Markets 2026

November 18, 2025 10:30 AM UTC

·        The Fed, ECB and BOE will likely drive further 10-2yr government bond yield curve steepening, with 10yr Bund yields rising due to ECB QT and German fiscal expansion. 10yr JGB yields are set to surge through 2%, as BOJ QT remains excessive and underestimated.  The BOJ could partiall

Financial Stability Risks: Vulnerable To A Recession

November 17, 2025 1:00 PM UTC

The November Fed financial stability review highlights continued concern over hedge funds and insurance company leverage, while the IMF GSFR is concerned about U.S. equity market overvaluation and growing links between banks and non-bank financial intermediaries.  However, the main adverse shock wo

ECB – In a Good Place or Just Complacent?

November 14, 2025 11:55 AM UTC

The ECB is of the view that downside growth risks have dissipated somewhat, this possibly helped by its recent actions which it suggests leave its current policy stance in a good place.  However, amid a hint of what we think is a complacent upgrade about the EZ’s alleged resilience, we think, the

EZ Rates: 2026 ECB Easing But 2027 French Crisis?

November 11, 2025 9:45 AM UTC

·       Financial conditions are tighter than suggested by a 2% ECB depo rate, which will both dampen an EZ economic pick-up and cause further disinflation.  We see the ECB delivering two further 25bps cuts to a 1.5% ECB depo rate, which can mean a further decline in 2yr Bund yields.  Howev

U.S. Equities: Smaller Correction But Still Overvalued

November 6, 2025 10:25 AM UTC

·       We are revising up our end 2025 S&P500 forecast from 6000 to 6500 for a number of reasons. Private sector data shows the risk of a U.S. hard landing is lower than a couple of months ago, with economic data more consistent with a soft landing.  Additionally, the tech/AI optimism has n

Continuum Economics Calendar November 2025

October 31, 2025 10:00 AM UTC

Data and Events Calendar November 2025.

U.S./China Trade Framework: Avoiding Escalation

October 31, 2025 7:48 AM UTC

·         The U.S./China framework deal avoids renewed escalation of trade tension, but is unlikely to be followed by a comprehensive trade deal in 2026 as China does not want major import and bilateral trade commitments.  The economic effects will likely be small and the deal main aim app

ECB Review: Hedging its Bets, Hoping to Stay in a Good Place

October 30, 2025 3:23 PM UTC

There ie nothing tangible in the ECB update today to suggest that a further easing is likely at the next meeting on Dec 17-18.  However, amid a hint of what we think is a complacent upgrade about the EZ’s resilience alongside a perceived reduction in global risks, the easing window has not been c

October 21, 2025 12:55 PM UTC

As with recent Council meetings, what is important when the ECB gives its next (almost certain) stable verdict on Oct 30, is not what it says.  Instead, in particular, it is how much the impression is left that the easing window has not closed. The ECB is clearly split about whether policy has trou

October 17, 2025 10:24 AM UTC

The ECB is clearly split about whether policy has troughed or not, this mainly a result of differences within the Council as to where inflation risks lie.  Hawks perceive upside risks emerging while the dovish camp feels the opposite.  These divisions are likely to magnify when the ECB updates its

ECB Council Meeting Account Review: Complacency Rules the Day as Financial Conditions Tighten!

October 9, 2025 12:52 PM UTC

Unsurprisingly there was little in the account of the ECB Council Meeting of 10-11 September to suggest any rush to change policy with it clear that members on both sides of the hawks vs doves debate wanted more data amid what was considered to be great uncertainty.  Thus, the ECB offered little in

France:  Prime Minister – Another One Bites the Dust

October 6, 2025 9:01 AM UTC

Either side of the English Channel, politicians are competing to see whether France or the UK can provide a prime minister with the shortest time in power.  In the UK that was Liz Truss whose 49 days at the helm of the government in 2022 has now been surpassed by French PM Lecornu who has resigned

DM Central Banks: Wider-Ranging Conditions More Than Neutral Rates

October 2, 2025 6:55 AM UTC

·        Neutral policy rate estimates and forward guidance provide some help at the start of easing cycles, but less so at mid to mature stages.  For the Fed, ECB and BOE we look at a wider array of economic and financial conditions, alongside our own projections over the next 2 years to m

AI/Humanoid Robots and Disinflation?

October 1, 2025 9:40 AM UTC

·       Overall, a number of forces from the AI wave will impact inflation.  Power demand could push up power prices, but productivity enhancements and product innovation could be disinflationary like Information and Communications technology (ICT).  One other key uncertainty on a 1-5 year

Trump Tariffs: China, Mexico and Semiconductors

September 30, 2025 8:00 AM UTC

  ·       Our baseline (60% probability) remains that a U.S./China trade deal will be agreed in Q4/Q1 2026 and it is possible though unlikely that this could be announced at the Trump/Xi meeting at the October 31 APEC summit – China requests that the U.S. changes policy on Taiwan could slo

Continuum Economics Calendar October 2025

September 29, 2025 11:00 AM UTC

Data and Events Calendar October 2025.

