Europe Economics Update Five key questions on QE in the euro-zone The European Central Bank (ECB) appears finally to be seriously considering the option of implementing quantitative easing (QE). While we have long argued that QE in the euro-zone was a more likely... 22nd April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Negative rates are no silver bullet on their own A negative interest rate on banks' excess reserves at the ECB might have some effect on banks' behaviour and at least prove that the ECB is prepared to follow its dovish words with action. But it must... 21st April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Italian office capital values look set to fall further The low level of confidence in the Italian service sector throughout 2013 is consistent with the underperformance of office capital values versus retail. But while services confidence has since risen... 16th April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update France’s reform effort inches forward Although France’s short-term outlook remains weak, the new French Government’s recent policy announcements provide hope that France is slowly tackling its significant competitiveness problems. 16th April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Can the ECB get the euro down? The ECB’s battle against deflation is turning into a fight to lower the euro exchange rate. But it is far from clear that the central bank will act sufficiently to bring the currency down far enough. 15th April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update When will Copenhagen industrial yields start to move down? Denmark’s lack of external competitiveness and production lost through outsourcing help explain why industrial property yields in Copenhagen remain at a post-crisis high. Yet the outlook for rents now... 15th April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German ZEW Survey (Apr.) & Euro-zone Trade (Feb.) April’s ZEW survey brought further evidence of strength in the German economy. But the fall in expectations raises some concerns over the medium-term outlook. 15th April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Austria’s recovery still faces obstacles Austria is likely to remain one of the best performing euro-zone core economies over the coming years. Even so, the banking sector remains a weak spot and is particularly exposed to an intensification... 15th April 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economic Outlook West to outperform East The world economy should expand steadily in the coming two years, helped by an increasingly strong recovery in the US. However, while the euro-zone has stabilised, it is not growing fast enough to... 14th April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB belatedly waking up to deflation dangers Recent speeches from officials suggest that the ECB has finally accepted that the threat of deflation in the euro-zone warrants further policy action. But it is far from clear that any action will be... 14th April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Feb.) February’s euro-zone industrial production figures confirmed that the sector has made a weak start to 2014 and highlighted the slow and fragile recovery both in industry and in the euro-zone economy... 14th April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Greek debt issue doesn't end the broader crisis Greece’s return to the bond markets last week might appear to mark the end of the euro-zone crisis which began when the true extent of the same country’s fiscal problems came to light in 2010. But... 14th April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greece's return to the market may not be all positive Greece’s successful bond issue highlights the progress that the country has made in recent years. But an increased use of market funding creates its own risks for Greece’s recovery. 10th April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economic Outlook Deflation dangers persist The recovery in the European economy appears to have picked up a bit of speed in the early months of 2014. The euro-zone now looks set to expand by 1% or more this year, a significant improvement on... 10th April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update What explains falls in Swiss office rental values? Falls in office rental values in Zurich and Geneva seem at odds with the growing Swiss economy. But for Zurich at least, weakness in the financial services sector seems to explain why office take-up... 10th April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update How long will Brussels retail rents remain on hold? An increased preference amongst occupiers for shopping centre space and a run-down of leasing incentives probably help to explain why headline shop rents in Brussels have now been flat for three years... 9th April 2014 · 1 min read
