China Data Response Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Jan.) The huge increase in net new lending in China last month was seasonal. Growth in outstanding loans actually slowed to a ten-year low in January. Broad credit growth also slowed last month and is set... 14th February 2017 · 1 min read
India Data Response Consumer Prices (Jan.) Consumer price inflation dropped in January as price discounting continued following demonetisation. But inflationary pressures are set to build over the coming months, and we continue to believe that... 13th February 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Qatar’s credit boom comes to an end, lending growth to stay weak The recent sharp slowdown in private sector credit growth, coupled with falling real estate prices, has ignited concerns that Qatar’s credit boom of the past few years is quickly unravelling. For now... 9th February 2017 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Post-Brexit momentum maintained at the start of 2017 Following a strong end to 2016, the economy appears to have carried a decent amount of momentum over into 2017. Despite a slight fall in the Markit/CIPS all-sector PMI in January, it is still at a... 6th February 2017 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Household Borrowing Monitor (Dec.) December’s household borrowing figures showed that demand has continued to return to the housing market, following a lull around the referendum, but that consumer credit growth slowed for the first... 31st January 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Decline in Saudi interbank rates to reverse course soon The recent decline in Saudi interbank rates reflects fading fears that the riyal will be devalued and easing liquidity shortages in the banking system. We still expect Saudi interbank rates to rise... 30th January 2017 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil: private sector deleveraging has further to run Private sector debt deleveraging in Brazil gathered pace over the second half of last year. But while credit conditions will remain extremely tight this year, there are at least signs that broader... 27th January 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Dec.) December’s euro-zone money and credit data are consistent with steady economic growth. But they still point to inflation undershooting the ECB’s target. 27th January 2017 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Attention turns to state elections Upcoming state elections in India are likely to have an important bearing on economic policy at the local level. But perhaps more significant, the outcome of the state elections could be crucial in... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
Global Economic Outlook Trumped up? The world economy looks set to grow more rapidly this year than last. A substantial fiscal stimulus in the US will boost its growth rate, but will have only a limited impact on the rest of the world... 20th January 2017 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Budget improvements set to stall Official data show a sharp decline in the budget deficit but it remains sizeable and we don’t expect the narrowing to continue. In any case, the key determinant of the sustainability of the public... 20th January 2017 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Dec.) Corporate debt affordability remains extraordinarily high, as corporate profit margins have rebounded and borrowing costs have continued to decline. Firms have responded with higher corporate bond... 18th January 2017 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Are corporate credit spreads set to narrow in 2017? As commodity prices recovered and fears of a hard landing in China faded, corporate bonds delivered healthy returns in the US and euro-zone last year, and credit spreads narrowed. However, as the bull... 17th January 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Vietnam complacent over credit risks Policymakers in Vietnam are becoming increasingly complacent of the risks posed by the rapid build-up in debt, as reflected by the government’s recent announcement that it was targeting credit growth... 17th January 2017 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Going cashless? The government’s demonetisation measures have led to a jump in card and digital transactions, but this has not been anywhere near large enough to offset the slowdown in cash spending. That said, it... 17th January 2017 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Data Response Bank of England Credit Conditions Survey (Q4) The supply of residential mortgage credit worsened a touch in the fourth quarter. But there was no sign of a drop in lenders’ risk appetite or market share objectives, suggesting that credit... 13th January 2017 · 1 min read