Asia Economics Weekly Bank of Korea set to hike again The Bank of Korea (BoK) meets this week and we expect it to raise its base rate by 25bp to 2.50%. Monetary policy remains stimulatory and the BoK has grown increasingly concerned about rising price... 6th September 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly IMF too sanguine about the risk of a sovereign default Last week, the IMF published a note outlining why it believes that a government default in the advanced world is “unnecessary, undesirable and unlikely”. While the note makes several valid points, we... 6th September 2010 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazilian growth slows to a more sustainable pace 3rd September 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Has the Spanish retail property market outlook improved? The increase in Spanish household spending in the first half of 2010 suggests that the outlook for Spanish retail property may be improving. However, we remain cautious. Among other things, with one... 3rd September 2010 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Data Response IPF Consensus Forecasts (August) Respondents to the IPF Consensus continue to anticipate that commercial property capital values will stabilise over the remainder of this year but will edge lower next year. The weakest forecast is... 3rd September 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indonesia steps up its policy tightening Bank Indonesia (BI) left its policy rate at 6.5% today, as expected. However, it also announced that the reserve requirement will rise from 5% to 8%, starting from the beginning of November. The... 3rd September 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Is Romania on the brink again? Yesterday’s cabinet reshuffle in Romania does not present any immediate risk to the IMF-led loan programme. But it underlines the tense political situation and the deep divisions in parliament over... 3rd September 2010 · 1 min read
UK Data Response UK CIPS/Markit Report on Services (Aug.) August’s CIPS/Markit Report on Services echoed the sister reports on manufacturing and construction already released this week in signalling a sharp slowdown in growth across the economy. The dangers... 3rd September 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asia's manufacturing boom is easing to a pace that can last The manufacturing PMIs declined in August. The global upswing is shifting to a slower pace but we expect that the industrial sector expansion in Asia will stabilise at trend rather than collapse. 3rd September 2010 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Swedish Riksbank continues to strike an upbeat tone The Swedish Riksbank’s decision to raise interest rates for a second meeting running reflects concerns that domestic imbalances may be building. Further hikes seem likely in the near term, but the... 2nd September 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Bulgarian recovery set to lag behind The Bulgarian economy has been slower to recover than many of its peers in Emerging Europe, and it is unlikely to surge ahead anytime soon. We still think that GDP is on course to contract again this... 2nd September 2010 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Chart Pack Housing market activity in the doldrums (Sep 10) GDP growth in the second quarter was revised up to a healthy-looking 1.2%q/q. But closer inspection reveals the recovery to be worryingly dependent on restocking. Once the process of inventory... 2nd September 2010 · 1 min read
BoE Watch MPC stays sanguine on inflation There are still few signs that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)about to change policy in either direction any time soon. We expect interest rates and the asset purchase programme to be left... 2nd September 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB more upbeat, but maintains policy support While the ECB struck a slightly more upbeat tone towards the economy at today’s press conference, it nonetheless maintained its support for the region’s banking sector and remains a long way from... 2nd September 2010 · 1 min read
