DM Central Banks: Overlooking Lagged 2021-23 Tightening and QT?

July 2, 2025 8:30 AM UTC

We are concerned that DM central banks are underestimating the lagged impact of 2021-23 tightening and ongoing QT, which impacts the transmission mechanism of monetary policy.  Central banks need to consider cyclical and structural issues, but also need a more rounded view of the stance and implica

Trump Tariffs: Poker Face?

July 1, 2025 12:55 PM UTC

Our central scenario (but less than 50%) is towards a scenario of compromise, with some agreements in principle or trade framework deals, delays for most other negotiating in good faith but with one or two countries seeing a reciprocal tariff rise e.g. Spain and/or Vietnam.  This could still be fol

Continuum Economics Calendar July 2025

June 26, 2025 1:00 PM UTC

Data and Events Calendar July 2025.

Outlook Forecasts to download in Excel

June 25, 2025 9:30 AM UTC

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

Equities Outlook: Choppy Then 2026 Gains

June 24, 2025 8:15 AM UTC

       Though the U.S. equity market has rebounded, we still scope for a fresh dip H2 2025 to 5500 on the S&P500 as hard data softens further to feed into weaker corporate earnings forecasts and CPI picks up and delays Fed easing.  However, the AI story is still a positive, while share buybacks

DM FX Outlook: USD uncertainty increases as Trump changes the rules

June 24, 2025 7:05 AM UTC

·       Bottom Line: After making initial gains after the election, the USD has followed a similar path to the first Trump presidency, falling back steadily this year as optimism on the economy has faded, with the introduction of tariffs contributing to more negative sentiment. Much as in the

Iran: Measured Next Steps?

June 23, 2025 3:17 PM UTC

  A measured or modest Iran retaliation could be used by the U.S. to seek a path back towards negotiation.  Israel would likely want to continue to degrade Iran nuclear and military facilities, but the U.S. could eventually pressure Israel to stop.  This is our baseline, though the military attac

DM Rates Outlook: Yield Curve Steepening?

June 23, 2025 8:30 AM UTC

•    We see the U.S. yield curve steepening in the next 6-18 months. 2yr U.S. Treasury yields can step down with cautious Fed easing on a modest/moderate growth slowdown and also if the Fed keeps an easing bias in H2 2026. 10yr U.S. Treasury yields face a tug of war between lower short-dated y

Eurozone Outlook: In Tariff Limbo Land?

June 20, 2025 9:24 AM UTC

·       Amid what may still be tightening financial conditions and likely protracted trade uncertainty, we have pared back the EZ activity forecast for 2026. However, the picture this year appears to be slightly better but this is largely a distortion and we think that the economy has instead

Trump Tariffs: China and July 9 Reciprocal Deadline

June 12, 2025 7:17 AM UTC

 We attach a 65% probability to a U.S./China reaching a new trade deal that reduces the minimum overall tariff to 15-20% imposed by the U.S., most likely agreed in Q4 2025 and to be implemented in 2026.  However, a 35% probability exist of no deal and this could eventually mean higher tariffs (Fig

ECB: Time to Reassess and Slow QT?

June 10, 2025 2:25 PM UTC

Further ECB easing is on the cards, the question being whether this should start to encompass toning down quantitative tightening (QT) plans too! Notably, the two ppt fall in the discount rate cuts has come against a backdrop where the ECB has continued unconventional tightening by scaling back its

U.S. Deficit and Government Debt Concerns

June 10, 2025 9:00 AM UTC

 The large U.S. budget deficit has helped push up 10yr real yields to 2% in 2024/2025, but both the budget deficit (heavy issuance) and government debt trajectories (sustainability and rating concerns) are key going forward if the 10yr budget bill passed is similar to the House Bill.  Foreign acco

ECB Council Meeting Review: Easing Window Stays Open

June 5, 2025 1:58 PM UTC

This widely seen 25 bp deposit rate cut (to 2.0%) now means the previous degree of tightening has been effectively halved.  Notably, it comes alongside an ECB policy and economic outlook/bias little changed from that of recent months.  The door is thus left open for a move at the July 24 policy ve

UK GDP Preview (Jun 12): GDP Still Overstating Activity?

