Central Banking Series

ECB expected to extend QE beyond March 2017, Italian politics to remain decisive in ECB policy meet

Nov 25, 2016 11:59 am UTC| Commentary Central Banks Economy

The European Central Bank is expected to extend its quantitative easing programme beyond March 2017 at its last monetary policy meeting this year, scheduled on December 8. Also, the Italian constitutional referendum, to be...

South African economy to recover gradually, likely to expand just 1.3 pct next year

Nov 25, 2016 11:30 am UTC| Commentary

The South African economy rebounded markedly in the second quarter of this year after contracting in the first quarter. Exports mainly drove the economic growth in the second quarter. The countrys GDP had expanded 0.8...

Briferendum Aftermath Series

Briferendum Aftermath Series: Malta’s PM indicates EU strong standing on four principles

Nov 25, 2016 11:30 am UTC| Commentary

Maltas Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has some strong words and advice for the United Kingdomwhen it comes to the negotiation of exit terms. He said that when the European leaders said that the United Kingdom will not have...

Italy retail sales deteriorate in September on lower spending, uncertainty persists over referendum

Nov 25, 2016 11:17 am UTC| Commentary Economy

Retail sales in Italy deteriorated during the month of September, following lower consumer spending as uncertainty still persists over the outcome of the Italian constitutional referendum to be held on December 14. The...

Central Banking Series

ECB worried over Trump volatility

Nov 25, 2016 11:11 am UTC| Commentary Economy Central Banks

The volatility surge and the selloffs in the bond market post-Donald Trumps victory in the United States that pushed that yield gap between a German 2-year bond and a French 2-year bond to the highest level in 24 months...

Hungarian economy to grow 3 pct next year, inflation unlikely to surpass 3 pct in coming quarters

Nov 25, 2016 11:05 am UTC| Commentary

Household consumption continues to give a stable base for Hungarys economy, noted KBC in a research report. In the second quarter, consumption had grown 5 percent year-on-year. Rising real wages and employment are mainly...

UK gilts retain gains post Q3 GDP data; weak energy prices dominate market movements

Nov 25, 2016 10:22 am UTC| Commentary

The UK gilts continued to trade firmer Friday as the countrys gross domestic product (GDP) data remained unchanged in the third quarter, failing to provide any direction. Also, weak crude oil prices drove investors toward...