Europe Economics Update ECB edging towards the exit The latest comments from the ECB suggest that it is edging slowly towards the policy stimulus exit. But the outstanding stock of central bank loans to ommercial banks will remain very high for some... 5th November 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Norges Bank becomes the third central bank to raise rates The widely anticipated decision by the Norges Bank to raise interest rates from 1.25% to 1.50% made it the third central bank to tighten monetary policy, after Israel and Australia, during the current... 28th October 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Oct.) There are still few signs that the ECB’s unlimited provision of liquidity to banks and improving conditions in the financial markets are prompting any pick-up in eurozone broad money and bank lending. 27th October 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update New tax cuts to support the German economy The new German Government’s economic programme includes additional tax cuts that make what was already a fairly generous fiscal package stand out as easily the largest in the euro-zone. Policy... 26th October 2009 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Swedish Riksbank in no hurry to raise interest rates The Swedish Riksbank’s latest economic forecasts suggest that a tightening in monetary policy remains a long way off. This supports our view that interest rates are unlikely to rise as quickly or as... 22nd October 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Swedish Riksbank in no hurry to raise interest rates The Swedish Riksbank’s latest economic forecasts suggest that a tightening in monetary policy remains a long way off. This supports our view that interest rates are unlikely to rise as quickly or as... 22nd October 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Who will cope best with the strong euro? With global demand recovering pretty strongly, for at least a few quarters, the ongoing rise of the euro is unlikely to halt the external sector revival in its tracks. Nonetheless, we expect exporters... 21st October 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Spanish house prices set to fall much further The latest Spanish housing market data suggest that residential property prices are no longer falling as sharply as they were at the turn of the year. Nonetheless, we think the housing market downturn... 15th October 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB still some way from the exit The ECB’s cautious tone in the press conference following its decision to leave interest rates on hold for the sixth consecutive month supports our view that any future tightening of policy conditions... 8th October 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Sep.) Today’s broad money data revealed that there are still few signs that the ECB’s provision of unlimited liquidity to banks is boosting broad money and credit growth. 25th September 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Irish recovery remains a distant prospect Q2’s Irish GDP figures provide some hope that the economy is not about to go into full-blown meltdown. But a sustained period of positive growth remains a distant prospect. 24th September 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Norges Bank becoming more hawkish With Norway now on the path to recovery, the Norges Bank has begun to prepare the ground for future interest rate hikes. But while the Bank will probably tighten later this year, we do not expect... 23rd September 2009 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Norges Bank becoming more hawkish With Norway now on the path to recovery, the Norges Bank has begun to prepare the ground for future interest rate hikes. But while the Bank will probably tighten later this year, we do not expect... 23rd September 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update German election won’t prompt early fiscal tightening The outcome of Sunday’s German election may have some bearing on the pace of fiscal consolidation. But, whichever coalition prevails, fears of early and particularly aggressive policy tightening seem... 22nd September 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Swiss National Bank maintains strong policy support After leaving the target for three-month interest rates at just 0.25% today, the SNB struck a slightly less pessimistic tone than it had previously. But while the Bank has revised up its inflation... 17th September 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Irish bad bank unlikely to get credit flowing again The release of further details of the Irish Government’s “bad bank” plans does little to change our view that bank lending will continue to contract for a sustained period. Ultimately, further... 17th September 2009 · 1 min read