June 4, 2025 10:20 AM UTC

After two successive monthly upside surprises, a correction back in GDP could be expected for the upcoming April data, especially as Q1 numbers may have been boosted by added production destined for the U.S in anticipation of tariffs.  In addition, real estate activity seems to have slumped after t

Nato Summit 5% Target and Trump

June 3, 2025 10:48 AM UTC

Trump’s natural instincts will likely see extra pressure applied on Europe in the coming weeks to commit to 5%, but we do not see existential threats from Trump.  In the end, our baseline is that NATO will agree a “soft” aim of 5% (3.5% hard military spending and 1.5% infrastructure/cybersecu

Trump’s 50% Steel And Aluminum: Negotiating Leverage?

June 2, 2025 7:42 AM UTC

•    President Donald Trump increase in steel and aluminum tariffs from 25% to 50% is not just about boosting the steel and aluminum industry.  It also a demonstration that Trump remains in control of tariffs and can aggressively change tariffs to increase negotiating leverage.  It is a mess

Tax Foreigners Assets: How To Lose Friends

May 30, 2025 9:12 AM UTC

   Increasing taxes on dividends on U.S. equities and corporate bond coupons would alarm foreign investors and hurt the USD and U.S. equities, as it would amplifies foreign investors concerns that they are overweight U.S. assets and the USD.  Starting a capital war with investors into the U.S. is

Court Stops Trump Reciprocal and Fentanyl Tariff

May 29, 2025 7:18 AM UTC

•    The Trump administration will likely follow a multi-track response by appealing the judgement but also fast-tracking section 232 product tariffs for pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.  The administration could also consider section 301 or 122 tariffs (the latter 15% for 150 days against c

ECB Council Meeting Preview (Jun 5): Much Earlier Sub-Target Inflation Outlook?

May 28, 2025 2:30 PM UTC

What is widely seen as an eighth 25 bp deposit rate cut in the current cycle on June 5 may be overshadowed by the ECB’s implicit if not explicit shift about the outlook thereafter.  The door will be left open for a move at the July 24 policy verdict given the array of news (probably negative part

Continuum Economics Calendar June 2025

May 27, 2025 1:00 PM UTC

Data and Events Calendar June 2025.

ECB April Account: Neutral Rate Not Necessarily a Terminal Rate

May 22, 2025 12:46 PM UTC

The account of the April 16-17 ECB Council meeting suggested that the policy decision was more of a clearly agreed consensus, this papering over continued divides regarding the outlook; the risks from tariffs; and where inflation risks lie.  The seventh and widely expected 25 bp deposit rate cut (w

UK CPI Review (May 21): How Durable a Surge?

May 21, 2025 6:50 AM UTC

The UK and the rest of the DM world are now decoupling, at least in terms of inflation, where the UK is seeing a surge, (largely home-grown) just as W European sees their respective inflation fall back to, if not below, targets – although some measures if underling EZ inflation have started to edg

Eurozone: The European Commission Diverges From the ECB on Inflation

May 19, 2025 10:07 AM UTC

The European Commission (EC) Spring Forecast projects real EZ GDP growth in 2025 at 0.9%, some 0.4 ppt below its previous (autumn) view.   There is also a downgrade to the 2026 growth picture by 0.2 ppt to 1.4%, projections that carry downside risks and where we think they are still too optimistic

UK GDP Review: Q1 GDP Jumps But Erratic and Overstating Activity

May 15, 2025 7:17 AM UTC

National account data delivered yet another upside surprise both in terms of the latest monthly figure and also the associated Q1 update.  Indeed, February GDP, rather than consolidating in the March GDP release with a flat m/m reading, instead grew by 0.2% (Figure 1), a fifth successive non-negati

