China Economics Update What should we make of China’s concerns over QE? China is concerned that widespread adoption of quantitative easing in major economies poses a threat to exchange rate stability. But we should be wary of jumping to conclusions on what this means for... 8th May 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB disappoints on unconventional policies The ECB continues to lag behind. Although it delivered a 25bp interest rate cut today, the unconventional policy measures also announced look very timid compared to those already adopted by other... 7th May 2009 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update IMF approves FCL for Poland, few others likely to follow 7th May 2009 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Severe drought worsens outlook for Argentina 7th May 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Focus Retail rents: the euro-zone will outperform emerging Europe Our forecasts envisage that, in general, rental values in the euro-zone will hold up better through the recession in retail than in industrial markets. But the same will not be true in emerging Europe... 7th May 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update MPC steps up QE, but effects still highly uncertain While the Monetary Policy Committee’s decision today to step up its programme of quantitative easing (QE) came a month earlier than we anticipated, there are still considerable uncertainties over the... 7th May 2009 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Should we trust signs of life in Asian exports? (May 09) There are tentative signs from several Asian economies that exports are starting to recover. Shipments from Asia ex-Japan are still a fifth below their level of a year ago. However, the pace of... 7th May 2009 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update What will mortgage affordability look like in five years’ time? Measures of mortgage affordability are suggesting that houses are already good value. But these measures are reflecting the abnormally low current level of interest rates. When interest rates return... 7th May 2009 · 1 min read
Latin America Economic Outlook Worst recession in 80 years (Q2 09) Latin America’s GDP looks set to contract by 4% this year due to the collapse of commodity prices in 2008, low risk appetite and the sharp fall in demand for Latin American exports. There have been... 7th May 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Italy: is something moving under the surface? The old adage goes that if you ask ten economists their views on something you get ten different answers. But there is one topic where nearly all economists agreed some years back: the prognosis for... 7th May 2009 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Focus Can China grow by 8% this year? Signs of recovery in China have bolstered confidence that the economy can achieve or beat the government’s target of 8% GDP growth in 2009. But we suspect that China is growing more slowly than the... 6th May 2009 · 1 min read
