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 Economics Update Ireland’s problems still far from over Yesterday’s announcement of a raft of measures aimed to lift the troubled Irish banking sector from its knees, was an important step towards ending the economic slump. But the economy faces other... 31st March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Fiscal fears & consumer caution darken euro-zone outlook We have revised our forecasts for the euro-zone economy down in response to the escalating fiscal crisis and fading prospects of a consumer recovery. The changes strengthen our view that ECB interest... 25th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Mar.) February’s euro-zone money supply figures provided few signs that the ECB’s unlimited provisions of liquidity are prompting much of a pick-up in broad money and bank lending. 25th March 2010 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Norges Bank strikes a more cautious tone With the Norwegian economic recovery beginning to look a little more fragile, the Norges Bank has begun to strike a more cautious tone. Although the Bank is likely to raise interest rates again later... 24th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Norges Bank strikes a more cautious tone With the Norwegian economic recovery beginning to look a little more fragile, the Norges Bank has begun to strike a more cautious tone. Although the Bank is likely to raise interest rates again later... 24th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Deflation could undermine fiscal consolidation Worries about euro-zone fiscal plans have centred mainly on governments’ overly optimistic forecasts for real GDP growth. But weaker inflation could also pose a problem for the region’s public... 23rd March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone fiscal squeeze far from over While worries about Greece’s fiscal position have recently eased somewhat, the EC’s latest assessments underline the need for a prolonged bout of fiscal consolidation right across the euro-zone over... 17th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Weakening growth outlook is another headache for Greece For now, at least, Greece has persuaded the European Commission (EC) that it can meet its ambitious fiscal target for 2010. But the Greek crisis is far from over. Indeed, with the economy set to... 12th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Portuguese double dip increases fiscal worries The second release relating to Portuguese GDP in Q4 last year revealed a downward revision to the quarterly change in output from the previously estimated zero to -0.2%. So after fairly robust growth... 11th 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
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 Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Feb.) January’s euro-zone money supply and lending figures added to evidence that domestic demand remained very subdued at the start of this year. 25th February 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greek bail-out now more likely than not The revelation that Greece used complex financial assets to improve the official figures on the public finances earlier this decade highlights the uncertainty surrounding the reliability of these... 24th February 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Easing German labour costs to help exporters Recent trade union deals point to a slowdown in German wage growth, which will come as a welcome relief to hard-pressed exporters. This supports our view that a robust export recovery will see Germany... 24th February 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Is Belgium the Greece of the North? Despite growing fairly solidly in the last two quarters, Belgium shares some worrying similarities with Greece and the other troubled Southern euro-zone economies. But its stronger trade position and... 17th February 2010 · 1 min read
