Europe Data Response EC Business and Consumer Survey (Feb.) The rise in the euro-zone Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) for February adds to the evidence that the coronavirus has had little impact on the economy so far. But the survey was conducted before the... 27th February 2020 · 2 mins read
Non-Euro Europe Commercial Property Chart Pack Scandinavia & Switzerland: Retail still in the doldrums All-property rental growth eased across most markets in 2019, but the slowdown was concentrated in the retail sector. Admittedly, the Swiss markets remain a bright spot as prime retail rents increased... 27th February 2020 · 6 mins read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Rising risk to the Swiss economy from coronavirus The outsized importance of cross-border commuters to the Swiss economy means that it is particularly vulnerable to any disruption to flows of people within Europe as a result of the coronavirus... 26th February 2020 · 3 mins read
Europe Economics Update Portugal’s economy to slow but remain a bright spot Portugal’s economy has been a relative bright spot in the euro-zone in recent years and we think it will fare better than average again this year. Nonetheless, quarterly GDP growth looks set to slow... 25th February 2020 · 3 mins read
Europe Data Response German GDP Q4 2019 (Second Estimate) After flat-lining in Q4 last year, we suspect that the German economy will not grow in the first half of this year either, even if the effects of the coronavirus are contained. 25th February 2020 · 2 mins read
Europe Data Response German Ifo Survey (Feb.) The small increase in the Ifo Business Climate Index in February will be a relief for those braced for a big hit from the coronavirus. However, the index is still below its level in December and... 24th February 2020 · 2 mins read
Europe Economics Weekly Surveys do little to dispel gloomy outlook The economic surveys this week suggested that the euro-zone economy held up better in the face of the coronavirus than had been feared. But the detail of the PMIs still showed that the virus had taken... 21st February 2020 · 7 mins read
Europe Commercial Property Chart Pack Further slowdown in capital value growth ahead Although euro-zone rental value growth slowed in 2019, further falls in property yields supported capital values. Despite the soft economic backdrop, capital value growth should hold up in coming... 21st February 2020 · 9 mins read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Feb.) The unexpected rise in the euro-zone Composite PMI in February will have assuaged fears that the region’s economy has been adversely affected by supply-chain disruption as a result of the coronavirus... 21st February 2020 · 3 mins read
Europe Economics Update ECB’s more positive outlook won’t have lasted long The account of the ECB’s January meeting suggests that the ECB was becoming a little more positive on the economic outlook. But weak data and the spread of the coronavirus since then will have surely... 20th February 2020 · 3 mins read
FX Markets Update Euro likely to end 2020 even weaker against the dollar While the euro has already fallen to its lowest level in nearly two years against the US dollar, we think that it will drop a bit further during the rest of 2020, pushed down by several factors... 19th February 2020 · 3 mins read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Swedish Consumer Prices (Jan.) The sharper-than-expected fall in Swedish inflation in January may test the Riksbank’s resolve to keep policy unchanged. With subdued GDP growth likely to weigh on underlying inflation this year, we... 19th February 2020 · 2 mins read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Is the SNB learning to live with a stronger franc? While we suspect that the SNB has intervened to slow the rise of the franc in recent weeks, it has not prevented it from reaching a multi-year high against the euro. At the margin, an increased... 18th February 2020 · 3 mins read
Europe Economics Update Italy at risk of falling into recession, again After Italy’s economy shrank at the end of last year, it looks set to continue to struggle in 2020. In fact, there is a clear risk that it falls back into recession for the fourth time since 2008. 18th February 2020 · 2 mins read
Europe Economics Update A primer on Irish reunification The recent election result in Ireland has made the prospect of reunification slightly less remote. In this Update, we answer four political questions and four economic questions about what it might... 17th February 2020 · 9 mins read
Europe Economics Weekly ECB on hold until later this year The recent economic data have continued to be weak, and ECB policymakers seem more united behind their current “unconventional” policy than they were last year. However, we see no chance of further... 14th February 2020 · 6 mins read
