UK Economics Update OBR forecasts do not point to a soft Budget The lower path of public borrowing projected by the Office for Budget Responsibility might seem to relieve some of the pressure for an additional fiscal tightening in next week’s Budget. But we don’t... 14th June 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update OBR forecasts do not point to a soft Budget The lower path of public borrowing projected by the Office for Budget Responsibility might seem to relieve some of the pressure for an additional fiscal tightening in next week’s Budget. But we don’t... 14th June 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Firms shrug off financial markets’ worries Today’s Business Outlook Survey provides further evidence that Japanese companies are much less worried than the markets appear to be about the damage to economic prospects from the crisis in Europe... 14th June 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Will Swiss commercial property outperformance last? Our more upbeat forecasts for the Swiss economy relative to the euro-zone do not imply that Swiss property will continue to outperform. Indeed, we see yields staying put until 2012, meaning that its... 14th June 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update India set to hike rates again soon Data from India released today, and late last week, showed that inflation pressures have picked up again while the economic upswing has stayed strong. Further monetary tightening is only a matter of... 14th June 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Recovery continues, but fiscal squeeze looms On the face of it, the latest news on the euro-zone economy has been reasonably encouraging, suggesting that the recovery has continued despite the fiscal crisis. National data point to another... 14th June 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly New PM makes a good start We have become a bit more positive about the prospects for real progress on Japan’s public finances following the first week of Naoto Kan’s premiership. Nonetheless, the first real test will come at... 14th June 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly OBR’s forecasts to underline need for a tough Budget This week’s pronouncements by the newly created Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) could set a gloomy backdrop for the emergency Budget due in just over a week’s time. For a start, the OBR is... 14th June 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Can Malaysia deliver on structural reform? Malaysia’s latest plan to boost its competitiveness, announced last week, looks realistic and achievable. Effective implementation of the new reforms will be key. But the target of lifting GDP growth... 14th June 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Franc’s surge a reminder of fragility of East Europe’s banks The recent surge in the Swiss franc has rekindled fears over the health of Eastern Europe’s banking sector. As it happens, the bulk of foreign currency lending in the region has taken place in euros... 11th June 2010 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Shrinking corporate savings – a worry for Treasuries? 11th June 2010 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update A shift is underway Today brought fresh evidence that not only does the past year’s house price bounce appear to have run its course but it now seems to be moving into reverse. Of course, all that could yet change. But... 11th June 2010 · 1 min read
UK Data Response UK Ind. Prod. (Apr.), Producer Prices & Infl. Exp. (May) Today’s UK data contained mixed news on the inflation outlook, with easing cost pressures contrasting with rising inflation expectations. We still place little weight on inflation expectations as an... 11th June 2010 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Diminishing inflation threat should keep rates on hold Consumer price inflation has just edged above 3% but with price pressures still low and output growth already slowing, there is no pressing need to tighten policy. Indeed, we no longer expect interest... 11th June 2010 · 1 min read