DM Government Bond Saints v U.S.

September 29, 2025 7:35 AM UTC

·       Overall, although the fiscal saints (Australia/Canada/Germany/Sweden) have merits over the U.S. in the scenario where Fed independence is undermined and more Fed rate cuts occur than warranted by the economics, the 10yr area of other government bond markets may not outperform. 10yr go

September Outlook: Into 2026 -- Market Implications

September 26, 2025 9:00 AM UTC

Our September Outlook is now published and please see all our markets chapters below.  

September Outlook: Into 2026

September 25, 2025 6:20 AM UTC

Our September Outlook is now published and please see all our economic and policy chapters below.  

Outlook Forecasts to download in Excel

September 24, 2025 9:30 AM UTC

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

DM FX Outlook: USD steadies but vulnerable to equity correction

September 23, 2025 2:48 PM UTC

·       Bottom Line: The USD has continued to edge lower against the EUR in the last quarter as market expectations of Fed easing have increased following clear weakening in U.S. employment growth. But at this stage the data doesn’t indicate we are heading for recession, and this suggests w

DM Rates Outlook: Steepening Yield Curve The Old Normal?

September 23, 2025 7:53 AM UTC

•    We continue to forecast further yield curve steepening across the U.S./EZ and UK, driven by cumulative easing.  For the U.S. this can see a modest further decline in 2yr yields, but the prospect is for a move to a premium of 2yr to Fed Funds (unless a hard landing is seen).  10yr yields

Equities Outlook: Correction Then Up In 2026

September 23, 2025 7:15 AM UTC

•    The U.S. equity market’s bullishness reflects good corporate earnings reality, buybacks and the AI story.  However, we feel that the U.S. economy can deteriorate still further in the coming months, as the lagged effects of tariffs boost inflation and restrain spending/hurt corporate ea

Eurozone Outlook: Resilience or Irrelevance?

September 22, 2025 9:49 AM UTC

··       Yet again, and 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 ec

September 16, 2025 10:53 AM UTC

In the unexpected scenario of an early death, Putin and Xi have no clear successors, and any new Russia or China leader would have to spend time building domestic strength and compromising on external goals. Erdogan also has no clear successors, which could create political uncertainty. For Trump su

Taiwan: Grey Warfare or Naval Quarantine?

September 12, 2025 11:15 AM UTC

  ·       The most likely option for China is to continue the air and naval grey warfare around Taiwan, combined with support for pro-China factions in Taiwan parliament to build pressure for reunification at some stage. With invasion being too high risk for President Xi (with the U.S. main

September 11, 2025 2:08 PM UTC

A second successive stable policy decision was the almost inevitable outcome of this month’s ECB Council meeting resulting in the first consecutive pause in the current easing cycle, with the discount rate left at 2.0%.  Also as expected, the ECB offered little in terms of policy guidance; after

September 10, 2025 10:55 AM UTC

Steeper yield curves are a function of monetary easing cycles, budget deficits, lower central bank holdings of government bonds, a move towards pre GFC real rates and shifting demand from pensions funds and life insurance companies.  Scope exists for further steepening in the U.S., EZ and UK with m

France: Kicking the Fiscal Can (Again)

September 9, 2025 8:41 AM UTC

That France has seen the departure of yet another prime minister is no surprise, hence why financial markets took the confidence vote in its stride.  Admittedly, French sovereign spreads and yields have risen in the last month, but even so the actual level of bond yields remains well below that of

ECB Council Meeting Preview (Sep 11): No Change and Little Guidance

September 3, 2025 9:20 AM UTC

A second successive stable policy decision is very likely at next week’s ECB Council meeting resulting in the first consecutive pause in the current easing cycle, with the discount rate left at 2.0%.  We see the ECB offering little in terms of policy guidance; after all, in July the Council sugge

EZ HICP Review: Headline Inflation Edges Higher as Services Fall to Fresh Cycle-low

September 2, 2025 9:34 AM UTC

As we repeated again, HICP inflation – even now a notch above target – is very much a side issue for the ECB at present, offset instead by moderate concerns whether the apparent resilience of the real economy may yet falter.  This mindset will not have been altered by the flash HICP data for Au

Aging: Slow Growth for Some in 2020’s

September 1, 2025 8:35 AM UTC

   Population aging always seems to be beyond the market horizon, but the 2020’s are already seeing population aging in some countries.  What is the economic impact? Aging is already causing a peak in labor force in China and the EU. Meanwhile, the population pyramid also means less consumptio

ECB July Account: Policy ‘On Hold’ Leaves Easing Door Open But Less Widely So

August 28, 2025 12:37 PM UTC

The account of the July 23-24 ECB Council meeting saw some discussion about cutting at that juncture but with no immediate pressure to change policy rates what was then exceptional uncertainty added to arguments for keeping interest rates unchanged. In particular, it was seen that maintaining policy

Continuum Economics Calendar September 2025

August 28, 2025 10:35 AM UTC

Data and Events Calendar September 2025.

