Europe Economics Update ECB supports banks, but drags heels on rates The ECB today opted to focus on unconventional rather than conventional monetary policy measures, leaving interest rates on hold but substantially increasing its support for the banking sector. But... 7th October 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Which markets are most at risk from excess retail supply? Yesterday’s retail sales data showed that domestic demand is weakening across most of Europe. And there is little reason to expect the pace of household spending to improve in 2012. Against that... 7th October 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Rise in inflation will be short-lived September’s data revealed a sharp rise in euro-zone HICP inflation from 2.5% to 3.0%, which appears to have been driven by a renewed rise in core price pressures as well as energy inflation. With... 7th October 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greek budget does not eliminate near-term default risks New fiscal measures announced by the Greek Government may have reduced the risks of an imminent disorderly default. But policymakers still face a battle to agree a deal to cover Greece’s financing... 5th October 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly No closer to resolving the crisis On the face of it, developments last week might have suggested that policymakers are inching closer to resolving the euro-zone crisis. However, the most radical suggestions have come from outside the... 4th October 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI & Unemployment (Sep./Aug.) On the face of it, the latest euro-zone CPI inflation and unemployment numbers would appear to reduce the chance of an imminent ECB rate cut. But with the economy on the cusp of recession and the debt... 1st October 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Oslo office rental outperformance close to an end The office market in Oslo has been one of Europe’s star performers over the past year. Yet, there are good reasons to believe that the best of Oslo’s office occupier recovery may now be behind us... 1st October 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Is Italy close to buckling? Italy’s recent austerity measures and ECB purchases of government bonds have brought Italy back from the brink. But we still think that Italy may eventually default, with huge repercussions for the... 30th September 2011 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Back to the barber? Given further falls in the prices of Greek government bonds (GGBs), it is little wonder some governments are reportedly seeking to renegotiate the terms of the debt exchange that was proposed for... 30th September 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Laying the groundwork for policy loosening At the press conference following his final meeting as ECB President, Jean-Claude Trichet will strike a more downbeat tone, suggesting that interest rate cuts are not far off. We are still pencilling... 30th September 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Sep.) Recent news shows that many of the euro-zone’s fiscally-challenged economies are broadly on track to meet their 2011 budget deficit goals. Nonetheless, we continue to think that several of the region... 30th September 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone EC Survey (Sep.) September’s fall in the EC measure of business and consumer sentiment adds to evidence that the euro-zone economy is on the brink of recession. 30th September 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Proposed EFSF expansion is not all that it appears Emerging details about the recent proposal to supersize the euro-zone’s bail-out fund suggest that, at best, the plan is simply to use existing funds more imaginatively. Note that even this proposal... 29th September 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Does Ireland’s recovery provide hope for Southern Europe? The news that Ireland expanded robustly in the first half of the year, might suggest that the Southern European economies may reap similar rewards if they stick with plans to cut their budget deficits... 28th September 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Sep.) Despite renewed hopes that euro-zone policymakers will adopt radical measures to solve the region’s debt crisis, we expect stresses in the banking sector to remain, increasing the chances of the... 28th September 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update New rescue plans are unlikely to save the euro Talk of radical new measures to bail out highly indebted euro-zone governments and shore up banks throughout the region suggests that policymakers might finally be considering the bold steps that... 27th September 2011 · 1 min read
