Asia Economics Weekly Pakistan’s central bank aiming to rekindle investment In a bid to revive investment, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) cut its policy rate for the second successive meeting on Friday. The SBP is likely to loosen monetary policy further, even at the risk... 8th October 2012 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly How important is non-China Asia to Japan? Japan’s economic relationship with China is important, but so is Japan’s relationship with other countries in Asia. These other economies account for a greater share of trade and outward foreign... 8th October 2012 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Business investment stalls The latest monthly data suggest that business investment contracted slightly in the third quarter, probably because of a growing caution with the fiscal cliff looming closer and the euro-zone crisis... 8th October 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Is the Greek bail-out starting to crumble? Successful bond auctions by the Spanish and Portuguese Governments last week, coupled with signs that other markets may also be starting to function more normally, provided further glimmers of hope... 8th October 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Weak signals in Q3 Last week’s CIPS activity surveys, along with the BCC’s latest quarterly survey of the UK economy, means we now have a full set of survey evidence for the third quarter of 2012. Unfortunately, the... 8th October 2012 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Labour Force Survey (Sep.) September's consensus blowing 52,100 gain in employment seems at odds with the recent lacklustre pace of GDP growth. The increase in the unemployment rate, to 7.4%, from 7.3% in August, is more... 5th October 2012 · 1 min read
US Data Response Employment Report (Sep.) While the modest 114,000 increase in September's non-farm payrolls was no better than the consensus forecast, the 86,000 upward revision to job gains in the two months before that and the decline in... 5th October 2012 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Why is global aluminium output still rising? Despite aluminium prices on the LME having been below costs for many smelters for over a year, global aluminium production has risen due to record premiums, increased output in western China and... 5th October 2012 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Labour market reforms to help Mexican industry to outperform The announcement of labour market reforms in Mexico is a step in the right direction and should help to raise productivity growth over the coming years. That, along with Mexico’s already strong... 5th October 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Bank of Russia shifts tone The decision by the Central Bank of Russia to keep interests rates on hold at 8.25% was expected, but the accompanying statement revealed a subtle yet important shift in tone, with policymakers now... 5th October 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt and the thorny issue of devaluation Egypt’s talks with the IMF over a financing package are set to get underway this month. There are a number of major stumbling blocks, the most contentious of which is whether Egypt is forced to... 5th October 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update How much scope do emerging markets have to loosen policy? Despite recent policy easing by the US Fed and the ECB, we expect global growth will continue to disappoint over the next couple of years. Against this gloomy background, prospects for emerging... 5th October 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB plays its cards close to its chest President Draghi reiterated the ECB’s determination to preserve the single currency at today’s interest rate press conference, but there remains a large amount of uncertainty surrounding how the... 4th October 2012 · 1 min read
