Westpac-MI Leading Index indicates Australian economy to regain momentum towards end-2015

Mar 18, 2015 05:44 am UTC| Commentary

This is the first above trend reading from the Leading Indexsince January 2014. After showing persistently weak, sub-trendmomentum over the last 12 months, this is the most promisingresult in quite some time.It suggests...

SNB likely to keep the LIBOR target range unchanged

Mar 18, 2015 00:13 am UTC| Commentary

Stardard Chartered Macro Research notes: We expect the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to keep the 3-month LIBOR target range unchanged at -1.25 to -0.25 at its meeting on 19 March. We also expect the SNB to keep the...

EZ TLTRO 3 to show whether demand for loans is rising

Mar 18, 2015 00:05 am UTC| Commentary

On 19 March the European Central Bank (ECB) will announce the third allotment of the Targeted Long Term Refinancing Operation (TLTRO). Banks borrowed EUR 212bn, a little more than half of total available in the first...

Fed likely to remove ‘patient’ guidance

Mar 18, 2015 00:00 am UTC| Commentary

Markets eagerly await Wednesdays FOMC decision (post-meeting statement and updated projections: 14:00 ET, Chair Yellens press conference: 14:30 ET). Standard Chartered research notes: We think the Fed will remove the...

UK annual earnings growth likely to rise from 1.6% in Dec to 2.0% in Jan

Mar 17, 2015 19:03 pm UTC| Commentary

The latest UK labour market figures (09.30 GMT) should confirm that the jobs market has continued to tighten.However, all eyes will be on the earnings figures again for any signs that deflation is becoming entrenched....

Euro-zone labour market recovery remained very slow

Mar 17, 2015 18:48 pm UTC| Commentary

Euro-zone data released this morning revealed that the labour market recovery remained very slow. Employment rose by just 0.1% q/q in Q4 last year, leaving the annual growth rate at a modest 0.9%.With previous data showing...

Further 25bp cuts from Bank Indonesia likely this year

Mar 17, 2015 18:24 pm UTC| Commentary

Having surprised markets last month with a rate cut, Bank Indonesia (BI) left its key policy rate on hold on Tuesday at 7.50%.GDP grew by just 5.0% last year, the worst performance since the 2008-09 global financial...