Europe Economics Update Weak euro-zone recovery will sustain populist anger Although populist parties will remain a minority at the European Parliament, the euro-zone’s weak recovery will sustain support for these parties, undermining national reform efforts across the region... 27th May 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Colombia election: Zuluaga leads Santos into a run-off A victory for either Oscar Zuluaga or Juan Manuel Santos in the second round of Colombia’s presidential election next month is unlikely to cause a stir in the markets. But with neither candidate... 27th May 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (May) The rebound in small business confidence in May adds to the evidence that the economy should recover quickly from any weakness after the consumption tax hike. 27th May 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thailand's political crisis won't hurt the rest of the region Thailand's protracted political crisis has damaged the domestic economy, but there are few signs of contagion to the rest of the region. Some of its neighbours may even stand to benefit. 26th May 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Focus Will urbanisation continue to drive growth in Asia? Urbanisation has been an important growth driver for Asian economies over the past few decades. With the proportion of the population living in urban areas still below 50% in many Asian countries... 26th May 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Focus Is “Abenomics” working? Japan’s economic recovery should be able to weather last month’s consumption tax hike, helped by improvements in investment and in net exports. But the bigger picture is that years of fiscal... 23rd May 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Chart Pack Ukraine crisis pushes Russia towards recession The raft of Q1 GDP data released this month showed a growing divergence in the region. The crisis in Ukraine and threat of Western sanctions took a heavy toll on the Russian economy, which seems to be... 23rd May 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thai coup restores short-term stability at long-term cost Thailand’s coup should reduce uncertainty in the near term and so may well be welcomed by financial markets. But it brings lasting resolution of the political conflict no closer and further undermines... 22nd May 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Russia – China deal unlikely to boost European gas prices Proposed exports of Russian gas to China will have limited impact on the potential supply to the rest of Europe. Indeed, the price of LNG may actually be lower than otherwise as a result of the... 22nd May 2014 · 1 min read
China Economics Update A positive step on local government debt Allowing local governments to issue bonds is a key step towards boosting transparency and encouraging stronger oversight over fiscal spending. But a broader rebalancing of the revenues and spending... 22nd May 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Focus Will Egypt’s election be a turning point for the economy? Egypt’s upcoming presidential election has cast the spotlight back onto the country’s bumpy transition to democracy. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who led last summer’s “second revolution”, is widely expected... 22nd May 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Gazprom’s China deal not a game changer for Russia’s economy The benefits to the Russian economy from the $400bn deal signed earlier today between Russia and China are likely to be smaller than most seem to think. Instead, the importance of the deal is largely... 21st May 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Is Thailand’s crisis any nearer to being resolved? Contrary to some of the initial commentary, we are not convinced that the military’s imposition of martial law has brought resolution of Thailand’s political crisis any closer. There are a number of... 21st May 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update EP elections to show rising reform fatigue Euro-sceptic parties are set to perform strongly at elections for the European Parliament. Although the result may have little impact on the institution itself, it risks undermining national... 21st May 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Belgian elections unlikely to break the reform deadlock Upcoming elections in Belgium are unlikely to deliver a decisive victory to any one party. With the main parties divided over fundamental economic and political reforms, we doubt that a new coalition... 20th May 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (Mar.) The surge in machinery orders in March suggests that the recovery in business investment remains on track. 19th May 2014 · 1 min read
