Africa Economics Update S Africa: Unemployment a structural obstacle, not cyclical indicator We wouldn’t read too much into the recent decline in South African unemployment; the measure tells us little about the country’s economic cycle. While many factors contribute to high levels of... 19th February 2019 · 1 min read
Energy Update Hard to be positive on global oil demand Slower economic growth in the two largest oil consumers will weigh on oil demand this year and is a key reason why we expect prices to fall, despite lower supply. Admittedly, China is likely to... 19th February 2019 · 1 min read
Metals Watch Prices to fall, despite low exchange stocks Exchange stocks in most base metals have slumped over the past year. Typically, this is associated with strong demand or weak supply growth, and results in higher metals prices. In this Metals Watch... 19th February 2019 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Consumer Prices (Jan.) Saudi Arabia re-entered deflation at the start of 2019 as we had anticipated, with consumer prices falling by 1.9% y/y in January. A fresh round of subsidy cuts poses an upside risk to the inflation... 19th February 2019 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Labour Market (Dec.) While reassuring, the large rise in employment in Q4 probably marks a peak in employment growth given the deterioration in surveys of hiring in January. And pay growth plateaued. Nonetheless, we think... 19th February 2019 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Swedish Consumer Prices (Jan.) The weaker-than-expected outturn for Swedish inflation in January underlines our view that the Riksbank will be in no rush to raise interest rates again. Indeed, with core inflation remaining... 19th February 2019 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Turkey: lira still vulnerable to swings in risk appetite The improvement in Turkey’s current account position means the lira no longer looks fundamentally misaligned, but the recent period of stability won’t last. While a repeat of last year’s currency... 19th February 2019 · 1 min read
Capital Daily Equities unlikely to keep shrugging off economic weakness 18th February 2019 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update The policy response to a no deal Brexit As demand and supply would both drop after a no deal Brexit, it’s not obvious how policy should respond. But our view that the drop in demand would last longer than any fall in supply suggests the... 18th February 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Wider trade deficit no cause for panic India’s merchandise trade deficit widened in January, but with oil prices likely to fall over the coming months, we think the shortfall will narrow again before long. In turn, that should help to keep... 18th February 2019 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Thailand GDP (Q4) GDP growth in Thailand picked up in Q4, but it is likely to struggle for momentum in the quarters ahead due to weaker external demand. The key risk to the outlook is the possibility of unrest if the... 18th February 2019 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Palladium prices ignore fundamentals The price of palladium has reached another record high today, but we remain of the view that this elevated level is unlikely to last. In fact, it is now clear that supply rose strongly in 2018 which... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Oil’s rally to eventually lose steam After rising strongly this week, the price of oil is likely to remain supported in the short term by clear signs of lower supply from OPEC (mainly Saudi Arabia) and the loss of Iranian and Venezuelan... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Weekly Pemex’s sticking plaster, Argentina’s fiscal rumours The bailout package announced earlier today by Mexico’s president for the ailing state-owned oil company Pemex is unlikely to arrest the alarming decline in oil output and prevent yields on Pemex debt... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Data reinforce Fed’s “patient” stance The Fed’s “patient” stance was originally a response to the deteriorating global economic and financial market backdrop, but the dreadful activity data and subdued inflation figures out this week... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
Capital Daily More weakness in Chinese equities likely as rally stalls 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
