Hong Kong's August retail sales data are due this Friday

Oct 01, 2015 01:36 am UTC| Commentary

Hong Kongs August retail sales data are due this Friday. Retail sales values and volumes are expected to contract 8.5% YoY and 4.5% respectively, versus the 2.8% contraction and 1.9% growth in July respectively. The...

Oil price collapse has negatively affected the Norwegian economy

Oct 01, 2015 00:57 am UTC| Commentary

The oil price collapse has negatively affected the Norwegian economy, which depends on its petroleum industry for roughly one-fifth of the countrys GDP and half of its export receipts. While Norway is entering into the oil...

South Korea’s sovereign creditworthiness is improving

Oct 01, 2015 00:43 am UTC| Commentary

In mid-September, Standard Poors upgraded the countrys credit rating by one notch to AA- on the back of a sound economic growth outlook as well as a decline in the banking sectors external debt and a lower share of...

A monetary easing bias remains in place in New Zealand

Sep 30, 2015 23:27 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) reduced the benchmark overnight cash rate by 25 basis points (bps) in September following two equivalent cuts in June and July, taking the key rate to 2.75%. Inflationary pressures...

Japan’s sovereign creditworthiness is weakening

Sep 30, 2015 23:17 pm UTC| Commentary

In mid-September, Standard Poors downgraded Japans sovereign credit rating by one notch to A+, assessing that the governments strategy to revive economic growth and end deflation has not been successful enough to support...

Turkish economy is positioned to stage a modest recovery

Sep 30, 2015 22:59 pm UTC| Commentary Economy

The Turkish economy is positioned to stage a modest recovery growing at an annual average rate of 3.3% in 2015- 16, up from 2.9% in 2014. The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkeys (CBRT) recognizes that external economic...

Sweden’s growth prospects remain among the best in Europe

Sep 30, 2015 22:51 pm UTC| Commentary

Swedens growth prospects remain among the best in Europe - real GDP is forecast to grow by 2.7% in 2015. High frequency survey data suggest that economic conditions are improving, with the headline economic-tendency...