Europe Data Response German Industrial Production/Trade & French Trade (Apr.) April’s rise in German industrial production provides hope that the recovery in the wider economy is gaining momentum. But with fiscal policy in Germany and elsewhere set to be tightened dramatically... 8th June 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Will the resilience of French retail rents last? Although French retail rental values have barely fallen to date, we do not think that their resilience will last. With the economic recovery faltering, and figures released today showing that consumer... 27th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Germany Trade/France & Italy Industrial Production (Mar.) The latest data from the three main economies suggest that the region ended Q1 on a high note. But while the economic recovery may gain momentum in the short term, a prolonged period of fiscal... 10th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Industrial Production & French Trade (Mar.) March’s surge in German industrial production confirms that the euro-zone’s largest economy is shaking off troubles in the periphery for now. But weather-related weakness earlier this year suggests... 7th May 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update French office occupier market recovery not yet set in stone March’s fall in service sector sentiment in France suggests that 2009Q4’s sharp rise in take-up is unlikely to be repeated in 2010Q1. Moreover, with underlying demand also still relatively weak, even... 26th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Italian GDP (Q4), Italian & French Industrial Production (Jan.) Q4’s Italian GDP figures were pretty dreadful. With domestic demand still very fragil and a fundamental lack of competitiveness hampering the external sector, Italy looks set to stage a slow and... 10th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Investors reveal a liquidity preference A closer look at the movement in French commercial property yields supports the idea that liquidity remains a key consideration for investors as office yields have fallen more sharply than retail or... 4th March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Ifo Survey (Feb.) & French Consumer Spending (Jan.) The latest data add to the recent run of bad news. With German Ifo business sentiment falling in February and French consumer spending dropping in January, there is little hope that the euro-zone... 23rd February 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Is France next in the markets’ sights? As worries about the public finances spread throughout the euro-zone, France is the latest to edge on to the radar screens. Given a relatively low stock of debt and healthy economic outlook, its... 8th February 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update French consumers leading the way France is one of few economies that seem to be experiencing a consumer revival. Sadly, fiscal tightening will prevent the recovery from gaining much momentum. But a fairly healthy household sector... 1st February 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Ifo Survey (Jan.) & French Consumer Spending (Dec.) January’s sharper than expected increase in German Ifo business sentiment came as a relief after the deterioration in some other surveys lately. The rise in the composite Business Climate Index, from... 26th January 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Commercial property outlook rosier for France than Germany Over the next two years we think that the German economy will deliver slightly stronger growth than France. Even so, we think that the downside risks to French rental values are less, while a higher... 25th November 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Rise in French industrial output is unlikely to support rental values On the face of it, the fourth consecutive monthly rise in French industrial output in August provides some grounds for hope that an improvement in industrial occupier demand might be imminent. However... 12th October 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Why have French yields risen more than Italian and Dutch yields? At first glance it seems a little surprising that initial yields in France are now above those in Italy and the Netherlands. Foreign investors’ share of the French investment market has fallen... 8th October 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Can France maintain its lead? France is likely to give up its recent status as the euro-zones star performer in the next two years, losing ground mainly to Germany. But with household finances and the banking sector in a fairly... 30th September 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Paris further through the office rental value correction Paris has been among those Western European cities which have seen the sharpest declines in office rental values to date. However, we do not think that Paris has suffered disproportionately. Rather... 21st August 2009 · 1 min read