Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Optimism over opening up of Saudi’s stock market seems overdone The move by Saudi Arabia to open up its stock market to foreign investors from next week is a step in the right direction. But, as we explain in this Watch, we think some of the optimism about its... 10th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update What next for crisis-stricken Venezuela? With Venezuela’s economic crisis intensifying, attention is starting to focus on how the country might get out of this mess. Two options have been suggested in recent weeks – one is the establishment... 9th June 2015 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Trade (Apr.) April’s trade figures should have provoked a bit of a sigh of relief. Although the near-term outlook for the external sector does not look fantastic, at least net trade this quarter looks unlikely to... 9th June 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Has food price inflation reached a trough? There are good reasons to think that food price inflation has reached a trough. That said, intense supermarket competition seems unlikely to lift soon, meaning that inflation in the sector could... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Industrial Production & Trade (Apr.) After a disappointing start to the year, April’s German industrial production and trade data both suggested that the economy will pick up steam in Q2. 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
China Data Response Trade (May.) Foreign demand still looks subdued, despite a stronger-than-expected recovery in export growth. Meanwhile, a fall in commodity import volumes disappoints hopes that recent policy support measures... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response GDP (Q1 Revised) & Current Account (Apr.) While revised data showed that Q1 GDP expanded even more strongly than initially estimated, a slowdown in Q2 looks likely. 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Greece on the brink Greece’s decision to emulate Zambia and bundle its June IMF payments has allowed another “make or break” moment to pass without either. But the continued divergences between the country and its... 5th June 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economic Outlook Prospects diverge Emerging Europe’s economy is likely to contract this year for the first time since 2009, but prospects differ substantially across the region. In Russia, while financial strains have eased, the... 5th June 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly What scope does Osborne have to smooth the cuts? Given the rollercoaster profile for government spending inherited from the coalition, there is clear scope for the Government to smooth the fiscal consolidation more evenly over this parliament... 5th June 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly What to make of the renewed weakening of the yen? We remain convinced that a weaker yen is needed to boost demand, lift inflation and put the public finances on a sustainable path. As long as the exchange rate continues to weaken gradually rather... 5th June 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Chart Pack Rise in oil prices has eased risk of deflation The rebound in global oil prices since January means it is all but certain that headline inflation in advanced economies will pick up sharply towards the end of the year. For most countries, this has... 4th June 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Chart Pack Flagging economy will prompt more rate cuts The futures market indicates that most investors are now convinced by the Bank of Canada's view that the January interest rate cut will be enough to prevent the economy from being derailed by the... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response International Merchandise Trade (Apr.) While April's slight pick-up in exports volumes might prompt suggestions that the economy began the second quarter on a stronger footing, the sharp decline in imports indicates that domestic demand... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Outlook for periphery’s exporters is improving The depreciation of the euro over the past year or so appears to be finally starting to help euro-zone exporters. The latest data show that annual growth in euro-zone export values picked up to 7.3%... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
US Data Response International Trade (Apr.) The drop back in the trade deficit to $40.9bn in April, from $50.6bn, confirms that the spike in March was a temporary surge caused by the ending of the West Coast port dispute in February and... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
