Europe Economics Update Volcanic eruption won’t prompt economic meltdown Worries are growing that the paralysis of European air travel, caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland, could have a damaging impact on European recovery prospects. But while there is no doubt that... 19th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Show us the money! Despite the firmer details provided on the Greek rescue package, markets have made it crystal clear that they have deep reservations about the bailout. Before even considering lending on more... 19th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone CPI (Final, Mar.) & Trade (Feb.) On the face of it, March’s sharp rise in euro-zone CPI inflation may look a little alarming. But with a fundamental lack of inflationary pressure in the economy, deflation rather than a surge in... 16th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Could a banking crisis add to Greek woes? Greek bond yields have continued to surge as doubts remain over whether the euro-zone will actually be able to provide financial support to Greece. But a growing worry is that the ongoing crisis... 15th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Portugal warnings underline broader fiscal problems The European Commission’s warnings about Portugal’s budget plans are a timely reminder that the euro-zone’s fiscal crisis extends well beyond Greece. 14th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Feb.) On the face of it, February’s euro-zone industrial production figures confirm that the sector continues to expand at a healthy pace. But there are several reasons why these figures should be treated... 14th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update The broader implications of the Greek bail-out Opinions on the broader implications of the Greek rescue package for the future of the euro-zone not surprisingly differ widely. But the conditions that made the bail-out necessary will have a... 14th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update German office rents least at risk from excess supply Although the risk from new supply is less than in previous cycles, completions in all the major Western European office markets are likely to push vacancy rates up this year. This will keep rental... 14th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Update Will Irish bank rescue plan derail commercial property recovery? With Irish investors having been such big players during the most recent commercial property boom across Europe, there are now concerns (highlighted, for example, in a recent Property Week) that the... 13th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Will Irish bank rescue plan derail commercial property recovery? With Irish investors having been such big players during the most recent commercial property boom across Europe, there are now concerns (highlighted, for example, in a recent Property Week) that the... 13th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Modest industrial recovery on track Last week’s further blow-out in Greek bond yields suggests that any slim chances that Greece had of muddling through its crisis on its own have all but evaporated. Some form of rescue - or at least a... 12th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Downbeat ECB to maintain strong policy support While President Trichet sought to reassure markets today that aid would be provided for Greece if necessary, his call for aggressive fiscal tightening there and elsewhere underlined the prospect of... 8th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Fall in euro-zone retail sales highlights the challenges facing retailers February’s 0.6% monthly fall in euro-zone retail sales volumes suggests that occupier demand for retail space is still weak in the single currency region. And given that the occupier market outlook... 8th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Industrial Production & Euro-zone Retail Sales (Feb.) February’s data on German industrial production and euro-zone retail sales put a dent in hopes that, after stagnating in Q4 last year, the euro-zone economy will have expanded strongly again in Q1. 8th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Fiscal worries darken the outlook The news on the euro-zone continues to be dominated by the fiscal crisis in Greece, which has prompted Greek government bond yields and the cost of insuring against default using credit default swaps... 7th April 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Final GDP (Q4), Final PMIs (Mar.) & PPI (Feb.) The downward revision to Q4’s euro-zone GDP figures is a reminder of the economy’s fragility. Thankfully, March’s final PMI survey brought further evidence that the recovery resumed in Q1. But the... 7th April 2010 · 1 min read
