Nordic & Swiss Data Response Sweden Econ. Tendency Survey (Feb.) & Trade (Jan.) The recent softening of the Economic Tendency Survey suggests that the Swedish economy lost some momentum at the start of 2018. But the survey still implies that growth will remain strong. 27th February 2018 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response Nigeria GDP (Q4 2017) The weaker-than-expected pick-up in Nigerian GDP growth in Q4, to 1.9% y/y, masked an encouraging improvement in the non-oil sector. There are signs that the recovery gathered pace at the start of... 27th February 2018 · 1 min read
RBA Watch Lowe’s “gradual” signal on progress towards rate hikes The Reserve Bank of Australia will almost certainly leave interest rates on hold at 1.5% at its policy meeting on Tuesday 6 th March and it will probably continue to signal that there is no risk of a... 27th February 2018 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Activity Monitor Further slowdown of EM GDP growth Our GDP Tracker suggests that EM growth softened at the end of last year and early indicators point to further weakness at the start of 2018. 26th February 2018 · 1 min read
Latin America Chart Pack Rising political risks shouldn’t derail recovery Political risks are rising across Latin America. In Colombia and Mexico, left-leaning candidates have consolidated their leads in opinion polls ahead of presidential elections later this year, while... 26th February 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Rising Dutch house prices to support economic growth The Dutch housing market is set to perform well this year and next. And as there is a strong link between house prices and consumer spending, this should give the already strong-economy a further... 26th February 2018 · 1 min read
Canada Chart Pack Core inflation edging closer to 2% target The Bank of Canada’s preferred core inflation measures have trended higher and are close to the 2% inflation target. Despite the drop in headline inflation in January, the core inflation data will... 26th February 2018 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response New Home Sales (Jan.) The 7.8% m/m drop in new home sales in January looks, at least partly, to reflect cold weather in the South and Northeast. With inventory levels at nine-year highs, and demand supported by rising... 26th February 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Steel Production (Jan.) World Steel Association (WSA) data showed a 0.8% y/y increase in global steel production in January led by higher output in the EU, India and Turkey. US production remained weak, which is one reason... 26th February 2018 · 1 min read
Africa Chart Pack Political drama overshadows gradual recovery Attention over the past month has focused on political developments in South Africa and (to an admittedly lesser extent) Ethiopia. After refusing to heed repeated calls to reign, South African... 26th February 2018 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Aluminium Production (Jan.) Global aluminium output continued to grow strongly in January, led by increases in China and other Asian countries. With no apparent shortage of supply, we expect prices to ease back in 2018. 26th February 2018 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response UK Finance Mortgage Lending (Jan.) January’s surge in mortgage approvals is not the sign of the market springing back to life, but simply a reversal of the distortions caused by November’s rate hike. The outlook for lending this year... 26th February 2018 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Hungary’s unconventional easing fails to convince markets Long-term bond yields in Hungary have risen further this year than those of the country’s peers, despite the central bank’s efforts to bring them down. It seems that markets are coming around to our... 26th February 2018 · 1 min read
UK Markets Outlook Markets still underestimating pace of rate hikes Financial markets are now pricing in a 60% probability of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raising Bank Rate by a further 25bps in May, up from around 40% at the start of the year. But we still... 26th February 2018 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia Consumer Prices (Jan.) The sharp rise in Saudi inflation in January was almost entirely the result of various austerity measures that came into effect at the start of this year. That said, a change to the base year of the... 26th February 2018 · 1 min read
