Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Mar.) Despite reaching a multi-decade high in March, small business confidence is set to weaken sharply in coming months. 25th March 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russian markets suffer as Ukraine crisis deepens Russia’s financial markets have posted heavy losses following the escalation of the crisis on the Crimean peninsula. Indeed, Russia’s stock market and the ruble have been the worst performers among... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Still no end to Thailand's political crisis in sight Thailand’s ongoing political crisis took a new turn on Friday with the constitutional court deciding to annul the February general election. The annulment brings the crisis no closer to a resolution... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Focus Can the Philippines become a manufacturing powerhouse? The Philippines has been making good progress in developing a competitive manufacturing sector. Low wages, the relocation of labour-intensive manufacturing from China, and recent improvements to the... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
China Data Response HSBC/Markit Flash Manufacturing PMI (Mar.) Today's weak PMI reading is the latest sign that slowing credit and investment growth are weighing on domestic demand. That said, with no sign of stress in the labour market, the slowdown does not yet... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Demographics to weigh on economic growth and interest rates In his speech last week, Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz argued that the legacy of the financial crisis and demographic changes can explain Canada's recent lacklustre economic performance. More... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
China Economics Update The view from the ground - Q1 2014 Businesses in China are not too worried at present about the state of the wider economy, but they are extremely concerned about the conditions facing their own firms. By contrast, Chinese households... 21st March 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Ukraine crisis is a far bigger threat to Russia than the West The crisis in Ukraine still has the potential to have a significant impact on the European economy and global financial markets. Nonetheless, the most likely outcome appears to be a limited exchange... 21st March 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Optimism over India’s elections may be misplaced Recent polls pointing to a rising margin of victory for the opposition BJP in the upcoming elections have boosted business confidence. But we think such optimism may be misplaced, with coalition... 21st March 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Veneto vote highlights Italy and EU policy challenges While the continuing independence vote in Italy’s Veneto region may prove of little direct importance, the poll highlights the breadth of challenges facing Mr Renzi’s new Government and the difficulty... 19th March 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update What do elections in Hungary and Turkey hold in store? Ruling parties look set to win handsomely in parliamentary elections in Hungary and local elections in Turkey in the coming weeks. However, while the outcomes may be foregone conclusions, both... 14th March 2014 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Are China’s exporters struggling to compete? The recent slide of the renminbi and February’s weak exports have been linked by some to a supposed loss of competitiveness in China’s export sector. In fact, despite rapid wage growth and trend... 14th March 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Structural change in China: who is most vulnerable? The past week has seen renewed concern that a slowdown in China will drag on growth in the rest of the emerging world, including Latin America. We think some of these concerns are justified. But while... 13th March 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update How vulnerable is Russia’s economy to Western sanctions? The direct economic impact of the sanctions that have apparently been agreed by Western governments on Russia is likely to be limited. But the indirect impact – including the anticipation of further... 13th March 2014 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Premier Li shrugs off slowdown concerns Today’s weaker-than-expected data won’t do anything to settle investors’ nerves about the state of China’s economy. Hopes for an imminent policy response will also have been dented by Premier Li’s... 13th March 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update A look ahead to Egypt’s presidential election Egyptian presidential elections are due to be held in the coming months with Field Marshal al-Sisi, the leader of July’s “second revolution”, widely tipped to emerge triumphant. However, he would... 12th March 2014 · 1 min read
