Europe Economics Weekly Labour market prospects still weak On the whole, last week’s news on the euro-zone economy was once again pretty disappointing. But the recent stabilisation in the unemployment rate is at least a little more encouraging. Unfortunately... 8th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB winds down unconventional support The ECB is withdrawing its unconventional policy support a bit more quickly than had been expected. But its gloomy take on the economic outlook and the prospect of aggressive fiscal tightening in... 4th March 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update How exposed are Emerging Europe’s banks to Greece? In a recent Update we argued that the crisis in Greece has dealt a huge blow to the prospects for a further rapid expansion of the euro-zone (see Emerging Europe Update, ‘Greek tragedy to temper EMU... 4th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP (Q4) The second euro-zone GDP release for Q4 brings some hope that the slowdown in growth at the end of last year at least partly reflected temporary factors. But the recovery in the region remains fragile... 4th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Investors reveal a liquidity preference A closer look at the movement in French commercial property yields supports the idea that liquidity remains a key consideration for investors as office yields have fallen more sharply than retail or... 4th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Recovery prospects weaken Recent weeks have brought signs that the recovery in the euro-zone might have ground to a halt. Q4’s GDP release confirmed that the region expanded by just 0.1% on the quarter. (See Chart.) And recent... 3rd March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (Jan.) & Final PMI (Feb.) February’s final PMI survey suggests that the euro-zone economy is still expanding only slowly. And with retail sales falling again in January, the much-needed consumer recovery has yet to materialise... 3rd March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update New Greek measures may open door to firmer support The news that the Greek Government will tomorrow announce further measures to reduce its budget deficit raises hope that it will receive the firmer support from the rest of the euro-zone it requires... 2nd March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Hope for a Swedish occupier and investment market recovery fade Q4’s dreadful GDP data for Sweden may have pushed back any recovery in commercial property occupier demand and rental values. Together with the prospect of a rising level of distressed sales, we also... 2nd March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Swiss GDP (Q4) The Swiss economy is faring better than others in Europe, posting a 0.7% quarterly expansion in Q4. Such a strong pace is unlikely to be sustained, but we have revised up our forecast for GDP growth... 2nd March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Unemployment (Jan.) & Manufacturing PMI (Feb.) January’s increase in euro-zone unemployment shows that households’ real incomes remain under strain despite very low inflation. At least February’s final Purchasing Managers’ Index points to a... 1st March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Swedish GDP (Q4) Q4’s Swedish GDP figures revealed that the economy remains mired in recession, providing a warning to the Riksbank that monetary policy will need to remain very accommodative for the foreseeable... 1st March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Strong rise in Danish property investment does not yet signal recovery The surge in Danish commercial property investment volumes in 2009Q4 is not as encouraging as it first seems. Although the economy is now expanding again, the 7% peak-to-trough fall in GDP will mean... 1st March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Are things really as bad as they look? Last week’s disappointing data releases begged the question of whether the euro-zone recovery has ground completely to a halt. The second GDP release confirmed that the German economy stagnated in Q4... 1st March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone CPI (Final Jan.), Ger. & Sp. CPI (1st Est. Feb.) The latest euro-zone, German and Spanish CPI figures highlight the continued lack of inflation pressure in the region. The ECB’s main worry should be the continued threat of deflation, rather than a... 26th February 2010 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Another small step towards the exit The ECB will announce the next step in its plan to phase out unconventional policy support this month. This might well be to increase the interest rate on its three-month loans to commercial banks... 25th February 2010 · 1 min read
