Japan Data Response Retail Sales (Jun.) The surge in retail sales in June suggests that consumer spending will rebound across Q3 even if some restrictions on activity are reimposed to curb the renewed spread of the virus. 30th July 2020 · 2 mins read
RBA Watch Plunge in inflation to eventually trigger more easing The renewed lockdown in Melbourne is set to undermine the recovery and will push inflation much further below the 2% target than the Reserve Bank of Australia is currently anticipating. We still think... 29th July 2020 · 7 mins read
RBI Watch Tepid recovery to prompt further easing The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been emphatic in its response to the coronavirus crisis but, given the severity of the economic downturn and signs that the post-lockdown recovery is stalling... 28th July 2020 · 6 mins read
Europe Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (June) Policy measures from governments and the ECB to keep banks lending during lockdowns appear to have been successful, but as we have argued was likely to happen, loan growth is now slowing. Consumers’... 27th July 2020 · 4 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russia opts for small rate cut, cautious easing ahead Russia’s central bank cut its policy rate by 25bp, to 4.25%, today and continued to provide signals that further easing lies in store. But the communications suggest that the pace of easing will slow... 24th July 2020 · 3 mins read
Africa Economics Update SARB cautious, but still scope for further easing Divisions on South Africa’s MPC suggest that some policymakers are keen for the easing cycle to be brought to an end following today’s 25bp cut (to 3.50%). And that seems to be the view priced into... 23rd July 2020 · 3 mins read
India Chart Pack Rupee could weaken even if risk appetite holds up After hitting an all-time low in April, the rupee has strengthened by 3% against the US dollar as risk appetite has returned to global financial markets. But while we think risky assets generally –... 22nd July 2020 · 9 mins read
Japan Data Response Consumer Prices (Jun.) While headline inflation was unchanged for the third-straight month in June, we expect it to fall much further over the medium-term. We think inflation will turn consistently negative in the second... 21st July 2020 · 2 mins read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria’s monetary easing on pause… for now Following today’s decision to keep interest rates on hold, we think that Nigerian policymakers will cut interest rates once more this year as inflation stabilises and the economic recovery proves... 20th July 2020 · 2 mins read
China Economics Update LPR unchanged as policy priorities shift Commercial banks left the Loan Prime Rate (LPR) on hold today. Further rate cuts seem increasingly unlikely as the focus of monetary policy appears to be shifting from stimulating activity to... 20th July 2020 · 2 mins read
China Economics Weekly The upside to China’s wary consumers Household consumption in China remained stubbornly weak in Q2 despite the rapid rebound in GDP. But this isn’t a reason to be overly concerned about the immediate outlook. With fiscal stimulus still... 17th July 2020 · 5 mins read
China Economics Update An uneven recovery, especially within services The detailed breakdown of China’s Q2 GDP data published today raises some questions about the purported speed of the recovery. Generally though, it is consistent with broader evidence of a sharp... 17th July 2020 · 4 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Focus Russia’s easing cycle entering new waters Russia’s central bank has lowered its policy rate to a post-Soviet low during the current crisis and, with the economy likely to recover slowly and inflation set to remain subdued, further monetary... 16th July 2020 · 21 mins read
Europe Economics Update ECB to remain in dovish mode At the press conference following today’s Governing Council meeting, ECB President Christine Lagarde dampened any suggestion that the Bank may not use the full €1.35 trillion in its emergency purchase... 16th July 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia to cut interest rates further Bank Indonesia’s (BI) decision to cut interest rates today suggests that for now at least it is prioritising the economy over supporting the rupiah. We think further rate cuts are likely over the... 16th July 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea stands pat, but more action still likely The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its policy rate on hold at 0.50% today and while it did not unveil any further unconventional policy measures, the Bank gave hints it could employ them in future. With... 16th July 2020 · 3 mins read
