Short-End Gilts To Discount More Easing?

July 24, 2024 9:15 AM UTC

2yr Gilt yields will likely start declining further after the 1 BOE rate cut (we expect Aug 1), both as BOE communications guide to further cuts in the medium-term and as incoming wage and service inflation provides more comfort to reduce the scale of restrictive policy.  We see 2yr Gilt yields at

EZ HICP Preview (Jul 31): Disinflation Continues - Below-Target Rate Looming?

July 23, 2024 10:09 AM UTC

The clear disinflation trend was still evident even after higher and higher-than-expected May numbers, where the headline moved up from 2.4% to a three-month high of 2.6%.  That disinflation trend looks more discernible after the partial drop back to 2.5% seen in the June HICP, albeit with some far

The Aussie Chapter 5: Kiwi, a tale of two cities

July 23, 2024 12:00 AM UTC

In "The Aussie", we will look into the "well-known "correlation among the Aussie and well-known benchmark to give our readers a closer look towards factors that have been affecting the movement of the Australian Dollar. In Chapter 4, we will look into the performance of the Aussie relative to the Ki

German Data Preview (Jul 30): Inflation Stable Ahead of Fresh Fall in Coming Months?

July 22, 2024 3:10 PM UTC

Base effects have caused the German disinflation process not to be smooth and this was even more clearly the case in recent numbers where after a second successive and slightly larger rise in the headline HICP rate occurred rising 0.4 ppt to 2.8% in May was followed by a drop back to 2.5% in June, 0

UK Household Wealth and the Pension Predicament

July 22, 2024 12:44 PM UTC

Unlike some other parts of the DM world, UK households have seen a serious dent put into their stock of wealth in the last two years.  Indeed, household net worth fell in both 2022 and 2023, both in absolute terms and also as a % GDP (Figure 1).  The 2022 drop was very much a slump in pension fund

ECB Review: Policy Window Stays Very Open

July 18, 2024 1:56 PM UTC

Maybe the ECB is now thinking that it was too clear at its April Council meeting that rate cut would occur subsequently in June, basically then suggesting that something would have to occur to prevent such a move.  This time, with policy rates held as very much expected, the policy window was merel

UK Labor Market: Far Less Resilient Wage Pressures As Labor Market Loosens Further

July 18, 2024 7:15 AM UTC

As we have underscored repeatedly, the BoE has come to regard the official ONS average earnings data with some suspicion given response rates to the surveys that have fallen towards just 10%.   But the BoE will not be able to dismiss the latest earnings data given that alternative (and more author

UK CPI Review: Inflation Stays at Target and Services Stay Resilient?

July 17, 2024 6:35 AM UTC

As has been made clear by policy-makers, labor market and particularly CPI data are crucial to BoE thinking about the timing and even the existence of any start to an easing cycle.  In this regard the fact that headline CPI inflation dropped back to the 2% target in May is important but far from de

Eurozone Banks See Consumer Loan Demand Recover

July 16, 2024 8:58 AM UTC

There were more positive straws in the wind in the latest (July 2024) bank lending survey (BLS), providing some reassurance for the ECB ahead of this week’s Council meeting. Most notable was a reported increase in demand for both housing loans and consumer credit for the first time since 2022 and

UK Productivity: Starting to Recover - Maybe?

July 15, 2024 2:12 PM UTC

Amid the new government’s economic priority to boost the trend or potential growth rate, any hint that this could be occurring would be welcome and important.  With this in mind, it is notable that after the mild recession in H2 last year, the ‘recovery’ through this year is much clearer than

EZ and UK Government Bonds: Decoupling From the U.S.?

July 12, 2024 9:37 AM UTC

Different economic and inflation dynamics, plus no constraint from trade weighted exchange rates, means that the ECB and BOE can cut irrespective of the Fed in the coming quarters.  This can see 2yr yields decline, though less so in Germany where a 2.5% ECB depo rate is already discounted.  10yr y

UK GDP Review: More Upside Surprises

July 11, 2024 7:02 AM UTC

After the mild recession in H2 last year, the ‘recovery’ now evident is much clearer than any expected with GDP growth notably positive, and with less apparent volatility.  Indeed, coming in more than expected, GDP rose by 0.4% m/m in May accentuating the bounce in the two months prior to the f

UK CPI Preview (Jul 17): Inflation To Stay at Target – An Update on the Policy Outlook?

July 10, 2024 1:51 PM UTC

As has been made clear by policy-makers, labor market and particularly CPI data are crucial to BoE thinking about the timing and even the existence of any start to an easing cycle.  In this regard the fact that headline CPI inflation dropped back to the 2% target in May is important but far from de

Israel and Hezbollah: Tensions or War?

July 9, 2024 2:28 PM UTC

Tensions are growing between Israel and Hezbollah, though the odds of a war in the next 6 months remain modest.  Military strategists note that such a war would require a large scale ground offensive and this is difficult given the war in Gaza.  

France Gets PPP - Protracted Policy Paralysis?

July 8, 2024 6:46 AM UTC

French politics is getting used to surprises.  After the unexpected snap election that saw the far right poll the most in the first round of parliamentary results last week, Sunday’s second round surprisingly saw President Macron's centrist forces perform more strongly than expected by coming in

UK Election Aftermath: Labour’s Solid Victory

July 5, 2024 5:24 AM UTC

Labour have won a large seat majority, though with a modest vote share.  This should provide political stability in the UK for the next 5 years.  The key question for market remains how the fiscal rule will be meet and how slowly or quickly Labour will take actions to boost long-term growth. 

ECB: Council Policy Reservations Deeper Than Expected?

