FOMC Minutes: Inter-meeting data seen as important

August 19, 2026 6:58 PM UTC

FOMC minutes from July 29 confirm that most participants supported leaving rates steady but several favored a 25bps tightening, implying more than the three hawkish dissenters, presumably non-voting district presidents. Many assessed that tightening would be necessary if inflation did not decline, w

FOMC Minutes: Inter-meeting data seen as important

August 19, 2026 6:56 PM UTC

FOMC minutes from July 29 confirm that most participants supported leaving rates steady but several favored a 25bps tightening, implying more than the three hawkish dissenters, presumably non-voting district presidents. Many assessed that tightening would be necessary if inflation did not decline, w

Running on Empty - Low Rivers could add to Europe’s Supply Squeeze

August 19, 2026 9:30 AM UTC

* Drought is not only directly impacting water-dependent activity, fire damage, and food crops. It is also seeing extreme low river levels across the major Rhine–Danube/Central-European industrial corridor
* That can significantly impact freight flow, adding to costs and disrupting industrial produ

UK CPI: Energy Prices and Weak Labour Market

August 19, 2026 6:29 AM UTC

·       July UK CPI was broadly as expected and the new few months will be volatile and dependent on whether more shipping can go through the Straits of Hormuz and reduce energy prices (our baseline with a 60% probability).  Underlying inflation trends in the UK are lower, as labour market d

UK CPI: Energy Prices and Weak Labour Market

August 19, 2026 6:28 AM UTC

·       July UK CPI was broadly as expected and the new few months will be volatile and dependent on whether more shipping can go through the Straits of Hormuz and reduce energy prices (our baseline with a 60% probability).  Underlying inflation trends in the UK are lower, as labour market d

From Hanging Chads to Hanging By a Thread – ‘Alternative’ US Election Risk Scenarios

August 17, 2026 9:22 AM UTC

* Without being alarmist, the market arguably needs to factor in the risk that the elections do not proceed smoothly to a clean conclusion. At the moment, there is no risk premia
* The markets hope that the destination is some degree of gridlock and thus reduction in extreme policy (albeit with mixed

U.S. July Retail Sales - Fall may reflect acceptance that elevated prices will last for some time

August 14, 2026 12:59 PM UTC

July retail sales have surprised significantly to the downside, -0.6% overall, -0.3% ex auto and even ex autos and gasoline negative at -0.2%. The data follows a surprisingly resilient Q2 from consumer spending contrasting weakness in real disposable income, and hints at a significant loss of moment

China Widening C/A Surplus

August 14, 2026 7:05 AM UTC

 •    China could reduce its excess current account surplus by a package of real Yuan appreciation; industrial policy reform to clean up excess production and structural boosts to safety nets that can sustainably boost consumption share in GDP.  China authorities are reluctant to adopt these

Preview: Due August 14 - U.S. July Retail Sales - Some loss of momentum, but still resilient

August 13, 2026 2:03 PM UTC

We expect June retail sales to unchanged overall, the weakest since a matching January, with a 0.2% increase ex autos, which would reverse a 0.2% June decline. Ex auto and gasoline we expect a second straight 0.4% increase.

Preview: Due August 14 - U.S. July Retail Sales - Some loss of momentum, but still resilient

August 13, 2026 2:02 PM UTC

We expect June retail sales to unchanged overall, the weakest since a matching January, with a 0.2% increase ex autos, which would reverse a 0.2% June decline. Ex auto and gasoline we expect a second straight 0.4% increase.

U.S. July CPI - On consensus, detail a marginal disappointment

August 12, 2026 1:15 PM UTC

July’s CPI is largely as expected, up 0.1% overall and 0.2% ex food and energy, with the latter at 0.215% before rounding only a marginal disappointment, though possibly a little more so in the detail. This does not provide a compelling case for Fed tightening in September, though by that meeting

U.S. July CPI - On consensus, detail a marginal disappointment

August 12, 2026 1:15 PM UTC

July’s CPI is largely as expected, up 0.1% overall and 0.2% ex food and energy, with the latter at 0.215% before rounding only a marginal disappointment, though possibly a little more so in the detail. This does not provide a compelling case for Fed tightening in September, though by that meeting

Big EM Currencies: No U.S. Yield Pressure

August 12, 2026 7:55 AM UTC

·       Our view remains that major EM currencies outlooks are being driven by relative domestic fundamentals versus the U.S.  No major tensions are being seen from rising U.S. Treasury yields and Fed tightening fears. H2 2026 will likely see the choppy EM FX conditions continue against the

Taylor Rules for Uncertain Times

August 11, 2026 2:44 PM UTC

* The Fed’s rate puzzle has three awkward-shaped pieces: which inflation measure to trust, how much slack remains, and where r* now sits.
* Taylor rules may be deeply unfashionable, but they force those hidden assumptions into the open.
* Change only the inflation measure and the same rule can make

Preview: Due August 12 - U.S. July CPI - Another subdued month, if less so than June

August 11, 2026 12:50 PM UTC

We expect a subdued July CPI, up by 0.1% overall and 0.2% ex food and energy, with the respective gains before rounding being only 0.06% and 0.19%. This will however be less weak than June’s 0.4% decline overall, with the June core rate ex food and energy having been unchanged.

