US Data Response Durable Goods Orders & Personal Spending (Oct.) October's weaker than expected personal spending and durable goods orders data suggest that annualised fourth-quarter GDP growth may be closer to 2.5% rather than the 3.0% that previously looked... 23rd November 2011 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Super committee failure not a disaster The apparent failure of the congressional deficit reduction super committee to reach any agreement is not the disaster it is being portrayed as by some commentators. As we argued in our most recent US... 21st November 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt election concerns add to already high financing risks The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces’ (SCAF) dithering over securing external financial assistance has left Egypt teetering on the edge of a full-blown economic crisis. The central bank’s... 21st November 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Recent free-trade initiatives are over-hyped The goal of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) of establishing a fully-integrated economic community by 2015, with complete free flow of goods, services and investment, is likely to... 21st November 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Will the new Spanish Government steady the ship? Although Spain is in a rather better position than its Southern European counterparts, the next Government still faces huge challenges and is unlikely to overcome them without outside help. 16th November 2011 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Kicking the Cannes down the road As expected, the G20 summit concluded today without agreeing anything of substance. Euro-zone leaders were effectively told to get their own house in order, something they have conspicuously failed to... 4th November 2011 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Will the G20 achieve anything in Cannes? The G20 leaders’ summit this week will be an exercise in damage limitation. The agenda has been completely over-taken by the euro crisis, where there is no agreement on the role non-euro-zone... 2nd November 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greek referendum throws whole rescue plan into doubt The Greek government’s surprise decision to hold a referendum on the latest euro-zone rescue package has clearly increased the risks of a bigger and disorderly default on Greek debt and, ultimately... 1st November 2011 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russia: WTO gains depend on wider economic reform After nearly 20 years of negotiations, Russia now appears to be on the cusp of joining the WTO. But while in theory at least WTO membership could bring major economic benefits, in practice these will... 31st October 2011 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Rebalancing knocked off course On the face of it, hopes that the UK economy is finally ‘rebalancing’ were given a shot in the arm last week with the release of the Economic Accounts and Balance of Payments figures. However, a... 31st October 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Policymakers fail to get ahead The plans agreed at last week’s EU summit look like another example of policymakers sprinting to catch up with events, but failing to get decisively ahead. We are not suggesting that the positive... 31st October 2011 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Chinese whispers alone won't save the euro Despite yet another round of speculation suggesting that China is about to ride to the rescue of the euro-zone, Europe will still have to solve its own problems. Meaningful Chinese support would... 29th October 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone EC Survey (Oct.) October’s fall in the EC measure of business and consumer sentiment adds to the evidence that the recovery is well and truly over and that the region is suffering from far more than a fiscal crisis. 28th October 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Tunisia's election results should not worry investors The fact that the moderate Islamic party, Al-Nahda, is on track to become the strongest political force in Tunisia should not be a concern for Western governments or international investors. From the... 26th October 2011 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response SME Business Confidence (Oct.) Confidence amongst Japan’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) dipped slightly in October. Sentiment had recovered rapidly from March’s disaster and although it is expected to rebound in... 26th October 2011 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Households' and firms' borrowing remains depressed A lack of credit is not a constraint on the Japanese economy, a lack of demand is. According to the latest Senior Loan Officer Survey, loan demand from Japanese households and firms has not recovered... 25th October 2011 · 1 min read
