Europe Economics Update German election campaign offers no hope of fiscal boost The growing likelihood of a grand coalition government after September’s election suggests that Germany’s tough stance on the euro-zone periphery might soften somewhat. However, none of the main... 9th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Norges Bank will be forced into a cut by end-2013 The Norges Bank left interest rates unchanged today as concerns about rising household debt once again outweighed the need to weaken the currency and boost inflation. But our expectation for the euro... 8th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Industrial Production (Mar.) March’s German industrial production figures suggest that the sector has gained momentum over the quarter, but a sustained and robust recovery still seems unlikely. 8th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Can the ECB make negative rates work? The ECB appears to have concluded that it can limit the adverse side-effects of imposing negative interest rates on commercial banks’ deposits. But even if this is the case, negative rates are not... 8th May 2013 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Norges Bank will be forced into a cut by end-2013 The Norges Bank left interest rates unchanged today as concerns about rising household debt once again outweighed the need to weaken the currency and boost inflation. But our expectation for the euro... 8th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Is it true that Germany can’t afford bail-outs? A recent ECB survey suggested that German households are much less wealthy than those in the eurozone’s south and periphery. There are several reasons why this is untrue. But unfavourable coverage in... 7th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response French Industrial Production & Trade (Mar.) March’s French industrial production and trade data suggest that the economic situation is not quite as bad as the surveys might have you believe. Nonetheless, it seems very likely that France... 7th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Will falling inflation push the ECB into bolder action? The recent run of weak economic data prompted the ECB to cut its policy rate last week. But as inflation itself continues to fall, pressure on the ECB to loosen monetary policy further is likely to... 6th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB rate cut will be of limited use The ECB’s widely anticipated interest rate cut should provide troubled banks in the region’s periphery with some much-needed support. But it will not be enough to drag the euro-zone out of recession... 2nd May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Falling oil prices highlight Norway’s long-term problems Due to Norway’s much-lauded fiscal rules, the recent fall in oil prices will have little impact on the economy’s bright near-term outlook. Nonetheless, Norway’s growing dependence on hydrocarbons... 2nd May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Chart Pack Solid but unspectacular start to the year for investment The early signs are that the European commercial property investment market got off to a fairly solid start to the year. Transactions were up in annual terms and in line with a five-year average. But... 2nd May 2013 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Falling oil prices highlight Norway’s long-term problems Due to Norway’s much-lauded fiscal rules, the recent fall in oil prices will have little impact on the economy’s bright near-term outlook. Nonetheless, Norway’s growing dependence on hydrocarbons... 2nd May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Deflationary pressures building Deflationary pressures in the euro-zone economy are continuing to intensify. While April’s drop in CPI inflation to just 1.2% was partly down to energy and Easter timing effects, underlying price... 1st May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update RICS survey too optimistic about Spanish investment market The sharp rise in Spanish commercial property investment demand reported in Q1’s RICS Global Commercial Property Survey could reflect anticipation that capital values are now close to a floor. But... 30th April 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Apr.) In 2012, most of the peripheral economies made decent inroads into their budget deficits. But the fiscal consolidation process is far from over. 30th April 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI (Apr.) & Unemployment (Mar.) April’s drop in euro-zone inflation and the further rise in unemployment in March have added to the pressure on the ECB to provide more policy support. 30th April 2013 · 1 min read
