Global Economics Update How big a deal are the US tariffs? Steel and aluminium account for about 2% of world trade, so the direct impact on the global economy of the tariffs President Trump announced yesterday would be minimal. But the fact that they are... 2nd March 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus TARGET2 imbalances highlight euro-zone’s continued problems The large imbalances in the euro-zone’s TARGET2 payments system indicate that all is still not quite right in the region. There are some good reasons to expect the imbalances to narrow again over the... 2nd March 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Direct impact of US steel tariffs is small The imposition of US tariffs on steel and aluminium would have little direct impact on Asian economies. The bigger risk is that they represent the latest steps towards a damaging trade war. 2nd March 2018 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Steel tariffs risk retaliatory action President Donald Trump’s announcement today that the US will impose major new tariffs on steel and aluminium imports didn’t come as a huge surprise, since the Commerce Department’s recent 232 report... 1st March 2018 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Sweden Econ. Tendency Survey (Feb.) & Trade (Jan.) The recent softening of the Economic Tendency Survey suggests that the Swedish economy lost some momentum at the start of 2018. But the survey still implies that growth will remain strong. 27th February 2018 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Capital Flows Monitor (Jan.) Our estimates show that outflow pressures eased at the start of this year after picking up in the fourth quarter. Foreign investors acquired Chinese financial assets at a more rapid pace last month... 27th February 2018 · 1 min read
Global Trade Monitor World trade carries over momentum into 2018 Global trade volumes grew by 4.5% in 2017 as a whole – the fastest rate of annual growth in five years, and faster than the 3.7% expansion in global GDP. Encouragingly, the signs are that world trade... 23rd February 2018 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Import duty hikes unlikely to aid local manufacturing Recent hikes to import duties on various goods appear to be an attempt by Prime Minister Modi and the BJP to shore up popular support ahead of a clutch of state elections this year, and the general... 23rd February 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Euro-zone’s trade imbalances are just in remission The peripheral euro-zone countries have improved their competitiveness and eliminated their big current account deficits. But we think that they will struggle to maintain this improvement. And at the... 22nd February 2018 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Weaker dollar is here to stay After depreciating by almost 10% in trade-weighted terms since the beginning of 2017, we suspect that the dollar is set to remain relatively stable over the next few years. The depreciation already... 20th February 2018 · 1 min read
Japan Chart Pack Is Japan overheating? Japan’s economy recorded an eighth consecutive quarter of growth in Q4, the longest uninterrupted run of expansion since the late 1980s. Unemployment is very low, inflation has started to pick up... 20th February 2018 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External Trade (Jan.) Trade values were distorted in January by seasonal swings ahead of the Lunar New Year. The bigger picture is that external demand remains robust. 19th February 2018 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Deadlock in negotiations next week? Given that the UK Government has disagreements with the EU over the scope of the transition deal, and no new solutions to avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland have been proposed, there is a... 16th February 2018 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Trade deficit unlikely to widen much further India’s monthly trade deficit widened to its highest level since the taper tantrum in January. But we don’t think this is reason to panic just yet. Exports should rebound following disruptions related... 15th February 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Trade (Dec.) While the euro-zone’s nominal goods trade surplus was little changed in Q4, overall net trade seems to have boosted GDP growth. We expect trade to contribute positively to growth again this year. 15th February 2018 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor Surveys point to strong EM export growth in early-2018 Survey-based measures of manufacturers’ export expectations suggest that EM export volume growth is set to strengthen over the coming months. Growth in both EM export volumes and values will, however... 14th February 2018 · 1 min read