Preview: Due August 12 - U.S. July CPI - Another subdued month, if less so than June

August 11, 2026 12:49 PM UTC

We expect a subdued July CPI, up by 0.1% overall and 0.2% ex food and energy, with the respective gains before rounding being only 0.06% and 0.19%. This will however be less weak than June’s 0.4% decline overall, with the June core rate ex food and energy having been unchanged.

FOMC Minutes Preview: Hawks, Doves and Data-Dependents

August 10, 2026 2:50 PM UTC

FOMC minutes from July 29 are due on August 19 and will get extra attention with Chairman Warsh not having given a clear explanation of the decision to leave rates unchanged, after a meeting which saw three dissenting votes for tightening. The minutes may suggest that several in the majority could b

FOMC Minutes Preview: Hawks, Doves and Data-Dependents

August 10, 2026 2:49 PM UTC

FOMC minutes from July 29 are due on August 19 and will get extra attention with Chairman Warsh not having given a clear explanation of the decision to leave rates unchanged, after a meeting which saw three dissenting votes for tightening. The minutes may suggest that several in the majority could b

Slicing and dicing US inflation – why different measures are at the centre of Fed debate

August 10, 2026 1:01 PM UTC

* Wide divergence of US inflation measures becoming increasingly material to policy debate and sets the unusual statistical backdrop to the next CPI release
* Reflects many of the divergent opinions over AI, ‘relative price adjustment’ vs generalised inflation, temporary vs persistent overshoot.

Taiwan: China Coastguard Quarantine Risks Grow

August 10, 2026 7:55 AM UTC

·       Given China’s coastguard recent actions, we now raise the probability of a full quarantine of Taiwan shipping to 20% versus 10-15% in 2027/28 (Figure 2), with the probability of some further measures beyond radio requests now above 50% in 2027/28 and in our baseline. Quarantine meas

U.S. July Employment - Softer payroll and falling unemployment hint at labor shortages, but no lift to earnings

August 7, 2026 1:20 PM UTC

July’s non-farm payroll at -23k with negative back month revisions is weaker than expected but largely because of negatives in government led by local government education and leisure and hospitality, which may reflect labor shortages. A declining labor force saw the unemployment rate fall, to 4.1

Preview: Due August 7 - U.S. July Employment (Non-Farm Payrolls) - Stronger than June, but with a rise in unemployment

August 6, 2026 1:27 PM UTC

We expect July’s non-farm payroll to rise by 120k overall and by 110k in the private sector, a significant improvement from June’s respective gains of 57k and 49k but largely explained by a recovery in leisure and hospitality. We expect unemployment to rise to 4.3% from 4.2%, reversing a June de

Preview: Due August 7 - U.S. July Employment (Non-Farm Payrolls) - Stronger than June, but with a rise in unemployment

August 6, 2026 1:27 PM UTC

We expect July’s non-farm payroll to rise by 120k overall and by 110k in the private sector, a significant improvement from June’s respective gains of 57k and 49k but largely explained by a recovery in leisure and hospitality. We expect unemployment to rise to 4.3% from 4.2%, reversing a June de

Brazil: 25bps Cut For September

August 6, 2026 6:53 AM UTC

·       BCB cut by 25bps to 14%, as widely expected.  The statement suggests that COPOM is looking to pause the easing cycle, but we feel the softening of the economy and inflation numbers are enough to deliver one further 25bps cut in September and then the BCB pauses into Q1 2027.  We see

Preview: Due August 14 - U.S. July Retail Sales - Some loss of momentum, but still resilient

August 5, 2026 3:46 PM UTC

We expect June retail sales to unchanged overall, the weakest since a matching January, with a 0.2% increase ex autos, which would reverse a 0.2% June decline. Ex auto and gasoline we expect a second straight 0.4% increase.

Preview: Due August 14 - U.S. July Retail Sales - Some loss of momentum, but still resilient

August 5, 2026 3:46 PM UTC

We expect June retail sales to unchanged overall, the weakest since a matching January, with a 0.2% increase ex autos, which would reverse a 0.2% June decline. Ex auto and gasoline we expect a second straight 0.4% increase.

US Payrolls ‘breakevens’: Why zero is the new 200

August 5, 2026 3:22 PM UTC

AI Equities: Correction/Consolidation?

