Europe Economics Update Time is quickly running out for Greece Greece is running out of time to produce a list of reforms that will satisfy its creditors and secure the additional bail-out payment it requires to meet its near-term financial obligations. But even... 31st March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone EC Survey (Mar.) March’s EC business and consumer sentiment indicators supported the evidence from other surveys that euro-zone economic activity picked up slightly in the first quarter. But growth still looks likely... 31st March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Euro-zone consumers look ready to start spending Buoyed by falling unemployment, rising equity prices and a boost to their spending power from a lower oil price, euro-zone consumers have become increasingly confident, with the EC’s measure of... 27th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Feb.) February’s euro-zone monetary data add to the evidence from activity surveys that economic growth in the euro-zone will pick up in the coming months. But troubles in the Greek banking sector remain a... 26th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Can the euro-zone converge with the US? While lower inflation and the drop in the euro might boost growth in the euro-zone relative to that in the US, structural constraints, respective policy conditions and the effects of the Greek crisis... 24th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Will consumer optimism translate into stronger retail rental growth? Euro-zone consumer confidence is at its highest level since 2007. While the long-term consumption outlook remains challenging, elevated sentiment should nevertheless help support retail rental value... 24th March 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China & Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Mar.) Today’s disappointing PMI readings from China could have a silver lining for commodities: the data are not bad enough to justify market fears of an imminent “hard landing”, but they may prompt... 24th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Mar.) March’s further rise in the euro-zone composite PMI adds to the signs that the region’s economic recovery may have picked up a bit of pace in Q1. But growth remains pretty sluggish and France is still... 24th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Greece still hanging by a thread While there have been few firm developments in the ongoing Greek crisis in recent weeks, the general news on the progress towards plugging the country’s short-term financing hole and finding a lasting... 20th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Trade & Construction (Jan.) January’s euro-zone trade data suggested that the region’s exports are still not benefitting substantially from the weakness of the euro. 18th March 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update ECB QE should be a net positive for rest of the world Concerns about the possible negative side effects for the rest of the world from QE by the ECB look overdone. Admittedly, the appreciation of other currencies against the euro will be a headwind for... 17th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German ZEW (Mar.) & Euro-zone Employment (Q4) March’s modest rise in the ZEW investor sentiment index suggests that hopes for the German economy have been tempered by worries over the effects of the Greek crisis. 17th March 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Is growth in the euro-zone about to outpace that in the US? Some indicators suggest that the euro-zone economy may grow faster than the US in Q1. But this is largely because unusually severe weather has hit US activity. While the euro-zone economy has gained... 16th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Will Greece & deflation re-ignite the euro-zone crisis? The combination of Greece’s renewed problems and the onset of deflation is a very toxic one for the euro-zone. At best, it is likely to keep economic growth in the region fairly subdued. At worst, it... 12th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Jan.) January’s euro-zone industrial production data suggested that industry had a poor start to 2015, with little evidence of a boost from the weaker euro or lower oil prices. 12th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update How low will the euro go? Rising expectations for US interest rates and an escalation of the Greek crisis could push the euro down to parity against the US dollar and beyond. But we expect it to stage a partial recovery in... 11th March 2015 · 1 min read
