Europe Economics Update More austerity pain to come for euro-zone The EC’s latest batch of country reports shows that the euro-zone has already achieved substantial structural reform and fiscal consolidation. But the region faces several more years of painful reform... 11th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response French & Italian Ind. Production (Apr.)/ Italian GDP (Q1) Today’s Italian Q1 GDP breakdown and industrial production data suggested that the economy might return to growth in Q2. But France’s latest industrial production figures show that the recovery there... 10th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly ECB still at the back of the pack While the ECB made a number of announcements last week, the policies involved are not as bold as they might seem. The interest rate cuts were clearly tiny and the decision not to sterilise bond... 9th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Iceland GDP (Q1) The small fall in Icelandic GDP in the first quarter of 2014 was somewhat disappointing but we do not think that this marks the start of a renewed deterioration in the economy. 6th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Industrial Production & Trade (Apr.) April’s German industrial production and trade data added to signs that the recovery in the euro-zone’s largest economy may already be slowing. 6th June 2014 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Iceland GDP (Q1 14) The small fall in Icelandic GDP in the first quarter of 2014 was somewhat disappointing but we do not think that this marks the start of a renewed deterioration in the economy. 6th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Germany's share of total property investment unlikely to fall this year Euro-zone occupier markets stand to benefit as economic growth becomes broader based across the region. Yet while property investment in most countries should increase as a result, over the next year... 5th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB finally tackling deflation risks, but needs to do more The ECB unveiled an array of policies to boost bank lending and counter deflationary risks today. But there are uncertainties over how effective these policies will be. And while it is good news that... 5th June 2014 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update ECB falls well short of Bank of Japan’s bold easing The muted market responses to the ECB’s policy announcements today are not necessarily a sign of failure: equity prices, bond yields and the euro itself all edged a little further in the desired... 5th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Housing & energy still constraints on Norwegian growth Although we have nudged up our forecasts in light of recent data, Norway’s economy is still set to expand by less than the Norges Bank expects. This may prompt it to delay raising rates until 2016. 5th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (Apr.) & Ger. Factory Orders (Apr.) April’s retail sales data suggested that euro-zone consumers may be beginning to return to the high-street, although so far this seems to have come at the expense of non-retail spending. 5th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Finland GDP (Q1) Q1 GDP data confirmed that Finland’s economy is still struggling to exit its recession. Indeed, it now seems that 2014 will mark the third straight year of economic contraction for the northernmost... 5th June 2014 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Finland GDP (Q1 14) Q1 GDP data confirmed that Finland’s economy is still struggling to exit its recession. Indeed, it now seems that 2014 will mark the third straight year of economic contraction for the northernmost... 5th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Deflation risks still mounting May’s fall in euro-zone HICP inflation from 0.7% to 0.5% left it at its joint weakest rate since October 2009 and far beneath the ECB’s 2% price stability ceiling. There is no sign of inflationary... 4th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP Breakdown (Q1), Final PMI (May) & PPI (Apr.) The latest batch of data on the euro-zone maintained the strong pressure on the ECB to provide further policy stimulus at tomorrow’s Governing Council meeting. 4th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Is the euro-zone turning Japanese? There is a real and growing danger that the euro-zone enters a Japanese-style bout of flat or falling prices. But even a prolonged period of low positive inflation would seriously hamper the... 3rd June 2014 · 1 min read
