Europe Commercial Property Update Rising office employment points to rental growth in most markets In 2015, office vacancy rates fell in most euro-zone markets. With supply conditions tightening, and office employment picking up at a steady pace, almost every market will see office rents rise this... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update UK Budget 2016 Checklist While we think the UK will do well either inside or outside the EU in the long run, there is potential for a short-term hit to investment in particular. But we don’t think that this would derail the... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Peru Economic Activity (Jan.) Peruvian economic growth slowed sharply in January, but the economy remains in a strong position and we expect GDP growth to accelerate this year. 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Easing global concerns dominate domestic developments Concerns about the strength of the global economy have eased over the past month, boosting market sentiment. This comes despite ongoing worries about the upcoming EU referendum and domestic activity... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Is the ECB about to launch the chopper? While the distribution of helicopter money in the euro-zone is not a likely near-term measure, the lesson of recent years is that seemingly unimaginable policies can become reality. And it may suit... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
Latin America Economic Outlook Feeling the squeeze 2016 is shaping up to be a better year for investors in Latin America than 2015. With global commodity prices now at a bottom and set to edge up this year, we expect most equity markets in the region... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
US Data Response Retail Sales & Producer Prices (Feb.) The February retail sales report was disappointing (taking account also of downward revisions to January data) and means that the risks to our forecast for first quarter-GDP growth of 2.5% annualised... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Data Response Poland CPI (Feb.) The slightly weaker-than-expected Polish inflation figure for last month, of -0.8% y/y, may at the margin make interest rate cuts more likely. However, given the restrained comments from last week’s... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response US silver imports and exports (Dec.) US imports of semi-manufactured silver are showing signs of improvement, suggesting that industrial demand could be on the mend. Meanwhile, US production of silver continued to fall, supporting our... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update People’s Bank of China now as important for markets as US Fed The March FOMC meeting is likely to conclude tomorrow with US interest rates left on hold but clear signals that hikes will resume soon. However, the timing will remain dependent both on future US... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Housing downturn set to weigh on growth in Hong Kong A plunge in home sales in February is the latest sign that Hong Kong’s overheated property market is now in the midst of a correction. We expect the housing market downturn to weigh on economic growth... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response Nigeria Consumer Prices (Feb.) Nigerian inflation rose to 11.6% y/y in February, largely due to the falling parallel market exchange rate. This will deal yet another blow to the controversial FX system. 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update What is the outlook for bank funding costs? Since the turn of the year, market jitters have made longer-term wholesale bank funding more expensive. But cheap short-term funds may prevent a sharp rise in deposit rates, and therefore keep funding... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
Global Inflation Watch Inflation to rise rapidly in the US, but not elsewhere Headline inflation in most advanced economies should rise towards the end of this year, when the effects of the past slump in energy prices finally drop out of the annual comparison. Core inflation... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Sri Lanka GDP (Q4) Today’s GDP figures suggest Sri Lanka’s economy slowed sharply in the fourth quarter of 2015. However, we would be wary of reading too much into the data, given the serious doubts that remain over the... 15th March 2016 · 1 min read
