May 18, 2015 20:20 pm UTC| Commentary
Westpac Research notes:NZ swap yields 1 day: Given the movements in interest rates in key markets overnight, the NZ 2yr should open up 2bp at 3.38% while the 10yr should open up 4bp at 3.97%.NZ swap yields 1-3 month: Short...
Commodity markets stage a comeback
May 18, 2015 18:43 pm UTC| Commentary
Energy and industrial metals prices have risen strongly since the middle of April, buoyed by further weakness in the US dollar and improved investor sentiment. Crude oil prices have also been supported by falls in US oil...
Russian economy shrinks much less than expected
May 18, 2015 18:17 pm UTC| Commentary
Russias GDP shrank 1.9% y/y in Q1 15, according to the countrys statistical service Rosstat, far better than consensus (-2.6% y/y). Russias ministry for economic development expected a 2.2% y/y fall.The freely floating...
Would a referendum end the Greek crisis?
May 18, 2015 17:48 pm UTC| Commentary
According to Capital Economics, a public referendum could help to break the current deadlock between Greece and its creditors. But it might only be a short-term solution and much could depend on its precise purpose and...
UK producer prices to suggest that price pressures are no longer easing
May 18, 2015 17:35 pm UTC| Commentary
Producer prices figures (09.30 BST) may provide some further evidence to suggest that price pressures are no longer easing. Sterling oil prices rose by 5.8% in April, following a 0.5% fall in March.On the basis of past...
UK CPI inflation likely turned negative in April
May 18, 2015 17:28 pm UTC| Commentary
Aprils consumer prices figures (09.30 BST) look set to show that, after holding steady at zero in March, CPI inflation turned negative in April. Admittedly, petrol prices rose by nearly 2% in April.But changes to alcohol,...
Euro-zone trade surplus may have shrunk slightly in March
May 18, 2015 16:43 pm UTC| Commentary
The euro-zone trade surplus (10.00 BST) probably edged lower in March. The seasonally-adjusted trade surplus rose from 21.2bn in January to 22.0bn in February - the second highest level on record.But the country data...