EUR showing signs of recovery after worst quarter on record
Apr 01, 2015 14:27 pm UTC| Commentary
The euro followed up its worst quarter on record with a tiny gain, helped by more signs of recovery taking hold in the 19-country bloc. Western Union research notes: Growth in the euro zones manufacturing sector proved...
Low growth and high fiscal deficit to weigh heavily on public debt in Brazil
Apr 01, 2015 13:16 pm UTC| Commentary
Net and gross public debt rose from 33.6% and 56.7% of GDP respectively in December 2013 to 36.8% and 63.5% in December 2014. While net public debt declined moderately through February to 36.3%, gross public debt...
Japan's business conditions for manufacturers remained unchanged in Q1
Apr 01, 2015 07:51 am UTC| Commentary
Japans current business condition diffusion index (DI) for large manufacturers remained unchanged at +12 (consensus was +14) in Q1. After a strong business condition DI in Q1 2014 (+17) when last-minute demand ahead of the...
China's official manufacturing PMI improves slightly
Apr 01, 2015 07:38 am UTC| Commentary
Chinas official manufacturing PMI published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in March improved slightly to 50.1 (Consensus: 49.7, DBM 49.5) from 49.9 in February. The HSBC/Markit manufacturing PMI in its final...
China official manufacturing PMI up at 50.1 in March
Apr 01, 2015 06:49 am UTC| Commentary
In emerging markets, the renewed hopes of PBoC easing is fuelling a rally in the Chinese stocks. The Shanghai composite index is already up 17.5% YTD and data earlier today showing that the official manufacturing PMI...
Indonesia's budget deficit to surprise on the downside
Apr 01, 2015 06:09 am UTC| Commentary
Indonesias budget deficit is not expected to touch the 3% of GDP. The provisional fiscal deficit for 2014 printed at 2.2% of GDP, lower than our forecast of 2.5%.Given that there was a significant underperformance on the...
Australia's import strength to boost trade deficit again
Apr 01, 2015 05:53 am UTC| Commentary
There is nothing wrong with the momentum in Australias exports - with 3m-o-3m growth of 2.2% up to January (9% annualized) - especially considering the persistent weakness of commodity and hence export prices; but owing to...
South Africa’s plan to move away from coal: 8 steps to make it succeed
Germany lowers voting age to 16 for the European elections
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects