Europe Economics Update Will negative yields render ECB QE useless? Any optimism surrounding the ECB’s progress towards QE has been dulled by concerns that the already low level of yields on many assets will make the policy ineffective. But there is still scope for QE... 10th November 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly What will trigger ECB QE and when? The ECB suggested last week that preparations are finally underway to launch full-blown quantitative easing. It seems that action will be triggered by either of two factors: evidence that existing... 7th November 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (Sep.) & Final PMIs (Oct.) October’s final composite PMI was slightly below the flash estimate and indicated that the euro-zone economy may have started Q4 on a weak note. 5th November 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update What can the ECB learn from the Bank of Japan? While the extension of the Bank of Japan’s quantitative easing programme may not deliver a sharp upturn in the Japanese economy, the signal it has sent regarding the future stance of Japanese monetary... 4th November 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Oct.) All peripheral economies narrowed their budget deficits in September but France and Italy submitted draft budgets that flouted EU fiscal rules. 3rd November 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Banking sector recovery still appears fragile Last week’s bank stress test results, September’s lending data and the ECB’s latest Bank Lending Survey all suggested that conditions in the euro-zone’s banking sector are, on the whole, improving... 31st October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI (Oct.) & Unemployment (Sep.) With euro-zone HICP inflation still close to zero in October and the unemployment rate holding near a record high, there remains a significant risk of deflation in the single currency area. 31st October 2014 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Political pressure keeping lid on QE for now The ECB seems unlikely to announce any new policies this month as it continues to purchase small quantities of covered bonds and prepares to buy asset-backed securities. With the risk of deflation... 30th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone EC Survey (Oct.) October’s EC Business and Consumer Survey suggests that the euro-zone economy got off to a weak start in Q4, after broadly stagnating in Q3. 30th October 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Monetary conditions set to remain loose The likely end of the Fed’s asset purchases under QE3 does little to change the bigger picture that global monetary conditions remain very loose. 29th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response ECB Bank Lending Survey (Oct.) The ECB’s October Bank Lending Survey (BLS) provided further evidence of a slow improvement in euro-zone credit conditions. But lending standards are still tight and the faltering economic recovery... 29th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Stress tests offer some relief, but not for Italy On the whole, the results of Europe’s bank stress tests were positive, implying that the heavy drag that falls in bank lending have exerted on the euro-zone economy may be set to ease. But poor... 27th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Sep.) September’s euro-zone monetary data showed further signs of improvement but with lending growth still negative and, given the need for some of the weakest banks to raise further capital, the sector is... 27th October 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update PMIs provide little support to commodities prices While China’s headline flash PMI rose in October, falls in the activity and new orders components do not bode well for commodities prices. Meanwhile, the euro-zone’s flash PMI suggests the region... 23rd October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Oct.) October’s modest rise in the euro-zone composite PMI left it still dangerously close to the no change level of 50. With hard data pointing to a possible fall in GDP in Q3, the region may still have... 23rd October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update How vulnerable is non-core logistics property to risk aversion? Compared to previous bouts of risk aversion, the peripheral euro-zone and emerging European economic outlook is better. And, with investors now seeing the sector as a core portfolio component, the... 22nd October 2014 · 1 min read
