Europe Chart Pack Growth steady but slow Early indications from business surveys suggest that the euro-zone economy has continued to grow at a steady but slow pace at the beginning of the fourth quarter. For example, the composite PMI... 3rd November 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Stress tests offer little hope of Greek lending revival ECB stress tests have offered some comfort about Greek banks’ solvency, but they are not out of the woods. And with a lack of access to cheap funding and depressed deposits seriously restricting banks... 2nd November 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Oct.) The euro-zone’s peripheral economies appear to have improved their fiscal positions in the year to September. But progress hasn’t been sufficient for most to put their debt ratios on a downward trend... 2nd November 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Markets pressure ECB to deliver Policymakers at the ECB have seemingly been priming the markets for additional stimulus to be announced in December. With some form of easing now priced into the market, the Bank is under pressure to... 30th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI (Oct.) & Unemployment (Sep.) While the euro-zone avoided a second straight month of falling prices in October, the absence of inflation in the region keeps the pressure firmly on the ECB to expand its QE programme in December. 30th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Spain & Austria GDP (Q3, 1st est.) Spain’s economic growth slowed a touch in the third quarter, suggesting that the country’s impressive recovery may be starting to lose a bit of steam. 30th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update German office rental values set for further gains Across the main German cities unemployment rates are close to their lowest levels in decades. Office rents do not look particularly high, office employment is growing, occupier demand is expanding and... 29th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Flash CPI (Oct.) October’s rise in German HICP inflation provided some reassurance that a prolonged period of deflation is not just around the corner. But there is still little sign of underlying price pressures in... 29th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response EC Business & Consumer Survey (Oct.) October’s EC business and consumer survey suggested that the euro-zone’s economic recovery may have gathered some pace at the start of Q4. But it also showed that consumer inflation expectations... 29th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Can the ECB really cut rates even further? While we have argued for some time that the ECB will expand its asset purchases in December, we now expect it to cut its deposit rate further into negative territory too. This seems unlikely to have... 28th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Sweden’s Riksbank loosens policy but still more needed The decision by Sweden’s Riksbank to increase the size of its government bond-buying programme was clearly a response to the growing anticipation of more stimulus from the ECB. We think that these... 28th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Weak inflation expectations add to pressure on ECB The dovish stance taken by the ECB in recent weeks has partly reflected its fear that inflation expectations have become unanchored from the near-2% target. Such concerns are justified, supporting... 28th October 2015 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Sweden’s Riksbank loosens policy but still more needed The decision by Sweden’s Riksbank to increase the size of its government bond-buying programme was clearly a response to the growing anticipation of more stimulus from the ECB. We think that these... 28th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Should we be more positive on prime retail rental growth in France? French consumer spending growth is set to gradually improve in the next few years. This will support better rates of retail sales and occupier demand growth than previously anticipated, leading us to... 27th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Sep.) September’s euro-zone monetary data point to low inflation and continued slow growth, which is likely strengthen the conviction of policymakers at the ECB that more stimulus is needed. 27th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Portugal’s austerity backlash seems set to continue Political wrangling in Portugal since its election has again highlighted the difficulty of imposing endless austerity on a weak economy. The fragile new Government will struggle to meet the European... 26th October 2015 · 1 min read