Europe Economics Update Will fiscal union save the euro-zone? The recent rescue package along with rulings made by the European Commission might be steps towards euro-zone fiscal integration that could feasibly benefit the region’s economies in the long run. But... 26th May 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update How does Estonia stack up against the euro-zone? Estonia’s low level of public debt sets it apart from the heavily indebted countries on the periphery of the euro-zone. But the country has seen a much bigger erosion of its competitive position over... 25th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update What can we learn from Ireland? On the face of it, there are signs that Ireland may be about to exit recession. But any recovery will be down to its exceptionally strong trade links with non-euro-zone economies, rather than any... 24th May 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Europe’s crisis will not derail Japan’s recovery The turmoil in the euro-zone has hit investor confidence in Japan much harder than we believe is justified by economic fundamentals. 24th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Weaker euro unlikely to solve the region’s woes On the face of it, the recent weakening of the euro should provide the euro-zone’s external sector with a boost over the coming months. But given that exporters have tended previously to respond to a... 24th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs & German Ifo (May) May’s falls in the euro-zone PMI and German Ifo business surveys are slightly worrying signs, but both still point to pretty strong growth for the time being. 21st May 2010 · 1 min read
Non-Euro Europe Commercial Property Chart Pack 2010 off to a better start than 2009 (May 10) Although investment activity generally softened, the bigger picture was that the health of investment markets across non-euro-zone Europe continued to improve in Q1 2010. Indeed, yields fell in almost... 20th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Norwegian GDP (Q1) Q1’s unexpected fall in GDP casts further doubt on the strength of the Norwegian recovery and supports our view that the Norges Bank will not increase interest rates as rapidly as its forecasts... 20th May 2010 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Weaker euro-zone to stem Swiss recovery Switzerland’s low levels of public and private sector debt suggest that it will continue to out-grow the euro-zone over the next couple of years. But it will suffer from strong trade links with the... 19th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update W eaker euro-zone to stem Swiss recovery Switzerland’s low levels of public and private sector debt suggest that it will continue to out-grow the euro-zone over the next couple of years. But it will suffer from strong trade links with the... 19th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update How secure is the recovery in Western European capital values? Recent falls in property yields have lifted capital values in most markets, particularly in Norway and France. But this trend is unlikely to last. Indeed, we think that the yield recovery is likely to... 19th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Spanish GDP (Q1) The latest Spanish GDP figures confirm that the economy just about exited recession at the start of the year. But with the Government recently announcing new austerity measures and the private sector... 19th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German ZEW Survey (May), EZ CPI (Apr.) & Trade (Mar.) May’s renewed decline in the ZEW index suggests that investors are still very worried about the effect of the periphery’s problems on the German economy. 18th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus What to make of the ECB’s bond purchases Fears that the ECBs bond purchases will stoke inflation or encourage fiscal laxity are overblown. They do not constitute full-blown quantitative easing and will not allow euro-zone economies to escape... 18th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Euro heading for parity While some of the forces bearing down on the euro over recent months may now be easing, there are plenty of other reasons to expect the currency to fall further. Indeed, our forecast that the euro... 17th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Will falls in Western European yields be extended? Commercial property offers a seemingly attractive premium over bonds. However, once we factor in the weaker economic and occupier market outlook, to us most Western European markets look pricey. We... 13th May 2010 · 1 min read