Europe Economics Focus Banking union: a step rather than a leap forward The euro-zone’s proposed banking union will help to strengthen the region’s financial system. But the benefits will be slow to feed into the real economy. And the current framework for banking union... 18th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German ZEW Survey (Feb.) February’s ZEW survey gave mixed signals, suggesting that whilst the economic situation is improving slowly, investors are losing some optimism about the future. 18th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Is Portugal the next Ireland? Some of the conditions that preceded Ireland’s strong investment market recovery a couple of years ago are now evident in Portugal. GDP is expanding at a decent rate, while the deficit reduction... 18th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Will the recent falls in euro-zone yields continue this year? Broad-based economic growth across the euro-zone in Q4 last year clearly helps to explain the recent widespread falls in property yields. We doubt that GDP growth across the region will suddenly surge... 17th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly GDP figures don't preclude the need for ECB action Q4’s euro-zone GDP figures confirmed that the currency union’s economic situation improved marginally at the end of last year, but the ECB will need to take further action to ensure that the recovery... 17th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP (Q4) The modest growth of the euro-zone economy in Q4 will have done little to address the deep-seated problems of the peripheral countries or to head off the dangers of deflation across the currency union... 14th February 2014 · 1 min read
Non-Euro Europe Commercial Property Chart Pack Property yields continue to edge lower Investment demand for commercial property in 2013 as a whole was relatively strong in the UK and Emerging Europe. But it weakened in Scandinavia, despite signs of improving economic fundamentals and... 13th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Rates hikes in Sweden remain a distant prospect The Swedish Riksbank reiterated at its meeting today that it does not expect to raise interest rates until early next year. But we think that the expected start date of its tightening cycle will... 13th February 2014 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Rates hikes in Sweden remain a distant prospect The Swedish Riksbank reiterated at its meeting today that it does not expect to raise interest rates until early next year. But we think that the expected start date of its tightening cycle will... 13th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Dec.) December’s weak industrial production figures highlight that the euro-zone’s industrial recovery remains fragile. 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Sedlabanki holds, but will hike later this year Although the Icelandic central bank left its policy rate unchanged today, the Sedlabanki gave a strong indication that it is likely to tighten policy later this year. 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Sedlabanki holds, but will hike later this year Although the Icelandic central bank left its policy rate unchanged today, the Sedlabanki gave a strong indication that it is likely to tighten policy later this year. 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Slide in Norwegian krone may not be over yet Although the Norwegian krone will fare better in 2014 than it did last year, the currency may well depreciate a little further. 10th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly The ECB is too sanguine about monetary problems The euro-zone’s difficult monetary conditions will add to the disinflationary pressures in the region. Admittedly, Mario Draghi suggested last week that temporary factors such as the AQR were... 10th February 2014 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Slide in Norwegian krone may not be over yet Although the Norwegian krone will fare better in 2014 than it did last year, the currency may well depreciate a little further. 10th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Chart Pack First signs of occupier market stabilisation? Further rises in euro-zone economic activity and sentiment over the past few months have helped to maintain a robust level of investment demand for commercial property in the region. And in contrast... 7th February 2014 · 1 min read