Europe Economics Update Higher interest rates in Italy to offset fiscal stimulus We doubt that the recent rally in Italian government bonds will last. And higher yields are already feeding through to higher borrowing costs in the private sector. We think that this will offset any... 28th November 2018 · 1 min read
DM Valuations Monitor Italian BTPs will probably continue to trade like “junk” Although Italian government bonds (BTPs) are already trading like “junk”, we think that their credit spread will rise even further next year for several reasons. 28th November 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Fall in oil prices to boost consumer spending The sharp drop in oil prices this month supports our long-held view that lower inflation will give consumer spending a boost. And we doubt that the sell-off in the equity market will do much damage to... 23rd November 2018 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Italy’s now-junk credit spread will probably get bigger Italian government bonds are now trading like “junk”, but we think that the spread between the yields of 10-year BTPs and German Bunds will increase even more in 2019 as Italy’s problems escalate and... 20th November 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB won’t bail out Italy The ECB has a range of tools at its disposal to respond to the situation in Italy and its effects on the wider euro-zone. But for it to use them, there would have to be a serious escalation of the... 20th November 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Europe considers response to Italy The EU looks set to launch disciplinary proceedings against Italy, perhaps as soon as next week. But unless the situation in Italy escalates dramatically, the ECB is unlikely to respond. Instead, the... 16th November 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Markets, not the EU, could change Italy’s plans The small changes that Italy’s Government has made to its Budget are unlikely to placate the European Commission. So Italy looks set for greater budget oversight, which could eventually lead to... 14th November 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Italy-EU tensions set to intensify Tensions between Italy and the EU are likely to escalate next week. Indeed, the Government has until Tuesday to submit a re-drafted budget, and despite coming under pressure from European policymakers... 9th November 2018 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Italy’s problems shouldn’t stop euro’s revival in 2019 Although Italy’s problems are likely to continue to weigh on the euro next year, we still think that the currency will strengthen against the dollar in response to a favourable shift in monetary... 2nd November 2018 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Bond markets less vulnerable to contagion from Italy Although we expect Italian bonds to remain under pressure over the coming years as the country’s fiscal and economic outlook continues to deteriorate, we think that European bond markets are generally... 25th October 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update No end in sight for Italian fiscal stand-off The Italian Government’s reply to the European Commission suggests that there is unlikely to be a quick resolution to the current fiscal impasse. We expect yields to rise in the coming years. 22nd October 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update No end in sight for Italian fiscal stand-off The Italian Government’s reply to the European Commission suggests that there is unlikely to be a quick resolution to the current fiscal impasse. We expect yields to rise in the coming years. 22nd October 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economic Outlook Modest slowdown masks large divergences Prospects for Europe have deteriorated somewhat as slowing global demand has begun to affect exports and a sharp rise in bond yields has darkened the outlook for Italy. Some of the major players... 17th October 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Implications of an Italy-EU budget clash On its own, the inevitable clash between the EU and the Italian Government is unlikely to have much of an economic impact, at least in the near term. However, the situation could well escalate next... 16th October 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Rating downgrades are another threat for Italy Rating downgrades as soon as the end of this month may well push Italian bond yields higher, with adverse effects on the economy and the banks. Further downgrades to junk status seem feasible in... 11th October 2018 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Further downside ahead for Italian equities The surge in Italian government bond yields in recent months has brought back to the forefront the vulnerability of the banking sector to falls in bond prices. Given our view that Italian bond yields... 9th October 2018 · 1 min read
