Europe Economics Update Money data confirm banks' reluctance to lend The latest euro-zone money data provide further worrying signs that the credit crunch is tightening its grip on the wider economy. Looking ahead, falling bank capital looks set to prompt a sustained... 26th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Lending commitments may not be big enough The next stage of the Government’s support for the banking system got underway today, with the release of further details on the Government’s guarantee of bank losses on toxic assets. However, this... 26th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Northern Rock won’t transform the mortgage market overnight Although welcome, the resumption of lending by Northern Rock will not transform the mortgage market outlook overnight. However, it is also a sign that the Government is increasingly willing to... 23rd February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Northern Rock won’t transform the mortgage market overnight Although welcome, the resumption of lending by Northern Rock will not transform the mortgage market outlook overnight. However, it is also a sign that the Government is increasingly willing to... 23rd February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update UK banks: filling the gap Overseas lenders are reducing their lending to UK firms. Meanwhile, the nationalisation of Northern Rock and Bradford and Bingley means that the supply of credit in the mortgage market has also been... 19th February 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Emerging Europe concerns likely to intensify Concerns over Western banks’ exposure to Emerging Europe look likely to intensify as the news from the region continues to deteriorate. Both the euro and the Swedish krona could suffer further as a... 18th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus The pros and cons of bank nationalisation Speculation is growing that the Government will soon take a majority stake in Lloyds, representing another step towards full nationalisation of large parts of the banking system. Full nationalisation... 16th February 2009 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Focus Surging bank loans not enough to save China China’s banks seem to be playing their part in financing the government’s stimulus plans. But the rest of the economic data is bleak. 12th February 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Focus Surging bank loans not enough to save China China’s banks seem to be playing their part in financing the government’s stimulus plans. But the rest of the economic data is bleak. 12th February 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Swiss bank losses point to severe recession The record loss reported by UBS yesterday provides further support for our long-held view that the Swiss economy will suffer heavily from its reliance on the financial services sector. This suggests... 11th February 2009 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Swiss bank losses point to severe recession The record loss reported by UBS yesterday provides further support for our long-held view that the Swiss economy will suffer heavily from its reliance on the financial services sector. This suggests... 11th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Real economy won't escape the bank lending slowdown It has been suggested that UK banks can deleverage by scaling back their lending to financial institutions, leaving lending to UK households and firms largely unaffected. However, that does not mean... 9th February 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Lower borrowing rates won't kick-start the economy The recent falls in borrowing rates for euro-zone households and firms suggest that last year’s interest rate reductions by the ECB are already filtering through to the wider economy. While this is... 9th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update A bad bank isn't the answer either Chancellor Alistair Darling told the Treasury Select Committee yesterday that he is keeping open the option of creating a so-called “bad bank”, through which the Government would buy toxic assets from... 4th February 2009 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Fed's survey suggests credit crunch has eased slightly 2nd February 2009 · 1 min read
