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January 13, 2025
Cyberattacks and AI Misinformation: Market and Economic Fallout
January 13, 2025 8:10 AM UTC
A major cyberattack is a tail risk, while a huge AI misinformation crisis is a modest crisis in our view. Russia/China and Iran are less likely to launch a state sponsored cyberattack for geopolitical reasons and also uncertainty over president elect Donald Trump’s response. A huge AI mis
January 10, 2025
U.S. Treasuries versus Bunds and Gilts
January 10, 2025 8:10 AM UTC
· UK Gilts have been dragged higher by rising Treasuries and market concerns that BOE rate cuts will be limited (here), while 10yr Bund yields have also been dragged higher by Treasuries concerns on Fed rate cuts/budget deficit and tariffs. Multi quarter we see this as overdone. We
January 06, 2025
Markets 2025: A Tale of Two Halves
January 6, 2025 8:10 AM UTC
· For financial markets, 2025 will likely be a game of two halves. US exceptionalism will likely drive US equities to extend outperformance in H1, while the USD rises further as tariffs (threats and actual) escalate. However, 10yr U.S. Treasury yields will likely push higher in H2, which can
December 31, 2024
EZ HICP Preview (Jan 7): Headline Higher Again, But Core Still Clearly Friendly?
December 31, 2024 10:48 AM UTC
There were mixed messages in the November HICP numbers. After a downward revision, and thus below consensus thinking, the headline rose 0.2 ppt to 2.2%, but where the core stayed at 2.7%, partly due to what is seemingly stable services inflation. Higher energy costs, mainly base effects, were th
German Data Preview (Jan 6): Services Inflation Slips?
December 31, 2024 9:53 AM UTC
Germany’s disinflation process continues, with the y/y HICP headline stable at 2.4% in the November estimate, lower than widely expected, albeit where the CPI counterpart rose 0.2 ppt to 2.2%. This was again in spite of apparently stable or resilient services inflation. Even so, the core HICP
December 30, 2024
December 24, 2024
December Outlook Webinar on Jan 7: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics
December 24, 2024 8:30 AM UTC
The U.S. economy’s momentum remains reasonable before the impact of President-elect Trump’s policies in 2025 and 2026. While high uncertainty exists on the scale and timing of policy, the strategic bias is clear – sizeable tax cuts that will boost the budget deficit; tariffs (threats
December 20, 2024
DM FX Outlook: USD to edge lower despite high yields
December 20, 2024 8:28 AM UTC
· Bottom Line: Recent strong US data has bolstered the USD, with the Trump election victory also supportive due to expectations of tax cuts and tariffs which are seen leading to less Fed easing than previously expected. While we still see the USD weakening through 2025 as Fed easing red
December 19, 2024
DM Rates Outlook: Policy and Spread Divergence
December 19, 2024 12:07 PM UTC
• 2yr U.S. Treasury yields can decline initially as the Fed finishes easing (Figure 1), but as the sense grows that the rate cut cycle is stopping, we see the 2yr swinging to a small premium versus the Fed Funds rate – as the market debates the risks of a future tightening cycle. For 10y
Outlook Overview: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics
December 19, 2024 9:25 AM UTC
· The U.S. economy momentum remains reasonable before President elect Trump’s policies impact in 2025 and 2026. While high uncertainty exists on the scale and timing of policies, the strategic bias is clear – sizeable tax cuts that will boost the budget deficit; tariffs (threats
December 18, 2024
Jan 7 Outlook Webinar: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics
December 18, 2024 1:23 PM UTC
The U.S. economy’s momentum remains reasonable before the impact of President-elect Trump’s policies in 2025 and 2026. While high uncertainty exists on the scale and timing of policy, the strategic bias is clear – sizeable tax cuts that will boost the budget deficit; tariffs (threats
