Europe Economics Update French election won’t tackle key issues With Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande set to emerge as frontrunners after the first round of the French presidential elections this Sunday, attention will turn more closely to what their policies... 19th April 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Paris property yields looking vulnerable to an economic downturn In our view, the plunge in French commercial property investment volumes in the first quarter of 2012 highlights some fundamental weaknesses in the market. And if we are right that the French economy... 18th April 2012 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Debt concerns still dominating the Riksbank’s thoughts The Swedish Riksbank’s decision to leave interest rates unchanged at 1.0% was no surprise given the recent run of encouraging economic data. But while the chances of an imminent cut have perhaps... 17th April 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German ZEW Survey (April) Today’s improvement in the ZEW economic sentiment survey is consistent with resilience being shown by the German economy. But it is unclear that this optimism can be maintained given the nature of the... 17th April 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Downside risks to Dublin office rental value outlook increase The fact that the Irish economy slipped back into recession in the latter half of last year lends support to our view that, taking 2012 and 2013 together, Dublin office rental values will fall by a... 16th April 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economic Outlook Crisis unsolved as growth outlook darkens Hopes that the crisis in the euro-zone had been solved by Greece’s debt restructuring and the ECB’s recent liquidity injections have faded. Despite some signs of resilience in Germany, the economic... 16th April 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly The ECB has limited ammunition Markets last week seized on hints from the ECB that it may restart its bond purchase programme in an attempt to contain Spanish bond yields. But there are clear doubts over whether the ECB has the... 16th April 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update No improvement in euro-zone industrial rental value outlook February’s unexpected rise in euro-zone industrial production might raise hopes that the strength of industrial occupier demand in the single currency region has improved. But we are not convinced... 12th April 2012 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Bunds increasingly vulnerable to erosion of safe haven status German government bonds are still regarded as a safe haven, allowing them to benefit from concerns about the global economy and the rolling crisis in the periphery of the euro-zone. Some of the... 12th April 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Feb.) February’s euro-zone industrial production figures were boosted by temporary factors and do not alter the bleak outlook for the overall economy. 12th April 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Bond sell-off adds to concerns for Spanish and Italian property prices To the extent that the latest sell-off in Spanish and Italian bonds prompts investors to steer clear of commercial property in either market, the resultant drop in liquidity is likely to put upwards... 11th April 2012 · 1 min read
Global Economics Focus What are Argentina's lessons for the euro-zone? Argentina’s experience after the collapse of the peso ten years ago supports the view that Greece, and perhaps other peripheral economies, would ultimately be better off leaving the euro-zone rather... 10th April 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Draghi buries the silver bullet Any lingering hopes that the European Central Bank (ECB) had either already solved the euro-zone crises or would yet come riding to the rescue with much more decisive action were surely put to bed by... 9th April 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Industrial Production (Feb.) Germany’s February industrial production figures brought further signs that the former engine of the euro-zone economic recovery has gone sharply into reverse. 5th April 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB keeps the onus on governments The European Central Bank (ECB) hinted today that it might not be prepared to provide much more policy support and hence kept the onus firmly on governments to address the euro-zone crisis. 4th April 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Weak service sector putting the brakes on euro-zone office rent growth This morning’s PMI data suggest that business activity in the euro-zone’s service sector remains subdued. And if the past relationships between employment PMIs and office rental value growth continue... 4th April 2012 · 1 min read
