Europe Economics Weekly Slow progress towards banking union The European Council finally managed to reach some important compromises last week, allowing progress to be made towards setting up an EU-wide bank supervisor in the form of the ECB. But, presumably... 17th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Dec.), Final CPI (Nov.) & Emp. (Q3) Despite rising for a second month running in December, the euro-zone composite PMI remained well below the “no-change” level, consistent with a deepening recession in Q4. 14th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Further falls in European property investment likely in 2013 Our forecast that 2012 European commercial property volumes would be as much as 20% lower than in 2011 looks to be on track. Unfortunately, the conditions are not in place for a rebound in 2013. If... 13th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update How long will the Greek relief last? The news that Greece will get its next and long-awaited bail-out loan payment within days will provide Greek and euro-zone policymakers with a bit of breathing space. But we doubt that this will bring... 13th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Oct. 12) October’s euro-zone industrial production data provided further strong evidence that the recession in the single currency area has deepened in the fourth quarter. 12th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Will retail rents in Amsterdam and Helsinki continue to trend up? The relatively strong rise in Helsinki retail rental values seen since 2010 is not difficult to square with the underlying health of the Finnish economy. But it is less straightforward to justify... 11th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Has the ECB solved the crisis? Recent actions by euro-zone policymakers and the ECB in particular have prompted some commentators to conclude that the region has turned a corner. But we still expect the crisis to deepen again soon... 11th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German ZEW Survey (Dec. 12) December’s rise in ZEW investor sentiment provides only limited hope for the German economy given clear signs of a downturn in the recent hard data and the latest developments in Greece and Italy. 11th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Italy back in the spotlight The intended resignation of Italian technocrat Prime Minister Mario Monti is a timely reminder thatthe euro-zone debt crisis still goes way beyond the problems of Greece. 10th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Trade/French & Italian Industrial Prod’n (Oct.) October’ trade and industrial production figures for the euro-zone’s largest three economies brought further evidence that the recession in the region will deepen in the fourth quarter and that it has... 10th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly The ECB too gloomy? Not likely. Suggestions that last week’s downgrades to the ECB’s economic projections have left it too gloomy look wide of the mark. Against a background of weak global activity, continued austerity and high and... 10th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Industrial Production (Oct.) The further drop in industrial production in October to its lowest level in two decades raises the chances of a triple dip recession in the wider economy. 7th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB on hold despite prospect of long recession At its press conference today, the ECB again refused to make any firm commitments about the amount of support that it might be prepared to offer the Spanish Government if it requested a bailout. And... 6th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP (Q3) The breakdown of euro-zone GDP in the third quarter brought little cause for optimism regarding the outlook for the region. With timelier indicators giving a universally negative picture, the... 6th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Recession to deepen in Q4 Recent hard data have confirmed that euro-zone GDP fell for a second quarter running in Q3 and more timely indicators suggest that the recession deepened in the fourth quarter. September’s drop in... 5th December 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Negative bank rates won't depress the Swiss franc for long Credit Suisse’s announcement that it will charge other banks for holding large Swiss franc deposits with it has helped to ease the pressure on the currency for now. But while we have revised down our... 4th December 2012 · 1 min read
