011 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Confidence (Mar.) Consumer confidence held up surprisingly well in March, dipping lower after the earthquake but not by as much as might have been expected. Other indicators, such as the Economy Watchers’ Survey (EWS)... 19th April 2011 · 1 min read
Capital Daily Markets shrug off S&P’s decision to put US on negative outlook 19th April 2011 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Hard to argue with negative outlook on US AAA credit rating Given the size of the US Federal deficit, which will be close to 10% of GDP this year, and the daunting medium-term fiscal challenges, it is hard to argue with S&P's decision to put a negative outlook... 18th April 2011 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Focus Is there light at the end of the tunnel? The combination of favourable valuations and exceptional affordability has made housing look like the bargain of a lifetime. But structural constraints on demand are preventing households from taking... 18th April 2011 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Poles apart As expected, Hungarian policymakers kept interest rates unchanged at 6.00% for the third consecutive meeting today. As in the Czech Republic, we now expect rates to remain on hold into 2012. However... 18th April 2011 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Bank of Canada's economic update overly optimistic The Bank of Canada's April Monetary Policy Report showed that it expects the global economy to grow at a steady pace over the next three years. Closer to home, it assumes growth in the US economy will... 18th April 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Why are Brazilian interest rates so high? One of the questions that we are most frequently asked is why are Brazilian interest rates so high? We think that the answer lies in the fact that fiscal policy is too loose and, more generally, that... 18th April 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Will high inflation prevent nominal house price falls? The required correction in real house prices will not be delivered via above-target inflation. With earnings growth failing to keep pace with inflation, in order to close the gap between house prices... 18th April 2011 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly GDP growth slowed to a crawl in first quarter Every data release last week seemed to necessitate a further downward revision to our first-quarter GDP growth forecast. By the end of the week when the dust had finally settled, that estimate was... 18th April 2011 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Little room for manoeuvre in public finances The chances of an imminent fiscal crisis may be small, but public finances have limited room fo rmanoeuvre. Another shock to the economy or investor confidence could mark a tipping point in the... 18th April 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Bank of Thailand set to hike again The Bank of Thailand (BoT) announces its policy rate decision on Wednesday and we expect the repo rate to be raised by 25bp for the fourth meeting in a row, to 2.75%. Prospects for domestic demand... 18th April 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Debt restructuring fears grow Hopes that a Portuguese bail-out would mark a major turning point in the euro-zone’s sovereign debt crisis took a blow last week as comments from euro-zone officials led to renewed concerns about... 18th April 2011 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Inflation drop gives MPC some breathing space March’s fall in CPI inflation has given the doves on the MPC some welcome relief in the run-up to the Committee’s crucial May meeting. Granted, it is far too early to proclaim that the inflation... 18th April 2011 · 1 min read
