Latin America Economics Update Brazil: beware the pitfalls of resource-based development 7th September 2010 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update What is the interest-only mortgage clampdown telling us? Recent press reports that some major mortgage lenders are further restricting the availability of interest-only mortgages are a fresh sign that credit conditions are tightening. 7th September 2010 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Data Response Mergers and Acquisitions Activity (Q2 10) The nascent recovery in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity involving UK firms appears to have stalled in Q2. Against the backdrop of subdued economic growth, M&A activity is likely to remain... 7th September 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Bank of Japan turns more dovish The Bank of Japan (BoJ) left rates unchanged today but the accompanying policy statement was more cautious on the outlook. This is a positive step but the BoJ will probably stay reluctant to implement... 7th September 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Further rate hikes still look close in Australia The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held its cash rate at 4.5% today, as expected. Nevertheless, the local economic upswing remains strong, at a time when there is little spare capacity. Accordingly... 7th September 2010 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Residential loan losses may return to haunt banks Banks were back in the news last week, announcing the largest quarterly increase in net income since the recession began. This was mainly due to the first decline in the value of non-current loans... 6th September 2010 · 1 min read
Global Inflation Watch Deflation remains a slow-burning threat (Q2 2010) A rebound in some commodity prices and stabilisation of core inflation rates suggest that the immediate risk of deflation has diminished, but in fact it remains a significant threat in just about... 6th September 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Czech rate hawks undone by the data July’s slump in Czech retail sales was not a huge surprise, given that June’s surge was built on flimsy foundations. By contrast, the slowdown in industrial production growth, while exacerbated by... 6th September 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update "Plan B" is to bank on the MPC The apparent lack of a “plan B” for the public finances should the economy be weaker than the Government expects supports our forecasts of sluggish growth and further monetary loosening. 6th September 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Pakistan gets some help from the IMF The IMF late last week approved an emergency $0.45bn loan for Pakistan. The funding is small compared to the cost of the reconstruction work but is a vote of confidence in a government whose initial... 6th September 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Is there any point doing more QE? With the economic recovery flagging, attention is turning to what further support policymakers can provide. While there are question marks over whether further central bank asset purchases would... 6th September 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update New Zealand's central bank to pause in September The weekend earthquake in the South Island makes it virtually certain that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) will pause its monetary policy tightening next week. The latest shock comes on top of... 6th September 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan's stock market should outperform soon The Bank of Japan’s recent decision to loosen monetary policy further has had little impact on Japan’s asset markets and the yen, which have continued to take their cue from developments overseas. We... 6th September 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Double-dip dangers deepen Last week didn’t look likely to be a particularly memorable one as far as domestic news is concerned. But it’s just possible that it will turn out to be the week when the threat of a renewed recession... 6th September 2010 · 1 min read
