Global Economics Update Is it time to worry about a trade war? While we still think that negotiations will win out over all-out trade war, the risks of a damaging trade conflict breaking out between the US and China have risen. If the latest US-proposed tariffs... 6th April 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Money growth slowdown is not a concern Growth of almost all monetary aggregates slowed in major advanced economies in February, but we are not worried for three reasons. First, money growth has only slowed a bit. Second, changes in money... 4th April 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Global Manufacturing PMI (Mar.) Markit’s global manufacturing PMI fell by the most in two years in March, providing further evidence that global growth has passed its peak. Nonetheless, the PMI remains at a high level and we think... 3rd April 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Is the global economy really slowing? The recent weakness of some economic data, business surveys and equity markets has raised fears that the global expansion is now fizzling out. We think that China will slow later this year and the US... 29th March 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update What causes recessions? An analysis of all the recessions which have occurred in G7 economies since 1960 throws up two main conclusions. First, while most had multiple triggers, monetary policy tightening was usually one of... 27th March 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Curtain raised on future relationship negotiations As expected, on Friday the EU Council endorsed a transition period and the opening up of a new strand of negotiations on the future relationship. But unless the UK can come up with a solution to the... 23rd March 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Trade war: economics versus markets? The economic impact of the tariffs which have been announced by the Trump administration will be small, even if they are implemented in full, and we suspect that any retaliation will be moderate. But... 23rd March 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Flash PMIs (Mar.) Preliminary PMIs, published by Markit today, slipped at the end of the first quarter. But they still support our view that GDP in advanced economies will expand by a decent 2½% or so this year. 22nd March 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Major central banks in no hurry to follow Fed The US Fed’s decision to increase rates by 25bp yesterday and to raise its projection of future rate hikes has limited implications for the rest of the world. Other than the Bank of England, most... 22nd March 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Powell era begins on a hawkish note The Fed’s decision to raise interest rates by 25bp today was widely expected but some investors may have been caught off-guard by the degree to which Fed officials increased their projections for... 21st March 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Can the G20 avert a trade war? Finance ministers from the G20 are not going to resolve the differences between the US and most other members of the group on trade policy this week. They may, however, make a commitment to reduce... 19th March 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Can the G20 avert a trade war? Finance ministers from the G20 are not going to resolve the differences between the US and most other members of the group on trade policy this week. They may, however, make a commitment to reduce... 19th March 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Will the green economy drive the next commodity super-cycle? Commodity prices tend to go through extended boom and bust periods, sometimes known as super-cycles. The presence of super-cycles in commodity prices matters for a number of reasons but most... 16th March 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Government overhauled to strengthen Party control A sweeping overhaul of the structure of China’s government unveiled at the National People’s Congress today could improve financial regulation, reduce red tape for business, and boost productivity in... 13th March 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Are the PMIs getting it wrong? Markit’s PMIs have recently pointed to faster economic growth than the official data show, once again raising questions about their accuracy. However, even if they are currently over-stating growth a... 6th March 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update After Italy’s election, what happens next? The lengthy political uncertainty that seems likely to follow Italy’s election is unlikely on its own to do much economic damage. But we suspect that the prospect of looser fiscal policy, higher debt... 5th March 2018 · 1 min read