Equities Outlook: U.S. Exceptionalism v Valuations
December 18, 2024 10:05 AM UTC
· The glory days of exceptionalism for U.S. equities will likely extend in Q1 2025 to bring the S&P500 to 6200-6300. The problem is that valuations have now become stretched with S&P500 ex magnificent 7 on a forward P/E of 19 and valuations out of line with real bond yields (Figure 1)
December 17, 2024
Eurozone Outlook: Trump, Tariffs and the Possible Trade Tremor
December 17, 2024 8:16 AM UTC
· Once again, it does seem as if EZ activity expectations are being pared back in line with our below consensus thinking, most notably for next year. The result is that while the economy has been growing afresh it is doing so timidly, with downside risks persisting more clearly into 2
December 12, 2024
ECB Review: Clearly Flagging An End to Policy Restriction
December 12, 2024 3:02 PM UTC
A fourth 25 bp discount rate cut at this latest Council meeting, to 3%, was also the third in a row. But this meeting was important for the (as we expected) change in forward guidance in which the ECB accepts that on-target inflation is likely to be durable enough so that it no longer has to pursue
December 04, 2024
ECB Preview (Dec 12): Flagging An End to Policy Restriction
December 4, 2024 3:53 PM UTC
While a larger move is possible, we think that the ECB will instead opt for a fourth 25 bp discount rate cut at this month’s Council meeting, to 3%. But this meeting may be as important for what may be a change in forward guidance in which the ECB accepts that on-target inflation is likely to be d
December 02, 2024
Eurozone: What Services Inflation?
December 2, 2024 1:28 PM UTC
While real economy considerations seem to have taken over as the policy focus for the ECB majority, there are still some mutterings about apparent resilient services inflation. The latter is certainly the case when such inflation is measured on the conventional but possibly untimely y/y basis. How
Top Trump Tariff Threats
December 2, 2024 10:08 AM UTC
Internal dynamics within BRICS argues against a BRICS currency due to divergent economies and structures, though BRICS could one day look to have a payment system. Nevertheless, the threat of tariffs on BRICS if they form a new currency will also likely help the USD against EM currencies in H1 202
November 29, 2024
EZ HICP Review: Headline Higher, But Core Messages Still Friendly?
November 29, 2024 11:04 AM UTC
There were mixed messages in the November flash HICP. Matching consensus thinking, the headline rose 0.3 ppt to 2.3%, but where the core stayed at 2.7%, partly due to what is seemingly stable services inflation. Higher energy costs, mainly base effects, were the main factor behind the rise back
November 28, 2024
German Data Review: Services Inflation Persists?
November 28, 2024 1:40 PM UTC
Germany’s disinflation process continues, albeit with the y/y HICP headline stable at 2.4% in the preliminary November estimate, lower than widely expected, but where the CPI counterpart rose 0.2 ppt to 2.2%. This was again in spite of apparently stable or resilient services inflation (Figure 1)
France Budget Deal or Crisis?
November 28, 2024 12:54 PM UTC
Concerns about the 2025 French budget failing have caused new spread widening for 10yr France v Germany. What are the prospects?If the new and still very much minority government reaches agreement with National Rally and passes the 2025 budget, then it will produce some relief in markets but will
November 27, 2024
Eurozone: Measuring Monthly GDP Highlights Growing Weakness
November 27, 2024 11:01 AM UTC
Getting a reliable coincident assessment of the EZ real economy, let alone any insight into the likely near-term outlook, is difficult. EZ GDP data are prone to rapid revision, arrive only quarterly and only with a long lag offer detail from either the spending or output side that would allow a be
November 21, 2024
EZ HICP Preview (Nov 29): Headline Higher, But Core Messages Still Friendly?
