Lacklustre recovery will keep interest rates and bond yields low (Q2 2009) The improvement in business and consumer confidence surveys has to date been less convincing in the euro-zone than elsewhere. Economic activity is unlikely to do better than stagnate in 2010 and will... 9th July 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Spain: How long will the pain last? Like some other deficit economies, Spain has so far weathered the global economic slump surprisingly well. But this is unlikely to last. We still expect Spains considerable economic imbalances to lead... 6th July 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Italian banks – weathering the storm better than most Italian banks have so far coped with the financial crisis better than most of their European peers. While this has not prevented a slowdown in lending, the problems in the supply of credit seem... 2nd July 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB relying heavily on bank lending channel Despite weaker signs of recovery in the euro-zone than elsewhere, the ECB’s policy support remains considerably narrower than other central banks’. President Trichet suggested today that the Bank is... 2nd July 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Swedish Riksbank not ready to take the next step, yet Despite tentative signs of green shoots appearing, the Swedish Riksbank reduced interest rates to 0.25% and remains committed to keeping them at this rate for a prolonged period. But for now at least... 2nd July 2009 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Swedish Riksbank not ready to take the next step, yet Despite tentative signs of green shoots appearing, the Swedish Riksbank reduced interest rates to 0.25% and remains committed to keeping them at this rate for a prolonged period. But for now at least... 2nd July 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Deflation arrives Inflation fell below zero for the first time in the post-EMU period in June, probably courtesy of energy related base effects. We expect the inflation rate to remain negative for the next six months... 1st July 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update German occupier outlook darkens as jobs shake-out gathers pace Thanks to a comparatively small labour market downturn, rental value falls for prime property in Germany have been mild relative to elsewhere in the euro-zone. However, with growing signs that the... 1st July 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Jun.) The latest euro-zone money and credit figures revealed that, after having flattened off for some time, the monetary base increased again. The hope is that banks will feel encouraged to lend. But there... 30th June 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update No sign of Ireland’s hangover fading. Since the onset of the downturn, the Irish economy has contracted significantly more sharply than other deficit economies such as the US and UK. Unfortunately, Ireland’s troubles appear far from over... 30th June 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update German labour market shakeout is just beginning The German labour market held up relatively well at the start of the economic downturn, at least partly reflecting Government incentives for firms to retain workers for shorter hours. But the severity... 29th June 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Weaker currencies unlikely to halt Scandinavian property downturn Weaker currencies will have made commercial property in Sweden and Norway much cheaper for overseas investors to purchase. However, we doubt that this will prompt a surge in foreign capital inflows to... 25th June 2009 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Maintaining narrow focus on bank lending The ECB looks almost certain to leave interest rates on hold at 1.0% this month, where we expect them to remain until at least the end of 2010. There is little hope that any new unconventional policy... 25th June 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update German fiscal rule is not as damaging as it seems The German Government’s recent introduction of a law requiring a balanced budget from 2016 has prompted much debate over just how harmful it might be. Our view is that, while the law might place... 24th June 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Euro-zone PMIs suggest rental values will not stabilise this year June’s flash PMIs for the euro-zone showed a modest improvement compared to May, largely driven by a rise in the manufacturing index. Falls in the service sector index, however, suggest that occupier... 24th June 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Swiss National Bank still pulling out all the stops The SNB’s pledge to go on purchasing large quantities of corporate bonds while providing generous liquidity to the banking sector and intervening ‘decisively’ in currency markets has left it among the... 18th June 2009 · 1 min read