August 5, 2026 7:40 AM UTC

•    Overall, we feel that recent movements have been a correction/consolidation in the AI equity story.  AI specific revenue growth still remains healthy and will support multi-year plans over cloud computing growth and in turn semiconductor demand.  Even so, slowing free cash flows and ove

Fed SLOOS on Bank Lending shows stronger demand for C+I loans

August 3, 2026 6:27 PM UTC

The Fed’s July Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey of bank lending practices suggests a positive picture for commercial and industrial loans, particularly for large firms, presumably led by AI, though elsewhere the survey presents a less impressive picture.

Fed SLOOS on Bank Lending shows stronger demand for C+I loans

August 3, 2026 6:27 PM UTC

The Fed’s July Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey of bank lending practices suggests a positive picture for commercial and industrial loans, particularly for large firms, presumably led by AI, though elsewhere the survey presents a less impressive picture.

The Fed's Balance Sheet: Revolution or Recalibration

August 3, 2026 9:18 AM UTC

·       Fed chair Warsh has reopened the question of how the Federal Reserve implements monetary policy, not just the size of the balance sheet. The two go hand in hand.
·        The realistic choice is not between today's balance sheet and a return to 2006, but among several ways of o

Preview: Due August 12 - U.S. July CPI - Another subdued month, if less so than June

July 31, 2026 3:52 PM UTC

We expect a subdued July CPI, up by 0.1% overall and 0.2% ex food and energy, with the respective gains before rounding being only 0.06% and 0.19%. This will however be less weak than June’s 0.4% decline overall, with the June core rate ex food and energy having been unchanged.

EZ CPI: Boosted by Energy Prices

July 31, 2026 9:19 AM UTC

•    The July provisional CPI provided no major surprise with the headline 2.9% Yr/Yr figure boosted by energy prices, but core at 2.5% and CPI ex energy unchanged at 2.2% Yr/Yr. Combined with the latest negotiated wage settlement data, we see no signs of 2nd round effects. For the ECB the dat

EZ CPI and ECB Rate Prospects

July 31, 2026 9:16 AM UTC

•    The July provisional CPI provided no major surprise with the headline 2.9% Yr/Yr figure boosted by energy prices, but core at 2.5% and CPI ex energy unchanged at 2.2% Yr/Yr. Combined with the latest negotiated wage settlement data, we see no signs of 2nd round effects. For the ECB the dat

Nigeria Country Risk Rating

July 31, 2026 9:00 AM UTC

Overall risk in Nigeria remains at a high rating.

U.S. Q2 GDP strong outside net exports, inventories and government

July 30, 2026 1:28 PM UTC

The advance estimate of Q2 GDP at 1.5% annualized is weaker than the market expected but in line with our 1.4% call. The detail is also broadly in line with our expectations, healthy excluding negatives from inventories and net exports, with final sales to domestic buyers (GDP ex inventories and net

U.S. Q2 GDP strong outside net exports, inventories and government

July 30, 2026 1:28 PM UTC

The advance estimate of Q2 GDP at 1.5% annualized is weaker than the market expected but in line with our 1.4% call. The detail is also broadly in line with our expectations, healthy excluding negatives from inventories and net exports, with final sales to domestic buyers (GDP ex inventories and net

BOE: Split Does Not Mean September Hike

July 30, 2026 12:45 PM UTC

.   ·       Overall, the July MPC minutes and monetary policy report/press conference suggest that the MPC is not convinced of a September hike and a worsening of energy price rises and/or 2nd round effects would be required to shift the voting to a 25bps hike.  While the MPC has a hawkish

BOE: Split Does Not Mean September Hike

July 30, 2026 12:44 PM UTC

·       Overall, the July MPC minutes and monetary policy report/press conference suggest that the MPC is not convinced of a September hike and a worsening of energy price rises and/or 2nd round effects would be required to shift the voting to a 25bps hike.  While the MPC has a hawkish bias

Vietnam Country Risk Rating

July 30, 2026 9:00 AM UTC

Overall risk in Vietnam remains at a medium-high rating.

FOMC - Warsh leaves markets confused

July 29, 2026 7:30 PM UTC

That this FOMC meeting showed a 9-3 vote for unchanged policy, with the dissents being for tightening, shows there was a case for tightening and a case for steady policy. However, the press conference from Chairman Warsh gave little insight on the nature of the debate, talking a lot about how the Fe

FOMC - Warsh leaves markets confused

July 29, 2026 7:30 PM UTC

That this FOMC meeting showed a 9-3 vote for unchanged policy, with the dissents being for tightening, shows there was a case for tightening and a case for steady policy. However, the press conference from Chairman Warsh gave little insight on the nature of the debate, talking a lot about how the Fe