Europe Economics Weekly ECB rate cut to provide only a little boost The ECB’s unexpected interest rate cut last week was certainly a pleasant surprise and suggests that it is not writing off the potential threat of deflation. But there was little in the press... 11th November 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Rate cut welcome, but not a game-changer While the ECB’s largely unexpected decision to cut interest rates was welcome, the central bank cannot address the deep-seated problems still facing the currency union. 7th November 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Investment market recovery not warranted by occupier fundamentals Increased optimism in the euro-zone’s economic outlook may have prompted some investors to look through what they perceive to be the final stages of the occupier market downturn. But October’s fall in... 7th November 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Industrial Production (Sep.) September’s German industrial production figures suggest that the country’s supposed growth engine may have slowed somewhat, if not stalled. 7th November 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Chart Pack Robust investment market built on shaky fundamentals The improvement in the euro-zone economy has supported a relatively active quarter for commercial property investment in Q3. Moreover, some types of investors have become increasingly willing to look... 6th November 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack ECB likely to soften stance but refrain from action The fall in euro-zone CPI inflation to a four year low of 0.7% has raised the prospect of a bout of outright deflation in the euro-zone economy. While cost pressures are not as weak as they were when... 6th November 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (Sep.) & Final PMIs (Oct.) October’s fall in the euro-zone composite PMI to 51.9 suggests that the recovery continued at the start of Q4, but at a sluggish pace. Furthermore, September’s retail sales data highlight that... 6th November 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Norway's housing boom is ending Norway’s long housing boom is losing steam. Although a collapse in prices is unlikely, the slowdown in the housing market suggests that the economy will weaken more than the consensus expects. 5th November 2013 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Norway’s housing boom is ending Norway’s long housing boom is losing steam. Although a collapse in prices is unlikely, the slowdown in the housing market suggests that the economy will weaken more than the consensus expects. 5th November 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Should the ECB fear deflation? There are some good reasons why the ECB should be worried about the prospect of a bout of consumer price deflation in the euro-zone. But it is not clear that it has the firepower to prevent it. 4th November 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Credit constraints still a problem despite signs of easing The ECB’s Bank Lending Survey (BLS), published last week, suggested that credit constraints might soon start to ease in the euro-zone. But this improvement is only tentative; the fragility of the... 4th November 2013 · 1 min read
ECB Watch A softer stance With the economic recovery still pretty fragile, the euro climbing higher and inflation falling sharply, President Draghi may adopt a slightly softer stance at the ECB’s interest rate press conference... 31st October 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI (Oct.) & Unemployment (Sep.) The latest euro-zone inflation and unemployment figures provide another clear signal that the recovery is still very fragile and will increase pressure on the ECB to take further action to support the... 31st October 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Any fall in French unemployment will be largely illusory Contrary to expectations, French President François Hollande may fulfil his promise to reduce unemployment by the end of the year. But he will do so by relying on temporary initiatives rather than... 31st October 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone EC Survey, German Unemp. (Oct.) & Spa. GDP (Q3) October’s rise in the EC’s euro-zone Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) suggests that the region’s modest recovery continued in the early stages of Q4. 30th October 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Investment case for Italy weaker than Spain The recent return of some international investors to commercial property markets in Spain and Italy seems to reflect the rapid turnaround in sentiment in both economies over the past year or so. Our... 30th October 2013 · 1 min read
