Europe Data Response Iceland GDP (Q4) Although Icelandic GDP contracted in the final quarter of last year, the big picture is that annual GDP growth accelerated sharply in 2015. 10th March 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Outlook for remittances remains upbeat The recent market turbulence cast a spotlight on the potential for shifts in capital flows to destabilise emerging markets such as India. One factor that often gets overlooked is the role of overseas... 10th March 2016 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response RICS Residential Market Survey (Feb.) The new buyer enquiries balance dipped a little in February – a tentative sign that the surge of buyers ahead of April’s stamp duty deadline may have already peaked. 10th March 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Data Response Turkey Current Account (Jan.) Turkey’s balance of payments figures for January showed that the current account deficit continued to narrow, although the pace of improvement slowed. The decline in the external shortfall should... 10th March 2016 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Will rising costs force retailers to sharply cut headcounts? News that a number of retailers are seeking to shrink their workforce this year suggests that the jobs recovery that only really got underway in late-2013 may be over already. What’s more, the BRC has... 10th March 2016 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt Consumer Prices (Feb.) The fall in Egyptian inflation to a six-month low of 9.1% y/y in February may make policymakers more confident to push ahead with a devaluation of the pound. 10th March 2016 · 1 min read
China Data Response Consumer & Producer Prices (Feb.) The jump in food inflation last month was seasonal and will prove short-lived. Price pressures elsewhere are likely to pick up in coming quarters but should stop short of becoming a constraint on... 10th March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rate cuts in Korea can’t be ruled out The Bank of Korea (BoK) today left its policy rate unchanged at a record low of 1.50%. The pressure for a rate cut is building against a backdrop of softening economic data, but we are sticking with... 10th March 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Feb.) Corporate bond yields have collapsed since the Bank of Japan adopted negative interest rates. However, with bonds only accounting for a quarter of corporate debt, bank lending rates would also have to... 10th March 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Update New Zealand - Growing chance that rates in New Zealand fall below 2.0% Today’s 0.25% cut in interest rates in New Zealand, to 2.25% from 2.50%, will have been a surprise to most analysts and the financial markets. But as early as July last year we forecast that rates... 10th March 2016 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Iceland GDP (Q4 15) Although Icelandic GDP contracted in the final quarter of last year, the big picture is that annual GDP growth accelerated sharply in 2015. 10th March 2016 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil’s political crisis takes dramatic turn Brazil’s financial markets rallied after news broke last week that former President Lula had been detained (and later released) in relation to the ongoing corruption probe at Petrobras. But this... 9th March 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Limited supply means the fall in Vienna office rents will be reversed Office rents in Vienna declined last year. But with the office vacancy rate amongst the lowest in the euro-zone, and the supply pipeline small, even low levels of demand will drive rents higher. 9th March 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Recent rally in iron ore prices likely to be short-lived The price of iron ore has strengthened significantly so far this year, and saw its largest one-day move on Monday when it rose by almost $10 per tonne. The fact that iron ore has fallen by more than... 9th March 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report US crude stocks rose again last week but a sharp drop in inventories of gasoline seems to have captured the market’s attention. 9th March 2016 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Bank of Canada interest rate cut still on the table The Bank of Canada’s decision to hold its key policy rate at 0.50% today doesn’t mean that further rate cuts are off the table, as it depends on the details of the forthcoming Federal stimulus budget... 9th March 2016 · 1 min read