U.S./China Trade Truce Reduce Downside and Extra Stimulus Prospects

May 15, 2025 7:15 AM UTC

The alternative hard landing scenario in China has been reduced significantly with the trade truce with the U.S.  However, China will still have to cope with a minimum 30% overall tariff, with only around a 10% reduction in the fentanyl tariff likely to be agreed in the coming months.  Our baselin

Europe Portfolio Leverage Over Trump

May 14, 2025 9:05 AM UTC

The U.S. will likely introduce a 25% tariff on pharmaceuticals, which will increase pressure on the EU and other European countries (e.g. Switzerland) and also delay serious negotiations close to the 90 day reciprocal tariff deadline on July 9, adding to pressure on Europe by deliberately prolonging

Markets: Less U.S. Recession Risk, But Trade Headwinds

May 13, 2025 9:38 AM UTC

Though we had expected a U.S./China trade truce, the terms are more favorable to U.S. growth than we anticipated.  Combined with the UK framework deal, we have revised down the probability of a U.S. recession from 35% to 20%.  In turn we have revised up the end 2025 and end 2026 S&P500 forecasts t

UK CPI Preview (May 21): How Big and Durable a Surge?

May 12, 2025 2:32 PM UTC

The UK and the rest of the DM world are about to decouple, at least in terms of inflation, where the UK faces a surge, (largely home-grown) just as W European sees their respective inflation fall back to, if not below, targets.  Although relegated by current market ructions and tariff threats, the

Trump Tariffs: China and UK Precedents

May 12, 2025 8:02 AM UTC

 The U.S./China have announced major reductions in reciprocal tariffs to 10% with other measures postponed for 90 days.  Though the U.S. is still imposing an extra 20% due to fentanyl, China will likely make some moves that could also help to reduce this.  This is in line with our previous thinki

Household Divergence Into the Downturn?

May 9, 2025 10:55 AM UTC

Overall, the shock faced by the U.S. from tariffs is a negative supply shock, which can then be followed by job losses and restrained income and consumption growth.  This 2 round can be amplified if a hard landing is seen and quickens job losses, which would really hurt low income households. Howev

UK GDP Preview (May 15): Q1 GDP Jumps But Underlying Picture Nearer Zero

May 9, 2025 9:32 AM UTC

We see the surprise and sizeable February GDP jump consolidating in the March GDP release with a flat m/m reading, this coming after that 0.5% jump (Figure 1).  But there are downside risks given the possible (marked) correction back that may occur after what seems to be a very erratic February jum

Eurozone Labor Market: Rising Supply Adding to Lower Wage Pressures

May 7, 2025 9:34 AM UTC

With the EZ jobless rate nestling at record lows, it would support the ECB assessment that the EZ labor market is strong, the central bank seeing only a small rise in the jobless rate this year and on to be reversed from early next year onwards.  However, that glosses over the fact that the labor m

China Moderate Triple Monetary Easing

May 7, 2025 6:31 AM UTC

•    China has announced a 10bps cut in the 7 day reverse repo rate to 1.4%; large than expected 50bps cut in the RRR rate and credit easing via Yuan1.1trn balance sheet quota expansion to counter the slowdown in growth.  Combined with the extra equity capital for state banks this will help c

Tariff Man

May 6, 2025 8:45 AM UTC

  With the U.S. equity market having rebounded, President Donald Trump instinct on tariffs have seen threats of pharma tariffs and a 100% tariff on non U.S. films. Slow progress is also reported on bilateral deals, despite White House PR spin.  However, Trump will see pressure rising from three so

Markets: China Truce Hopes and More Data

May 5, 2025 8:05 AM UTC

The direction of travel is towards a U.S./China truce followed by postponing/cancelling most reciprocal tariffs and then trade negotiations. While the markets could cheer this as good news, incoming economic data in May and June is the most critical issue.  We still see the U.S. imposing an average

U.S. Equities: Vulnerabilities Remain

May 1, 2025 10:25 AM UTC

 We are concerned that valuations remain high and inconsistent with nominal and real government bond yields going into a growth slowdown as tariffs hit the U.S. economy.  Our baseline is for the S&P500 to fall to 5000-5200 mid-year before recovering to 5500 by end 2025. The 10yr budget bill is lik

China South China Sea Tensions

April 30, 2025 10:30 AM UTC

We see recent China activity as part of the normal grey warfare for long-term influence in the South China sea.  It has involved the use of China coastguard and militia fishing boats rather than China PLA Navy, though the risk of escalation between the Philippines and China remains. China likely wa

Continuum Economics Calendar May 2025

April 28, 2025 10:03 AM UTC

Data and Events Calendar May 2025.