July 4, 2024 12:23 PM UTC

The account of the June ECB Council meeting confirmed one dissent against the widely flagged 25 bp rate cut but also revealed perhaps clearer reservation among some other members about easing at that juncture.  Indeed, there seemed to be disagreement about interpreting data; what is the basis for a

UK GDP Preview (Jul 11): Questions Continue Regarding How Resilient is the Economy?

July 3, 2024 4:26 PM UTC

The economy may have been in only mild recession in H2 last year, but the ‘recovery’ now evident is seemingly much clearer than any expected with GDP growth notably positive, albeit with some continued volatility.  Indeed, coming in more than expected, and despite industrial action, GDP rose by

EZ HICP Review (Jul 2): Disinflation Resumes Amid Services Resilience – July Cut Off Table?

July 2, 2024 9:33 AM UTC

The clear disinflation trend was still evident even after higher and higher-than-expected May numbers, where the headline moved up from 2.4% to a three-month high of 2.6%.  That trend looks more discernible after the partial drop back to 2.5% seen in the June flash HICP, albeit with some far from r

German Data Review (Jul 1): Inflation Moves Back Down

July 1, 2024 12:28 PM UTC

Base effects have caused the German disinflation process not to be smooth and this was even more clearly the case in the May numbers where a second successive and slightly larger rise in the headline HICP rate occurred rising 0.4 ppt to 2.8%, albeit a rise half that size seen in the accompanying CPI

Eurozone: Monetary Messages Gaining More Prominence?

June 28, 2024 11:11 AM UTC

Amid speculation about the size and durability of any EZ real economy recovery, one important thing is still lacking.  Indeed, monetary data remain weak; while money supply growth measures have turned positive what we think are the more important aspects, namely credit data remain feeble.  Data th

Sweden Riksbank Review: Slightly Less Gradual

June 27, 2024 9:29 AM UTC

The Riksbank is more confident in the current disinflation process.  While none expected any further cuts at this policy verdict today, especially after the 25 bp rate cut it made last month, the Board updated Monetary Policy Report suggested there may an additional such cut in H2 over and beyond t

Outlook Forecasts to download in Excel

June 26, 2024 10:30 AM UTC

Below is an Excel file that contains our headline forecasts for GDP, Inflation, Monetary Policy, and Exchange Rates.

Outlook Overview: Cyclical and Structural Forces

June 25, 2024 10:15 AM UTC

•    The global economy is showing signs of healing, as inflation comes back towards targets and growth recovers momentum in some economies. Nevertheless, the cyclical headwind of lagged monetary tightening remains in DM countries, and will likely be one of the forces slowing the U.S. economy

German Data Preview (Jul 1): Inflation Moves Back Down And Broadly So?

June 24, 2024 10:57 AM UTC

As we have repeatedly underlined, base effects continue to distort the German HICP/CPI readings and the path down for inflation has not been smooth.  This was even more clearly the case in the May numbers where a second successive and slightly larger rise in the headline HICP rate occurred rising 0

Japan Outlook: Slow but not Steady

June 21, 2024 12:15 AM UTC

•    GDP growth for 2024 has been revised lower to +0.4% as private consumption contracted stronger in Q1 2024 from moderating but still persistent inflationary pressure. We forecast consumption to gradually recover throughout the rest of 2024 as real wage turned from negative to positive yet

U.S. Outlook: Economy Starting to Lose Momentum

June 20, 2024 6:17 PM UTC

•    The U.S. economy is starting to lose momentum after a surprisingly strong second half of 2023, and we expect the loss of momentum to become more apparent in the second half of 2024, causing a slowing in employment growth from its current strong pace. We expect inflation to resume a gradua

Norges Bank Review: Excessive Last Mile Caution?

June 20, 2024 9:04 AM UTC

It was always the very high likelihood that the thrust of recent data and the Board’s clear caution would mean that the Norges Bank would leave its policy rate at 4.5% for a fourth successive meeting and this is what duly occurred.  Perhaps more notable was that the it was more explicit in stress

SNB: 25bps Cut and Next Cut in September

June 20, 2024 8:34 AM UTC

The SNB cut by 25bps to try and stop inflation undershooting.  We look for a further 25bps cut in September, as the new inflation forecasts remains too far below target for SNB comfort. CHF strength will also not ebb quickly given the prospect of prolonged French political uncertainty.  

Sweden Riksbank Preview (Jun 27): Doing It Gradually

June 19, 2024 3:24 PM UTC

As much as the 25 bp rate cut it made last month was the clear hint of two further such cuts in H2 this year, this chiming with its policy outlook in the March (Figure 1) Monetary Policy Report (MPR) as well as our own long-standing view.  By moving at that early juncture, the Board was both reacti

France Debt: Dependent on Non-Residents

June 18, 2024 9:20 AM UTC

Any further major fiscal slippage under a new government could prompt more of a reduction in French government bond exposure, which would likely mean a multi month/quarter risk premia for France and cause spillover difficulties for Italy. It is worth remembering that France is dependent on non-resid

BoJ Review: Pushing Hikes to July, if any

June 14, 2024 5:24 AM UTC

BoJ keep rates and bond purchase the same, suggesting the planning for bond purchase cut will be decided in July

Norges Bank Preview (Jun 20): Continued Caution?

June 13, 2024 9:25 AM UTC

Given the thrust of recent data and the Board’s clear caution, the Norges Bank is very likely to leave the policy rate at 4.5% for a fourth successive meeting at its next Board meeting with the decision due on June 20.  It is also likely to retain the thinking first aired at the December meeting,

Fed: Door Still Open to 2024 Rate Cuts

June 12, 2024 7:43 PM UTC

Though the June SEP median Fed dot is for one 25bps cut in 2024, the details of the summary of economic projections and guidance from Fed chair Powell during the press conference make clear that one or two cuts are in current Fed thinking.  Data dependence is key for the Fed and we look for less GD