China Economics Update Equity rally reverses China’s equity prices have dropped since late February, bringing to an end the rally that started in early December. Meanwhile, the People’s Bank has resumed large-scale foreign exchange purchases to... 26th March 2013 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexican peso bucks EM sell-off Latin American assets and currencies have sold off over the past month as a weaker pace of emerging market growth and fears of an escalation of the euro-zone debt crisis have weighed on investor... 25th March 2013 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update New exchange system won’t solve Venezuela’s dollar drought Venezuela’s new foreign exchange system will do nothing to reduce the economy’s reliance upon high oil prices and petro-loans from China. If either of these props give way, “Chavismo” will quickly... 19th March 2013 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Will there be more contagion from the crisis in Cyprus? The negative reaction in Europe’s financial markets to the decision to "bail in" depositors in Cyprus has been fairly muted so far. Admittedly, the euro fell below $1.30 against the dollar on Monday... 18th March 2013 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update What the Cyprus crisis means for the rest of the world A further escalation of the crisis in tiny Cyprus may have global implications well beyond the immediate market reactions today. It could influence the course of fiscal policy in the UK and monetary... 18th March 2013 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update BANXICO unlikely to step in to stem peso appreciation yet We expect the Mexican peso to continue to outperform its peers over the coming months. But while the peso may appreciate towards 12/$ this year, we doubt that the central bank (BANXICO) is about to... 18th March 2013 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Chilean central bank edging closer to FX intervention Chile’s central bank (BCC) stopped short of announcing measures to weaken the peso at last night’s policy meeting, but its accompanying statement revealed mounting concerns about the strength of the... 15th March 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Time to tackle the pound? With a review of the monetary framework looking likely, policymakers should consider giving the pound a more explicit role in policy. Committing to a lower pound would not be without its costs; in the... 14th March 2013 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update SNB ready to do more if deflation risks rise The Swiss National Bank pledged to maintain its extremely supportive policy stance today, keeping interest rates as close to zero as possible and defending its exchange rate ceiling. But even at the... 14th March 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update What is driving the weakness of the South African rand? Over the past decade, fluctuations in the South African rand seem to have been driven primarily by changes in global risk appetite. But while risk appetite has improved over the past six months, the... 8th March 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Market rally losing steam The rally in Emerging Europe’s financial markets has lost steam over the past few weeks. In part, this is due to the re-surfacing of tensions in the euro-zone following Italy’s inconclusive general... 7th March 2013 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt: the pound's stabilisation comes at a price The Egyptian pound has stabilised since the beginning of February. But this doesn’t reflect an improvement in Egypt’s economic fundamentals. Rather it is the result of tighter capital controls. 7th March 2013 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Can the yen still be a safe haven? The yen’s safe haven status has been challenged by expectations of aggressive monetary expansion by the Bank of Japan and the swing in Japan’s trade balance from surplus to deficit. However, even if... 5th March 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Matolcsy could turn his attention to Hungary's FX debt burden Events during the first few days of Gyorgy Matolcsy’s Governorship of Hungary’s central bank reinforce concerns about the Bank’s independence. At the very least, we are likely to see further interest... 5th March 2013 · 1 min read
DM Markets Chart Pack US Treasuries regain their poise The 10-year US Treasury yield fell back in February, reversing about half of its rise in January. The drop was partly prompted by safe-haven demand following the inconclusive result of the Italian... 4th March 2013 · 1 min read
UK Markets Outlook Sterling's fall not supported by economic outlook Concerns about the MPC’s commitment to its inflation target, weakening expectations for UK GDP growth relative to elsewhere and the loss of the triple-A credit rating have all weakened the pound since... 28th February 2013 · 1 min read