Global Markets Update EM currencies likely to weaken despite dovish Fed Although EM currencies suffered as the Fed tightened last year, they have hardly benefitted from the central bank’s dovish shift recently, including after this week’s FOMC meeting. We forecast that... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Commodities Focus China’s impact on agricultural prices to wane China’s economic rise over the past 30 years involved massive increases in commodity consumption and the country now plays a significant role in determining prices. However, the impact on global... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update US market implications of the Fed’s policy shift Although investors have become more dovish about the outlook for US monetary policy in the wake of this week’s FOMC meeting, we think that they are underestimating future rate cuts given the grim... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Consumers unfazed With just eight days to go until Brexit and uncertainty higher than ever, it is reassuring that households increased their spending on the high street at a decent rate in February. Admittedly, the... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Capital Daily Investors banking on an unrealistic “soft landing” in the US 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Brexit decision will stir the MPC one way or another How Brexit pans out will dictate the direction and timing of the next move in interest rates, so it was unsurprising that the Monetary Policy Committee kept a low profile today by voting unanimously... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly Saudi projects, jitters over Lebanon, Egypt’s gas revival Plans announced this week for a wave of megaprojects in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, add to the impression that the government is diverting its attention away from the bold reforms needed to... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indonesia: no more tightening, but cuts unlikely Bank Indonesia (BI) left rates unchanged at 6.0% at its meeting today, and there was little indication in the statement that it is likely to adjust monetary policy anytime soon. We expect rates to... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Slowing bank lending to weigh on Italy’s economy Higher government bond yields in Italy have not fed through to increased interest rates on bank loans, and this seems unlikely to happen to any significant degree this year. Nevertheless, Italian... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Switzerland and Norway Policy Decisions (Mar.) Today’s decision by the Norges Bank, to raise its policy rate from 0.75% to 1.00%, came as no surprise, but policymakers struck a more hawkish tone than expected. While the Bank is now likely to... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Taiwan’s central bank to keep policy on hold Taiwan’s central bank (CBC) decided to keep its policy rate unchanged today at 1.375% against a backdrop of weak economic growth and low inflation, and gave no indication in its statement that it will... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Retail Sales & Public Finances (Feb.) With just eight days to go until Brexit and MPs seemingly losing their heads, it is reassuring that in February households kept calm and carried on spending. The health of the public finances in... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Philippines: rate cut still likely in May The central bank of the Philippines (BSP) left rates unchanged today at Governor Diokno’s first meeting, but also sounded more hawkish than we had anticipated. Nevertheless, with inflation set to fall... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil’s central bank pledges continuity The wording of last night’s Brazilian monetary policy statement provides further evidence that the appointment of new governor Roberto Campos Neto won’t cause much of a change to monetary policy. With... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Data Response Poland Activity Data (Feb.) February’s activity data suggest that the Polish economy has, so far at least, shrugged off the recent weakness in Germany and continued to grow at a rapid pace in Q1. 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
RBNZ Watch New Zealand - Hold the line The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) will retain its neutral stance when it keeps rates on hold at its meeting on Wednesday the 27th March 2019. The softening in GDP growth in the second half of... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
