Europe Economics Update Greece on a knife edge Greece is in the midst of another hellish week and now faces no choice but to seek to formally activate the European rescue package. While this may help to ease the markets’ frazzled nerves, the... 22nd April 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Philippines monetary tightening to shift gears soon The Philippines central bank (BSP) left its key policy rate unchanged at 4.00%, as expected, but a first rate hike is now close. We expect a move at the next meeting on 3rd June once the 10th May... 22nd April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Consumers fight off pre-election jitters (Apr 10) Consumer spending has continued to bounce back from the snow and VAT related weakness seen at the start of the year. And with consumer confidence holding up despite the looming fiscal squeeze, the... 22nd April 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Focus What can Czech policymakers do about the koruna? Attempts by Czech policymakers to stem the recent rise in the koruna may have some effect at the margin, but we doubt that they will do much to fundamentally alter the value of the currency. In the... 22nd April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Public Finances & Retail Sales (Mar.) March’s public finances figures provided the Government with a modest pre-election boost in revealing an unexpected undershoot of the Budget forecasts for public borrowing in 2009/10. But a long and... 22nd April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Data Response RICS Commercial Property Market Survey (Q1 2010) Today’s RICS survey showed that new lettings activity rose again in Q1 and is set to remain solid over the next few quarters. This should start to soak up vacant space and we continue to expect the... 22nd April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Markets Chart Pack Markets fail to buy into hung parliament “nightmare” (Apr 10) Much has been made of the implications for the markets of a hung parliament outcome after the general election on May 6th. But we doubt that the absence of a decisive victory for any of the main... 21st April 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Gas deal boosts prospects in Ukraine, but risks remain Today’s gas deal with Russia is undoubtedly a boost for the Ukrainian economy’s near-term prospects, and keeps it on course for an impressive bounce back this year. But with the new government yet to... 21st April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus UK Election Preview - The phoney fiscal debate The outcome of the general election on May 6 is unlikely to transform the basic trajectory of the UK economy over the next five years. Whoever gains power will find their economic policy priorities... 21st April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Fragile labour market is still a threat to the housing market A number of temporary factors such as the snow, the end of last year’s stamp duty holiday and now the election, have all been blamed for the drop in housing market activity in the early part of the... 21st April 2010 · 1 min read
China Economics Update What should we make of China’s property crackdown? China’s attempt to crack down on speculative activity in its property markets does not signal that a property bubble is either inflating or about to burst. The new measures should help to tame price... 21st April 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thai rates will still probably move up by mid-year The Bank of Thailand (BoT) left its policy rate unchanged at 1.25% today, as was universally expected. The economy warrants higher rates but the political situation needs to calm first. We are not as... 21st April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Resilience of Dutch retail rents unlikely to last The fading recovery in consumer confidence highlights the fact that retail occupier demand in the Netherlands is likely to remain pretty fragile. And with property-specific supports to headline rental... 21st April 2010 · 1 min read
