Emerging Europe Economics Update Why would Russia benefit from lower oil prices? The numerous benefits of high oil prices for the Russian economy have concealed the bigger picture that over the past decade they have also served as a hindrance to much-needed political and economic... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Focus on oil prices neglects wider commodity picture The recent rise in oil prices has sparked fears that CPI inflation will not fall as fast as hoped. However, the focus on oil prices ignores the fact that other commodity prices have risen by less, if... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Will oil continue to outperform? Many of the usual relationships between oil and other commodity prices have broken down in the past year, with the cost of crude rising to its highest level since 2008 while the prices of key... 6th March 2012 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Investment reliant on sustained high oil prices With oil prices riding high, the outlook for business investment this year looks pretty good. We would feel more comfortable, however, if investment plans were not so dependent on the fate of one... 5th March 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Spike in oil prices is a bigger risk to growth than to inflation The surge in oil prices is unlikely to have a major impact on inflation in Emerging Europe but the impact on growth could be more significant. Ukraine and the Baltic States appear most vulnerable on... 2nd March 2012 · 1 min read
Commodities Chart Pack Iran premium in oil prices climbs towards $10 Commodity prices were mostly firm last month, helped by the general improvement in investor sentiment and, in the case of crude oil, an additional premium due to tensions between the West and Iran... 2nd March 2012 · 1 min read
DM Markets Chart Pack Weaker yen boosts Japan’s stock market The yen fell to its lowest level against the dollar in more than six months in February, with the exchange rate rising above 80. The principal catalysts for the weakening of the currency were probably... 29th February 2012 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Monetary stimulus not enough to rescue commodity prices The additional monetary stimulus from the world’s major central banks undoubtedly contributed to the recovery in asset prices, including commodities as well as equities, after the global recession... 29th February 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi Arabia’s non-oil sector set for healthy growth After a stellar performance in 2011, Saudi Arabia’s private businesses are likely to see another year of healthy growth in 2012. We expect government spending to rise again this year, and bank lending... 28th February 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update How vulnerable is Asia to high oil prices? Recent oil price increases are not a big threat to emerging Asia. The inflationary impact will be small even if prices remain at current levels. Asian economies are relatively oil-dependent but their... 28th February 2012 · 1 min read
UK Markets Outlook Super low gilt yields here to stay The recent improvement in both the timeliest economic news and sentiment towards the euro-zone has led investors to question whether the exceptionally low levels of gilt yields that were reached at... 27th February 2012 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Oil prices to reverse as weaker demand trumps Iran This is the first edition of a new monthly publication, Energy Watch, which marks the next stage in the development of our Commodity service. This edition focuses on global oil prices and specifically... 27th February 2012 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Rise in oil price not big enough to pose a threat The recent resurgence in the price of crude oil has led to speculation that, in a repeat of what happened at this time last year, a spike in energy prices could undermine real economic growth just... 27th February 2012 · 1 min read
Commodities Update How far would an IEA stock release lower oil prices? There are several grounds for thinking that the International Energy Agency (IEA) would be quicker to release stocks in response to a further surge in oil prices if due to tensions with Iran than it... 23rd February 2012 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update How big is the threat from rising oil prices? Oil prices are still below the levels that would represent a serious threat to the global economic recovery. But even now Europe is significantly more vulnerable than the US, despite the higher... 22nd February 2012 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Improvements in PMIs mask underlying fragility The first estimates of the manufacturing PMIs for February improved in both China and the euro-zone, but remain at levels consistent with further falls in the prices of industrial metals. The detail... 22nd February 2012 · 1 min read
