Greek default would not necessarily imply an exit from the currency union
Apr 21, 2015 17:35 pm UTC| Commentary
Suggestions that Greece can default but remain inside the euro-zone overlook the fact that Greece needs both a very large debt write-down and a more competitive currency. Recent comments from euro-zone officials appear to...
Euro-zone consumer confidence may have improved in April
Apr 21, 2015 17:21 pm UTC| Commentary
Euro-zone consumer confidence (15.00 BST) may have improved in April, given continued low oil prices and inflation, as well as steady improvements in the labour market and policy action by the ECB. However, any rise will...
Australia’s CPI inflation is likely to have fallen to a 16-year low in Q1
Apr 21, 2015 17:01 pm UTC| Commentary
A fall in Australia CPI inflation (02.30 BST) to a 16-year low of 1.0% in Q1, from 1.7% in Q4, may grab the headlines. But the slower downward trend in underlying inflation likely to be of more concern.The 13% q/q decline...
Japan’s trade deficit probably fell in March
Apr 21, 2015 16:23 pm UTC| Commentary
Preliminary estimates for the first twenty days of the month point to a narrowing of Japan trade deficit (00.50 BST) in March. However, the shortfall is unlikely to shrink much once seasonal factors are taken into...
Brent to recover a little further, but path to be rocky
Apr 21, 2015 16:18 pm UTC| Commentary
The price of a barrel of Brent has already recovered to around $63, up $17 from its January low of $46. The cost of the traditional US benchmark, WTI, has risen to $56, up $13 from its March low of $43."We had expected...
Apr 21, 2015 15:13 pm UTC| Commentary
With Americas economy spending the first half of the week on the back burner, underlying bullish sentiment has helped the U.S. currency drift higher. And when the news trickles in on existing home sales on Wednesday and...
Apr 21, 2015 15:13 pm UTC| Commentary
The loonie remained camped near elevated levels against the greenback but below last weeks January high. Its been a better month for the northern economy thanks to upbeat outcomes on hiring, inflation and retail...
Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility
Economist Chris Richardson on an ‘ugly’ inflation result and the coming budget
Labour can afford to be far more ambitious with its economic policies – voters are on board
Sudan: civil war stretches into a second year with no end in sight