EZ HICP and Jobs Review: Headline at Target as Services Inflation at Fresh Cycle-low

August 26, 2025 11:51 AM UTC

HICP, inflation – still at target – is very much a side issue for the ECB at present, albeit with the likes of oil prices and tariff retaliation and a low but far from authoritative jobless rate (Figure 3) possibly accentuating existing and looming Council divides.  Regardless, despite adverse

France and Italy: Deficit, ECB QT and Foreign Debt Holders Stories

August 26, 2025 7:35 AM UTC

A large budget deficit in France, looking persistent given the current political impasse, combined with ECB QT means that the market has to absorb a very large 8.5% of GDP of extra bonds. Our central scenario is that persistent French supply causes a further rise in 5yr plus French government yields

Jackson Hole: Fed/ECB/BOJ and BOE on Labor Markets

August 25, 2025 9:02 AM UTC

Fed Powell focused on the cyclical softening of employment to back a more dovish undertone.  In contrast other central bank heads focused on structural labor market issues.  While ECB Lagarde was pleased with the post COVID EZ picture, current economic softness still leaves us forecasting two furt

Eurozone: ECB Feels it Has More Reason to ‘Wait and See’?

August 21, 2025 10:02 AM UTC

To suggest that recent EZ real economy indicators, such as today’s August PMI flashes, have been positive would be an exaggeration.  But, at the same time, the data (while mixed and showing conflicts - Figure 1) have not been poor enough to alter a probable current ECB Council mindset that the ec

U.S./China Trade Deal: Slow Progress

August 20, 2025 10:25 AM UTC

·        Overall, we would attach a 50% probability to a trade framework deal being announced in Q4, though this is unlikely to be comprehensive and could merely be a collection of measures. Even so, the risk also exists of trade negotiations dragging onto 2026 and then reaching a deal or fa

China Slow Diversification: Gold And Others

August 19, 2025 8:05 AM UTC

 China’s diversification from U.S. Treasuries appears to be at a slow pace.  Gold is the obvious alternative if geopolitical tensions were to rise or skyrocket in the scenario of a China invasion of Taiwan.  However, Gold holdings are merely creeping higher and suggesting no urgency from China

August 18, 2025 9:05 AM UTC

The U.S. short average term to maturity is a structural fiscal weakness if higher rates lift U.S. government interest costs close to the nominal GDP trend.  Hence, Trump’s pressure for fiscal dominance of the Fed to deliver lower policy rates and reduce U.S. government interest rate costs. Howeve

August 5, 2025 9:50 AM UTC

U.S. Treasury spreads versus other DM government bond markets or 10-2yr U.S. Treasuries are not yet showing a risk premium from the Trump administration attacks on the Fed and economic data. Debate over whether the U.S. is seeing a soft or hard landing are reemerging and this will dominate the outlo

Trump Tougher Posture with Russia

August 4, 2025 8:31 AM UTC

      We suspect that Trump will not follow-through with an across the board secondary sanction on importers of Russia oil, as it would freeze U.S./China trade again and could boost U.S. gasoline prices – high inflation is one main reason for Trump’s softer approval rating.  Trump could agre

EZ HICP and Jobs Review: Headline at Target as Services Inflation at Fresh Cycle-low

August 4, 2025 8:25 AM UTC

HICP, inflation – still at target – is very much a side issue for the ECB at present, albeit with the likes of oil prices and tariff retaliation and a low but far from authoritative jobless rate (Figure 3) possibly accentuating existing and looming Council divides.  Regardless, despite adverse

Reciprocal Tariffs: Some Hikes, Deals and Delays

August 1, 2025 8:40 AM UTC

 Though high reciprocal tariffs with some countries catches the headline, five of the top 10 countries with large bilateral deficits have reached framework trade deals, two have delays and three have higher tariffs imposed.  With exemptions on some USMCA Canada/Mexico goods, plus phones/ semicondu

Continuum Economics Calendar August 2025

July 30, 2025 11:00 AM UTC

Data and Events Calendar August 2025.

DM Household Sluggish Borrowing

July 30, 2025 10:45 AM UTC

·        Overall, restrained credit supply from banks; abundant employment/income or wealth for most households but restrained financial conditions for low income households could have restrained household lending growth to GDP.  However, the surge in government debt and ensuing fear of fut

U.S.-EU Trade Agreement: More a Framework Than a full Deal

July 28, 2025 9:08 AM UTC

In what seems to have been a fully-fledged political capitulation to the U.S. the EU, it seems, is accepting an agreement that would see an almost-blanket reciprocal 15% tariff on its exports to the U.S.  But there still some imponderables, not least the range of sectoral concessions, whether EU me

ECB Review: Policy ‘On Hold’ Leaves Easing Door Open

July 24, 2025 1:48 PM UTC

Given the uncertainty overhanging policy makers worldwide, let alone in the EZ, the ECB was always likely to revert to stable policy after seven consecutive cuts which have taken the discount rate to its current 2%.  In a much shortened statement, but which was more willing to highlight disinflatio