Global Trade Monitor Recent weakness a sign of things to come After ending 2018 on a very weak note, world trade growth is likely to slow this year as the global economy loses momentum. A slowdown in world trade is highly likely regardless of whether the US and... 28th January 2019 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Rising prime-age participation not all good news The increase in participation of those aged 25-54 is partly due to a structural decline in disability rates, but the more recent drop in fertility rates also appears to be playing a key role. That... 28th January 2019 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Africa rates: Kenya on hold, Ghana & Angola will keep cutting With inflation set to remain within target, we expect that Kenyan policymakers will leave their key rate on hold this year. Their Angolan and Ghanaian counterparts, however, will continue their easing... 28th January 2019 · 1 min read
Metals Outlook Industrial metals to fall further, before 2020 rebound Global demand growth is set to slow to its weakest pace since the global financial crisis, causing investor sentiment towards industrial metals to deteriorate. Both of these factors should drag... 28th January 2019 · 1 min read
China Activity Monitor Construction props up activity, but headwinds remain Our China Activity Proxy (CAP) suggests that growth edged up in December driven by strong construction activity. But with credit now growing at the slowest pace in more than a decade and the impact of... 28th January 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Weekly Lenín going to the IMF, Venezuela’s crisis deepens Speculation is growing that Ecuador’s president, Lenín Moreno, will seek an IMF deal in the coming months, and history suggests that the recent rally in sovereign dollar bonds has further to run... 25th January 2019 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Trade talks could be pivotal to investor sentiment Commodity prices largely shrugged off comments this week by the US Commerce Secretary that the US and China were “miles and miles” away from a trade deal. But the outlook for trade talks may take... 25th January 2019 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Exports slump as tech sector cools A shocking set of export figures this week may have been worsened by specific troubles in the tech sector. But a deterioration in the global environment is likely to be an increasing headwind for the... 25th January 2019 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response Global Steel Production (Dec.) Today’s data suggest that rapid increases in global steel output in 2018 are not set to be repeated in 2019. We think demand weakness will be a drag on prices and production this year. 25th January 2019 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Weekly Slightly more dovish ECB not a game-changer The turn towards a slightly more dovish tone by the ECB at its meeting on Thursday will have made policymakers at the SNB and the Riksbank even more hesitant to hike rates anytime soon. Next week, we... 25th January 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Slowdown intensifies, ECB slightly dovish The latest batch of business surveys suggest that the euro-zone economy may be stalling rather than just slowing. We think the ECB will tweak its forward guidance in March, and will at least consider... 25th January 2019 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Weak November a sign of things to come At Davos this week, Governor Stephen Poloz reiterated that the Bank of Canada will remain data dependent with respect to the pace of future interest rate hikes. With GDP set to have contracted in... 25th January 2019 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Fed likely to stick with “patient” mantra At next week’s policy meeting, the Fed is likely to reiterate its current mantra that it can be “patient” in waiting to hike interest rates. Admittedly, stock markets have recovered most of the losses... 25th January 2019 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack EM export weakness to continue in 2019 EM export growth slowed sharply in November and the early signs are that the December figures will be even worse. Some of this was due to falls in commodity prices. But much of the weakness appears to... 25th January 2019 · 1 min read
