Europe Data Response Euro-zone CPI (Final, May) & Employment (Q1) May’s small fall in euro-zone CPI inflation is unlikely to prevent the ECB from hiking interest rates again in July. But with Q1’s weak employment figures supporting our view that domestic demand will... 17th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update SNB strikes a dovish tone As expected, the Swiss National Bank left its interest rate target unchanged at today’s meeting. With the Bank striking a slightly more downbeat tone in its statement and the Swiss franc’s strength... 17th June 2011 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update SNB strikes a dovish tone As expected, the Swiss National Bank left its interest rate target unchanged at today’s meeting. With the Bank striking a slightly more downbeat tone in its statement and the Swiss franc’s strength... 16th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Office yields in Vienna offer some near-term upside potential The Viennese office market seems to be suffering from the weakness of cross-border investment activity in Europe. Nevertheless, the economic fundamentals look sound, suggesting that over the next year... 16th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Apr.) April’s euro-zone industrial production figures supported the view that the recovery in the wider economy has peaked and that growth may slow quite sharply in Q2 . 16th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro's unwanted strength heightens break-up dangers Our expectation that the euro would fall against the US dollar as the fiscal crisis deepened has not been borne out and we now expect the euro to stay higher for longer. But this unwanted strength... 16th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Where would a second bail-out leave Greece? European policymakers will hope that a second bail-out package will provide Greece with more time to show that its fiscal and structural reforms are working. But we are far from convinced and still... 15th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update How far is Spain from a tipping point? Recent developments suggest that Spain may have started to recouple with the likes of Greece, Ireland and Portugal. Over the coming months, Spain is likely to face a number of tricky hurdles and could... 14th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Voluntary is the key "v-word" now President Trichet last week stressed again the ECB’s general opposition to a restructuring of Greek debt. But he left the door slightly open to a “voluntary” agreement in which bondholders would... 14th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB signals July rate hike & stands firm on Greek default ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet struck a hard line on the euro-zone’s debt crisis today by both signalling an interest rate hike in July and again ruling out a debt restructuring for Greece. But on... 10th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB trying to hold back the tide The European Central Bank’s continued opposition to any form of sovereign debt restructuring in the euro-zone remains a major short-term obstacle to plans for a Greek debt “rollover”. But the ECB... 8th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Economic clouds still hanging over Iceland The dust clouds may have cleared but economic gloom continues to hang over Iceland. While the economy returned to growth in Q1, conditions for consumers remain grim and large risks remain over plans... 8th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP Breakdown (Q1) The breakdown of euro-zone Q1 GDP provided some support to our view that the pace of recovery in the region peaked in the first quarter and that growth is likely to be materially slower in Q2 and... 8th June 2011 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Economic clouds still hanging over Iceland The dust clouds may have cleared but economic gloom continues to hang over Iceland. While the economy returned to growth in Q1, conditions for consumers remain grim and large risks remain over plans... 8th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Further signs of a slowdown Further falls in euro-zone leading indicators and the first hard data for Q2 suggest that the economic recovery may have passed its peak. After three consecutive falls, the EC’s Economic Sentiment... 7th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (Apr.) April’s pick-up in euro-zone retail sales may look like an encouraging sign that euro-zone consumers are defying the fiscal squeeze. But the bounce is likely to have been a one-off boosted by Easter... 7th June 2011 · 1 min read
