Sweden’s retail sales drop in March, modest trend to continue

Apr 28, 2016 09:05 am UTC| Commentary

In March, Swedens retail sales declined 0.7% m/m, while it rose 1.9% year-on-year, as compared with consensus expectations of 0.4% m/m and 1.9% y/y. The March data came in worse than projection. In recent months, the trend...

German bunds rally as Fed, BoJ keeps interest rate unchanged

Apr 28, 2016 09:00 am UTC| Commentary

The German bunds rallied on Thursday as Federal Reserve Federal Open Market Committee and Bank of Japan voted to keep the rates unchanged. Also, weak employment change drove investors towards safe-haven assets. The yield...

FOMC monetary policy: Assessing the bias

Apr 28, 2016 08:59 am UTC| Commentary Central Banks

FOMC yesterday announced decision of its Aprils policy meeting to keep interest rates unchanged and keep it in range of 0.25-0.5%. Lets look at the monetary policy statement details to assess the bias towards future...

Spanish economic growth likely slowed in Q1

Apr 28, 2016 08:45 am UTC| Commentary

Last year, Spanish economic growth was mainly driven by consumption and domestic demand, resulting in strong growth rate of 3.2% y/y. But the economy is likely to slowdown this year due to domestic and external headwinds,...

Commodity prices to remain key driver of EM FX in short term

Apr 28, 2016 08:43 am UTC| Commentary

Emerging countries currencies continue to rebound along with commodity prices. In 2016, there is a solid connection between the Citi Commodity Terms of Trade Index and the main EM currencies performance. This year,...

RBNZ monetary policy: Assessing the bias

Apr 28, 2016 08:32 am UTC| Commentary Central Banks

Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) announced monetary policy last night and kept its key overnight cash rate unchanged at 2.25%. Lets look at the policy statement details to assess the bias According to RBNZ...

Briferendum Series

Briferendum Series: OECD joins band of Brexit warner

Apr 28, 2016 07:49 am UTC| Commentary

After U.S. president Barrack Obamas endorsement for the stay campaigners, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), is the latest to join the list of Brexit warners. Ángel Gurría, OECDs...