Europe Economics Focus Greek default – The whys and wherefores Continued uncertainties about the proposed rescue package for Greece, coupled with the exceptionally grim medium-term outlook for the economy and public finances, point to a significant risk of some... 30th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI (Apr.) & Unemployment (Mar.) The euro-zone CPI and unemployment figures add to the view that the region is set for a prolonged period of weak price pressures. 30th April 2010 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Greek turmoil adds to ECB caution Any earlier suspicions that ECB interest rate hikes might have been on the horizon have surely been blown away by the Greek crisis. For now, the recovery in the broader euro-zone economy seems to have... 29th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update RICS survey highlights fragility of Western European occupier markets Today’s Q1 2010 RICS global commercial property survey broadly supports our view that the weak occupier market outlook will drive capital values at least a little lower this year in most Western... 29th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone EC Survey & German Unemployment (Apr.) April’s improvement in the EC business and consumer survey suggests that, for the time being at least, the euro-zone’s fiscal crisis is not preventing a recovery in the broader economy. 29th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Greek woes underline need for clear fiscal plan The rapid escalation of the Greek fiscal crisis has prompted inevitable questions over whether the UK faces similar dangers. So far, UK markets are probably right to have been sanguine. But that might... 29th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Does Greece really have a silver lining? Recent falls in the euro and euro-zone bond yields, coupled with stronger economic data from the core economies, has led to suggestions that the Greek crisis might have a silver lining. But we find it... 28th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Will the euro-zone survive? The euro-zone should stay together for another few years at least. But the region’s periphery requires an excruciating competitive adjustment that might well plunge it into depression. Meanwhile... 28th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Is Greece the next Lehmans? The crisis in Greece could pose as big a risk to the global economy and financial markets as the collapse of Lehman Brothers did in September 2008. In some respects the wider fall-out might even be... 28th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German CPI (1st Est. Apr.) The latest German inflation figures show that, while the economy may be performing much better than the euro-zone’s periphery, core price pressures even there are firmly downward. 28th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Tight credit conditions keep the brakes on the property recovery This morning’s ECB bank lending survey suggests that credit conditions for business and household lending in the euro-zone remained tight in Q1 2010. With expectations for Q2 much the same, this will... 28th April 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Assessing the contagion risks from Greece Financial markets across the region have been hit by the latest developments in Greece, but contagion risks are greatest in Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. 28th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greece still dangling from a precipice With considerable uncertainties over when the joint IMF/euro-zone rescue package for Greece will be implemented, Greece is still dangling from a precipice. If Europe is to pull Greece back up it will... 27th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economic Outlook Fiscal crisis casts an ever longer shadow (Q2 2010) The European economy has shown further signs of recovery in response to the continued improvement in global economic and trade conditions. But the fiscal crisis in the euro-zone’s peripheral economies... 27th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Recovery continues, but medium-term worries grow Last week’s euro-zone data will have added to hopes that the recovery resumed at the start of this year, following Q4’s stagnation. But concerns about the region’s medium-term prospects remain, with... 26th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Apr.) April’s increase in the euro-zone composite PMI provides further hope that the recovery is regaining momentum. But with few signs from the hard data that the region’s heavy reliance on external demand... 22nd April 2010 · 1 min read