Europe Data Response France, Spain & Austria GDP (Q4) Tough restrictions imposed in France and Austria last autumn to curb the spread of COVID-19 caused both countries’ GDP to fall in Q4. Spain’s laxer approach meant its economy actually grew. But for... 29th January 2021 · 2 mins read
China Chart Pack Surge in interbank rates a hawkish signal from PBOC Short-term funding costs for banks have risen sharply during the past couple of weeks. The 7-day depository repo rate (DR007), which has been flagged by the PBOC as a key benchmark and focus of... 29th January 2021 · 13 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Skies brightening, AstraZeneca-JCR deal boost The resilience of retail sales in December coupled with rapidly falling daily infections in recent days has prompted us to raise our forecasts for consumer spending in Q4 2020 and Q1 2021. And we... 29th January 2021 · 4 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan Labour Market & Industrial Production (Dec. 2020) While industrial production and capital goods shipments fell in December, firms’ ultra-upbeat production forecasts for January support our view that GDP will rise this quarter. Meanwhile, the... 29th January 2021 · 3 mins read
US Data Response GDP (Q4) The more modest 4.0% annualised gain in fourth-quarter GDP was mainly due to some temporary weakness in consumption, which was dragged down by the resurgence in coronavirus infections. With... 28th January 2021 · 2 mins read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly SAMA shakeup, UAE banks, latest on COVID-19 The change of governor at the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) adds to the signs that the government will lean more heavily on SAMA to support its efforts to diversify investments and the Saudi economy... 28th January 2021 · 6 mins read
Europe Data Response EC Survey (Jan.) January’s fall in the EC’s Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) for the euro-zone supports our view that the economy will contract again in Q1. The survey also suggests that inflationary pressure... 28th January 2021 · 2 mins read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Sweden Economic Tendency Indicator (Jan.) The rise in Sweden’s Economic Tendency Indicator (ETI) in January was a welcome surprise and shows that the manufacturing sector remains in rude health. That said, retail is struggling, and with... 28th January 2021 · 2 mins read
Asia Data Response Philippines GDP (Q4) The Philippines saw another lacklustre rebound in GDP in Q4 and big improvements will be hard to come by in the quarters ahead. Output is unlikely to regain its pre-crisis level until the end of 2021. 28th January 2021 · 3 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan Retail Sales (Dec. 2020) The small fall in retail sales in December suggests that consumer spending only weakened slightly before the declaration of a state of emergency. However, it’s still consistent with our view that... 28th January 2021 · 2 mins read
Nordic & Swiss Economic Outlook At the front of the pack Having experienced some of the smallest falls in output in Europe in 2020, GDP in Switzerland and the Nordics is likely to rise back to pre-virus levels in H2 2021 – about a year ahead of the euro... 27th January 2021 · 13 mins read
US Data Response Durable Goods (Dec.) The weaker 0.2% gain in headline durable goods orders in December was mainly due to ongoing problems among aircraft manufacturers and a drop off in defence orders. The bigger story is the continued... 27th January 2021 · 2 mins read
Canada Chart Pack Vaccinations lag the US Canada will receive only enough doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to provide the equivalent of one dose to 16% of the population by the end of the first quarter. By contrast, even in the... 26th January 2021 · 9 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Focus RBNZ to hike rates next year We now expect the RBNZ to tighten monetary policy in the years ahead as GDP growth, the labour market and inflation will be much stronger than the Bank has anticipated. We expect asset purchases to be... 26th January 2021 · 18 mins read
Asia Data Response Korea GDP (Q4, provisional) Korea’s recovery lost a little steam last quarter as a third wave of infections weighed on private consumption, but with cases now on a downward trend, the recovery should regain momentum over the... 26th January 2021 · 3 mins read
Europe Data Response German Ifo Survey (Jan.) The fall in the headline Ifo Business Climate Indicator for January is consistent with our view that, having proved resilient in Q4, German’s economy will contract in Q1. Tougher Covid-19 restrictions... 25th January 2021 · 2 mins read
