Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI & Unemployment (Feb./Jan.) The latest data on the euro-zone economy brought mixed news in the form of falling unemployment and rising inflation. 1st March 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Swiss & Swedish GDP (Q4) Q4’s Swiss and Swedish GDP releases confirmed that some of the European economies outside the euro-zone are expanding at a healthy pace. But strong currencies will ensure that the external sectors... 1st March 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update New Irish Government faces daunting challenges News that Fine Gael and Labour are likely to form a coalition Government with a healthy majority will reduce political uncertainty in Ireland. But the new Government faces a major battle to improve... 28th February 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Will the German revival save the periphery? Healthy rises in the euro-zone business surveys in February add to evidence that the region as a whole and Germany in particular have made a strong start to the year. But while a bout of robust German... 28th February 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Flash CPI (Feb.) The further rise in German CPI inflation in February will do nothing to ease the ECB’s worries about building inflationary pressures. But we continue to think that the pickin German inflation is... 25th February 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Feb.) The latest euro-zone money and credit data continue to suggest that underlying inflationary pressures remain subdued. But needless to say, the recent surge in the oil price, coupled with the fact that... 25th February 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Is a Portuguese bail-out just around the corner? The recent increase in Portuguese bond yields will increase the pressure on the Government to accept a bail-out. Nonetheless, the Government may resist requesting outside support for a little while... 24th February 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch ECB's hawkish stance to harden The recent batch of reasonably upbeat economic data, coupled with further signs that price pressures may be building, will ensure that President Trichet continues to strike a hawkish tone at next week... 24th February 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone EC Survey (Feb.) February’s EC business and consumer survey adds to evidence that the euro-zone recovery has regained momentum in Q1 and that the ECB’s hawkish stance may harden at next week’s Governing Council... 24th February 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update High vacancy rates will stunt euro-zone office rental value growth It now seems clear that prime rental values in most euro-zone office markets are either at a floor, or have entered a recovery phase. But with weak prospects for occupier demand and high vacancy rates... 24th February 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Has Spain won over the markets for good? There have recently been signs that Spain may be starting to persuade the markets that it is not in as dire a position as some of the other peripheral economies. While this provides some hope that the... 22nd February 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs & German Ifo (Feb.) February’s euro-zone PMI and German Ifo surveys suggest that the euro-zone and German economies have started 2011 with a bang. Nonetheless, divergences between the core and peripheral euro-zone... 21st February 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Modest revival continues, but peripheral concerns remain On the face of it, the news that the euro-zone economy expanded by just 0.3% in Q4 was pretty disappointing. But note that bad weather in Germany might have reduced euro-zone quarterly GDP growth by 0... 21st February 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Chart Pack Office rental growth becoming more widespread In Q4 2010, office rental values rose or held steady in all markets outside of the euro-zone’s troubled periphery. But increases in retail and industrial rental values were far less common. Although... 17th February 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Worsening economic outlook adding to Greece's problems The recent news that the Greek economy remains deep in recession will add to fears that the Government may struggle to meet its budget deficit goals and will do nothing to ease concerns about Greece’s... 17th February 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Norwegian GDP (Q4) Q4’s GDP figures show that the Norwegian economy continued to expand at a steady pace. This, together with the fact that inflation is still a little below the Norges Bank’s target and the strong krone... 16th February 2011 · 1 min read