Canada Data Response International Merchandise Trade (Feb.) February's merchandise trade report, which revealed only a partial rebound in export volumes, can be partly blamed on bad weather. Nevertheless it still seems that Canada's economy isn't benefitting... 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
US Data Response International Trade (Feb.) The unexpected widening in the monthly trade deficit to a five-month high of $42.3bn in February, from $39.3bn, suggests that first-quarter GDP growth was only 1.5% annualised, lower than our previous... 3rd April 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Euro-zone recovery gradually building momentum The key euro-zone surveys of activity and sentiment continued to pick up in Q1, particularly in the periphery, suggesting that GDP growth in the region as a whole may have been a bit stronger than in... 2nd April 2014 · 1 min read
China Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Mar.) Taken at face value, today's PMIs appear to offer conflicting messages. In practice however, their divergence provides useful clues into the state of the manufacturing sector, suggesting that large... 1st April 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Export outperformance won't reignite Vietnam's economy Vietnam's exports have been a rare bright spot for its struggling economy in recent years, mainly owing to the country's success in attracting foreign manufacturers that want a low-cost alternative to... 31st March 2014 · 1 min read
UK Data Response National Accounts & Balance of Payments (Q4) The national accounts for the fourth quarter presented a mixed report card on the economy’s progress towards rebalancing. 28th March 2014 · 1 min read
Africa Chart Pack Effects of China’s slowdown to vary across the region Concerns over the impact on sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) of a further slowdown in China have resurfaced over the past couple of weeks. While we do not expect China to experience a hard landing, we do... 28th March 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Asia's consumer sector is picking up After enduring a slump for much of 2013, retail sales in Emerging Asia (ex. China) appear to have turned a corner. Growth has picked up strongly across most countries in the region in recent months... 26th March 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Venezuela: SICAD2 is another false dawn The Venezuelan government’s introduction of a new foreign exchange mechanism has been well received by the markets, but with no real efforts to significantly increase the supply of foreign currency we... 25th March 2014 · 1 min read
Global Trade Monitor Sluggish start to 2014 The volume of world exports rose by 0.6% m/m in January according to data published today by the CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis. This follows a small fall in December and means... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt’s external position still not sustainable An influx of financing from the Gulf since last summer has eased strains in Egypt’s balance of payments and brought the country back from the brink of a crisis. Nonetheless, this situation isn’t... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Weaker domestic demand driving fragile five’s external positions At an aggregate level, the current account deficit of the “fragile five” (Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey) showed a welcome improvement towards the end of last year. But progress has... 21st March 2014 · 1 min read
China Chart Pack Hand of People’s Bank seen in currency fall A rare trade deficit in February relieved some of the upward pressure on therenminbi, but the latest data suggest that the People’s Bank (PBOC) additionally purchased around $25bn of foreign exchange... 19th March 2014 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Regional vulnerabilities rising, but differentiation is needed Clouds have gathered over the outlook for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the past few months due to growing concerns over widening twin budget and current account deficits and the effects of a slowdown... 19th March 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External trade (Feb.) The sharp fall in the trade deficit in February is welcome, and the shortfall may narrow slightly further in coming months. 19th March 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German ZEW Survey (Mar.) & Euro-zone Trade (Jan.) March’s ZEW survey showed that recent concerns over the international environment have had a negative effect on sentiment amongst German investors. But current conditions in the economy remain buoyant... 18th March 2014 · 1 min read