November 21, 2024 9:59 AM UTC
Slightly higher energy costs were the main factor behind the rise back in HICP inflation in October to 2.0% having fallen to a well-below target 1.7% in the previous month (Figure 1). The outcome was a little higher than expected, not least with another apparently resilient services inflation read
Trump International: DM Countries
November 21, 2024 7:06 AM UTC
Much uncertainty still exists on policy but in 2025 the EU will likely be under pressure from targeted new tariffs by the Trump administration, while also being asked to spend more on defense spending. Purchasing extra LNG and military hardware from the U.S. is one way towards a potential trade de
November 20, 2024
German Data Preview (Nov 28): Services Inflation Persists?
November 20, 2024 3:58 PM UTC
As we have repeatedly underlined, Germany’s disinflation process continues but unevenly. After July saw the headline HICP rate rise and unexpected 0.1 ppt to 2.6%, unwinding a third of fall seen in June, it plummeted to a 41-month low of 2.0% in August, and then down to 1.8% last month, below th
Eurozone: ECB Stability Review Broadens the Case for Easier Policy
November 20, 2024 11:30 AM UTC
It seems that worries about weaker growth are reverberating more discernibly and more broadly within the ECB. Indeed, the worries may now be at least twofold. Clearly, weaker growth risks possible (added) downside risks to inflation, with BoI Governor Panetta yesterday warning that restrictive mon
November 18, 2024
U.S.-Germany Yield Decoupling
November 18, 2024 9:25 AM UTC
We see scope for 10yr German Bund yields to remain close to current levels in the next 1-2 years, despite our new forecast of rising U.S. Treasury yields (here[MG(1] ). A weak economic recovery; fiscal consolidation rather than easing in the U.S. and less underlying inflation pressures should all
November 14, 2024
ECB October Meeting Account: It’s the (Real) Economy Stupid!
November 14, 2024 1:42 PM UTC
It is clear but hardly surprising that the ECB rate cut last month was driven as much, if not more by real economy consideration than prices or possible fiscal tightening. The Oct account 16-17 suggested that the downside risks to the growth outlook in the September baseline, with the associated w
November 07, 2024
Germany: More Headwinds for an Ailing Economy?
November 7, 2024 9:10 AM UTC
After months of clear internal tensions, the three-party coalition collapsed on Wednesday after Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Social Democrat) sacked Finance Minister Christian Lindner (leader of the Free Democratic Party (FDP). The two had been seeing repeated rifts on spending and economic reforms, wi
October 31, 2024
EZ HICP Review: Headline Higher?
October 31, 2024 10:42 AM UTC
Slightly higher energy costs were the main factor behind the rise back in HICP inflation in October to 2.0% having fallen to a well-below target 1.7% in the previous month (Figure 1). The outcome was a little higher than expected, not least with another apparently resilient services inflation read
October 30, 2024
German Data Review: Services Inflation Persists?
October 30, 2024 3:35 PM UTC
Germany’s disinflation process continues but unevenly. After July saw the headline HICP rate rise and unexpected 0.1 ppt to 2.6%, unwinding a third of fall seen in June, it plummeted to a 41-month low of 2.0% in August, and then down to 1.8% last month, below the ECB target and well below expect
Eurozone GDP Review: Consumer Revival, Surveys Gloomier?
October 30, 2024 10:26 AM UTC
Even more clearly, the EZ economy is diverging as Germany stutters while Spain prospers. However, the risks are that the whole of the EZ is weakening given the possibly gloomier messages from business survey data. Admittedly, there were some upside surprises in the Q3 numbers, albeit with the un
October 24, 2024
Eurozone Services Risks Clearer?
October 24, 2024 10:13 AM UTC
It is clear that PMI data are a key component of the data analysis of the ECB. We are somewhat sceptical of the data, at least in its ability to track GDP growth coincidently and accurately. But the data does offer a wide-ranging insight into private sector economic momentum. With this in mind t
October 23, 2024
EZ HICP Preview (Oct 31): Headline Up But Still Below Target and Backed Up By Softer Wages?
