UK Data Response Mortgage Lending (Aug.) The latest mortgage lending statistics from the Bank of England show that mortgage market activity weakened once again in August. Declining buyer demand means that approvals could drop even further... 29th September 2010 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Mortgage Lending (Aug.) The latest mortgage lending statistics from the Bank of England show that mortgage market activity weakened once again in August. Declining buyer demand means that approvals could drop even further... 29th September 2010 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Would dollar weakness force China to revalue? Chinese policymakers probably would respond to any substantial fall in the dollar by allowing more rapid renminbi appreciation. But hopes that a dollar collapse could force China into the sort of... 29th September 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Tankan Survey (Sep.) The Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan confirmed that business conditions were still improving in the third quarter but will be tougher in the fourth. 29th September 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russian rates on hold, policymakers remain dovish The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) kept its key interest rates unchanged earlier today and issued a dovish accompanying statement. But in reality official interest rates have little bearing on market... 29th September 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update EC sanctions won’t cure the euro-zone’s imbalances Proposed EC sanctions for euro-zone countries with high public debt, large current account deficits or housing market bubbles are being sold as a key step towards rebalancing and hence strengthening... 28th September 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update What else can the MPC buy? The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) may soon relaunch its programme of quantitative easing (or QE). But this time around, the Committee could buy a rather wider range of assets. 28th September 2010 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Are we on the cusp of a currency war? Last night Brazil’s Finance Minister reportedly warned of a global “currency war”. We think direct currency intervention by policymakers in the major western developed economies at least is very... 28th September 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Is Ireland on the brink? The recent run of disappointing news from Ireland means that public debt is looking increasingly likely to reach Greek proportions, suggesting that the Irish Government may eventually be left with... 28th September 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Flash CPI (Sep.) & Consumer Confidence (Oct.) September’s rise in German HICP inflation appears to have reflected temporary energy and food effects. Core inflation remains extremely subdued and we still see the headline rate coming close to zero... 28th September 2010 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Taking stock of Brazil’s 'currency war' Last night’s warning by the Brazilian Finance Minister, Guido Mantega, that an ‘international currency war’ has broken out has grabbed some predictable headlines. We discussed the issue of rapid... 28th September 2010 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Land Registry Repeat Sales Index (Aug.) Coming after several recent reports of renewed falls in house prices, the latest rise in the Land Registry Repeat Sales Index only serves to highlight the uncertainty around the housing market at the... 28th September 2010 · 1 min read
UK Data Response National Accounts & Balance of Payments (Q2) Q2’s national accounts and balance of payments figures brought mixed signals on the fundamental health of the UK economy. There are still good reasons to be concerned over the sustainability of the... 28th September 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Turning more cautious Smaller businesses in Japan took a more downbeat view of the outlook in September as yen strength, domestic political uncertainties, and the spat with China all had an impact. But the survey does not... 28th September 2010 · 1 min read
