Japan Economics Update What is the end-game for Japan’s debt problem? If the end-game for Japan’s public debt problem is direct financing of the budget deficit by the Bank of Japan, this could be a step towards a solution rather than the disaster that many assume... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Stock movements more related to supply than demand With large divergences in stock movements between individual metals, it is unlikely that industrial demand has been the main driver. Instead, trends in inventories appear to have had a better... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response RICS Residential Market Survey (Mar.) Today’s survey data from RICS confirms that the boost to activity generated by April’s stamp duty deadline has peaked. And with the stamp duty deadline now passed, activity should moderate and price... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Is consumer spending about to take off? Following years of weakness, there are signs that private consumption in India is finally finding its feet. Cyclical factors such as looser monetary policy should help to support the nascent recovery... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Elections in Korea deal further blow to reform hopes Yesterday’s parliamentary elections in Korea, which saw the governing Saenuri Party suffer a defeat, represent a major blow to the authority of President Park Guen-hye and further reduce the... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Labour Market (Mar.) The 26,100 rebound in employment in March is something of a relief given the stagnation in the previous three months. With the unemployment rate falling from 5.8% to 5.7%, the labour market appears in... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Further policy loosening in Singapore unlikely The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) today moved to flatten the slope of its nominal effective exchange rate policy band, a decision that amounts to a loosening of its policy stance. But with... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Mar.) While corporate debt has been broadly stable relative to output in recent years, firms have never been in a better position to service their debt as interest rates have collapsed and profits have... 14th April 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report US crude oil inventories rose last week thanks to a rise in net imports and to a fall in inputs to refineries, which helps explain why gasoline stocks were down on the week. 13th April 2016 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentina ruling clears way for return to bond market The decision just announced by a US appeals court effectively clears the way for the Argentine government to return to international capital markets imminently. This isn’t the end of the road for the... 13th April 2016 · 1 min read
US Economics Focus The election and its implications for the economy and markets The most likely outcome of the elections on November 8 th is that Hillary Clinton will be the next President with the Republicans maintaining control of both the House and Senate. But we wouldn’t... 13th April 2016 · 1 min read
DM Markets Chart Pack What’s behind the dollar’s slide? The US dollar has slid against other major currencies since its peak on 20th January. This has been due to higher commodity prices, greater appetite for safe havens and a scaling back of expectations... 13th April 2016 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Bank of Canada will cut rates later this year The Bank of Canada’s decision to hold interest rates at 0.50% and to remain neutral on the rate outlook was largely in response to the improvement in economic growth early this year, fiscal stimulus... 13th April 2016 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC trims its demand outlook on growth fears OPEC production was stable last month. However, the group has cut its forecast for demand growth this year on fears of slower economic growth in China and Latin America. 13th April 2016 · 1 min read
UK Markets Chart Pack Mood improves but Brexit fears still evident Over the past month, UK equities have continued to recover, while corporate bond spreads have narrowed, bolstered by the general improvement in sentiment in global markets after the turmoil around the... 13th April 2016 · 1 min read