US Exit: Lessons From Brexit?

April 28, 2025 8:05 AM UTC

Overall, the U.S. attempt to reshape global trade is unlikely to significantly improve its trade position, but the size and influence of the U.S. may mean it does not get hit in net exports volumes like the UK.  Even so, U.S. business investment could be restrained by ongoing uncertainty from the T

USD Rebalancing: Some to EM?

April 24, 2025 8:30 AM UTC

Some portfolios rotations towards EM assets will likely be evident, as we see the USD decline is now extending and broadening.  However, flows will likely be selective, both given underwhelming EM performance in the last 5-10 years and the uncertainty over how much Trump will reduce reciprocal tari

Trump Under Pressure

April 23, 2025 7:15 AM UTC

A deteriorating economic; volatile financial markets and weakening approval ratings are all putting pressure on the Trump administration to do trade deals.  However, Trump instincts means he still likes tariffs, while negotiations will not be quick with China restraints and non-tariffs list desired

Foreign Official U.S. Treasury Holders: The Kindness of Strangers

April 22, 2025 7:30 AM UTC

Official holdings of U.S. Treasuries show a mixed picture with China, Brazil and Saudi Arabia well off peak holdings. Two drivers of some of these country flows are the peak in global central bank FX reserve holdings in 2021 and an increased holdings of other currencies in the last decade.  Neverth

ECB Review: Discussing Policy Restriction No Longer Appropriate

April 17, 2025 1:48 PM UTC

A seventh and widely expected 25 bp deposit rate cut was overshadowed by the ECB’s communication shift about the outlook hereafter, no longer talking about how restrictive policy may be.  This shift is entirely appropriate not least given the manner in which financial conditions are now tightenin

Safe Havens Other Than the USD

April 17, 2025 8:30 AM UTC

The USD and U.S. Treasuries are currently not acting like safe havens, as the crisis is U.S. centric with the tariff debacle. 10yr Treasuries can regain safe haven status if a U.S. recession occurs, but U.S. equities are still clearly overvalued versus equity and equity-bond metrics.  We prefer Ind

UK CPI Review: Inflation Respite Ahead of Likely Key April Surge?

April 16, 2025 6:28 AM UTC

Although relegated by current market ructions and tariff threats, the main near-term inflation story was (and remains) what happens in the April data when a series of energy, utility, post office and some other regulated and service price rises are due, albeit now possibly offset somewhat by a fall

Eurozone Banks Offer ECB More Cause for Concern

April 15, 2025 11:14 AM UTC

The ECB can draw comfort from signs that credit demand and supply for EZ households continues to improve.  But the ECB’s latest bank lending survey (BLS) also offers worrying signs in regard to firms as well as questioning the alleged neutrality of the QT program.  It shows a further (admittedly

UK Labor Market – A Tale of Two Labor Markets?

April 15, 2025 9:45 AM UTC

Policy-making is fraught with difficult decision making at the best of times.  But at present in the UK, such decisions are made all the more problematic given inconsistencies, if not conflicts, in the data backdrop, thereby making any reading of the economy all the more subjective.  Is employment

Nervous U.S. Long Term Asset Holders

April 15, 2025 8:30 AM UTC

   Overall, foreign equity investors can no longer count on U.S. exceptionalism and could face lower long-term corporate earnings growth, which at a minimum will likely slow net inflows.  Bond investors also face ongoing policy volatility, which likely means a need for an extra risk premium – t