Nordic & Swiss Data Response Swiss GDP (Q4 13) While Q4’s Swiss GDP figures were a bit disappointing, they do not suggest that the economy is succumbing to the strength of the exchange rate. 27th February 2014 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Weaker euro should help euro-zone equities to outperform One development that is likely to cap future rises in long-term government bond yields in some of the major advanced economies is the persistence of exceptionally loose monetary policy. But this is... 26th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Are Stockholm retail rents poised to take-off again? Retail rental values in Stockholm ended 2013 strongly, rising by 2%q/q in Q4. This pushed the annual rate of rental growth above 2% for the first time since mid-2012. We expect rental growth to... 26th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Feb 14.) The smaller euro-zone peripheral economies made good fiscal progress last year, but the adjustment process is by no means over yet. Italy and Spain fared less well. As a result, this year, they may... 26th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Danish mortgage market set to weather regulatory storm Denmark’s mortgage-bond market, the third largest covered bond market in the world, looks set to avoid a painful regulatory overhaul that might have weighed on the country’s recovery. 26th February 2014 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Danish mortgage market set to weather regulatory storm Denmark’s mortgage-bond market, the third largest covered bond market in the world, looks set to avoid a painful regulatory overhaul that might have weighed on the country’s recovery. 26th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update European elections may hinder national reform efforts A surge in support for euro-sceptic parties at the European Parliament elections in May will probably have little direct impact on the institution itself. But rising support for populist parties may... 24th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Ifo Survey (Feb 14.) The rise in February’s German Ifo survey suggests that the economic recovery has continued to pick up some momentum in the early months of 2014. But growth in the euro-zone’s main engine looks set to... 24th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Slow euro-zone recovery leaves deflation threat lurking The euro-zone’s recovery appears to have continued at the beginning of 2014. But the recovery is struggling to gather enough pace to banish the deflationary menace facing the region. 24th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Feb.) February’s euro-zone PMIs suggest that the region’s recovery is struggling to gather pace. This will keep pressure on the ECB to loosen policy further. 20th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Dutch recovery on track, but pace will slow The Netherlands was the fastest growing euro-zone economy in Q4. But while the country is on the road to recovery, growth will slow in the coming quarters. 19th February 2014 · 1 min read
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