October 23, 2024 9:20 AM UTC
Lower energy costs were the main factor behind the sharp fall in HICP inflation, which fell from 2.2% y/y in August to 1.7%, the latter revised down a notch from the flash estimate. This is the first sub-target reading since June 2021. Services inflation also edged lower, this allowing the core ra
October 22, 2024
Eurozone Q3 GDP Preview (Oct 30): (Near) Stagnation?
October 22, 2024 12:02 PM UTC
At best, the EZ economy is diverging ever more clearly as Germany falters while Spain prospers. However, the risks are that the whole of the EZ is weakening. Indeed, in contrast to ECB and consensus thinking of a second successive quarter of 0.2% q/q GDP growth, we see a clear risk that the EZ e
October 21, 2024
German Data Preview (Oct 30): Inflation Stays Under Target?
October 21, 2024 1:59 PM UTC
Germany’s disinflation process continues. After July saw the headline HICP rate rise and unexpected 0.1 ppt to 2.6%, unwinding a third of fall seen in June, it plummeted this month to a 41-month low of 2.0% in August, and then down to 1.8% last month, below the ECB target and well below expectat
October 17, 2024
ECB Review: Inflation Outlook Lowered?
October 17, 2024 1:45 PM UTC
The latest 25 bp rate cut from the ECB was obviously not anticipated at the previous meeting, although perhaps the Council was more open to such a move than the press conference then suggested. But it is clear a reassessment is occurring, not just of the inflation outlook but the real economy too.
October 16, 2024
ECB to Note Better Signs in Bank Lending Survey?
October 16, 2024 2:17 PM UTC
All and sundry wait as much for the what the ECB says tomorrow (Oct 17) than what it does (ie cut by another 25 bp). The consensus is that the Council will have to sound much more cautious about downside risks to both (its somewhat optimistic) growth outlook and its too pessimistic inflation pictu
October 11, 2024
France Debt: Non-Residents Budget Jitters
October 11, 2024 9:04 AM UTC
The 2025 budget could pass via a sequence of events, but the potential outcome is so uncertain that it is difficult to attach a probability to the various scenarios. Drama will be high for the next 12 months, which will also most likely see a parliamentary election from July 2025. France has been
October 10, 2024
ECB Preview (Oct 17): A Change of Tune, A Change of Rates
October 10, 2024 12:56 PM UTC
It now seems very likely that the ECB will cut rates at a successive Council meeting for the first time in this easing cycle dating back to June. To date the ECB has allowed the impression that it would ease only every other meeting, ie once a quarter, partly to give it access to what it sees as k
October 02, 2024
Markets: Rate Cuts or Geopolitics?
October 2, 2024 9:36 AM UTC
Israel will likely counteract Iran, which will prompt a further missile attack by Iran. However, our bias remains that Israel main aim is to have a buffer zone in southern Lebanon up to the Latani river and not fight a prolonged war with Iran. This limits the economic fallout globally and on oil
September 30, 2024
ECB October Rate Cut for Insurance
September 30, 2024 2:20 PM UTC
Recent economic data and national CPI numbers have increased the economic case for less restrictive policy. Combined with softening of guidance from ECB Lagarde and Schnabel, this leaves us inclined to now forecast a 25bps cut at the October 17 ECB meeting. This will likely be followed by a 25bp
September 27, 2024
EZ HICP Preview (Oct 1): Headline Back Below Target and Backed Up By Survey Signs?
September 27, 2024 9:38 AM UTC
Lower fuel prices will be a key factor in September’s HICP numbers, and enough of a factor to pull the y/y rate to 1.9%, which would be the lowest in over three years and this despite still little material change in services inflation. Indeed, the risk is of an even lower outcome. This may be sh
September 25, 2024
German Data Preview (Sep 30): Inflation Under Target?
September 25, 2024 11:15 AM UTC
Germany’s disinflation process continues. After July saw the headline HICP rate rise and unexpected 0.1 ppt to 2.6%, unwinding a third of fall seen in June, it plummeted this month to a 41-month low of 2.0% in August, ie consistent with the ECB target and well below expectations. Indeed, the C