G20 finance chiefs meet as China seeks to make a show of its presidency

Feb 26, 2016 10:25 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

The last time G20 finance ministers met in China back in 2005, the country was the worlds fifth-largest economy. As the next two-day meeting begins, with China as president, it lies in second spot, having overtaken several...

Germany’s February flash HICP inflation likely slowed on weak energy prices

Feb 26, 2016 09:34 am UTC| Commentary Economy

Germanys February flash HICP inflation is likely to be lower at 0.0% y/y, as compared with Januarys 0.4% y/y. The slowdown in the headline is expected to be due to continuous weakness in energy prices. In February, it is...

Worrisome Signs Series

Worrisome signs series: Baltic dry index hits record low

Feb 26, 2016 08:54 am UTC| Commentary Economy

In our previous article under the series we discussed about the weakness in global trade that is likely to hinder global growth, citing World Trade Monitor report, which showed global trade contracted by -13.8% in 2015, in...

Worrisome Signs Series

Worrisome signs series: Global trade contracts biggest since 2008/09 crisis

Feb 26, 2016 07:31 am UTC| Commentary Economy

Historically speaking, without recovery in trade there has hardly been any economic and social recovery. So far, since 2008/09 crisis, ultra-loose monetary policy from United States has achieved low unemployment, in US it...

Emerging Market Crisis Series

Deterioration of Brazil’s labor market likely to continue

Feb 26, 2016 07:16 am UTC| Commentary Economy

Brazil posted a lower than expected jobless rate of 7.6% in January. In seasonally adjusted terms, the jobless rate fell to 7.8%, as compared with Decembers 8.2%. This was the first decline in the past 12 months. However,...

Lower oil prices, market volatility to continue to weigh on Canada’s business sentiment

Feb 26, 2016 06:27 am UTC| Commentary Economy

Canadas small business confidence for February did not register much of a change. The CFIB Business Barometer Index rose by 0.3 points t o 54.7 in the month. The index continues to be around the lowest levels observed...

China Crisis Series

Chinese real estate continues fragmented recovery

Feb 26, 2016 06:08 am UTC| Commentary Real Estate Economy

According to latest data released today by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), property prices in China edged up by 2.5% in January, from a year ago. This is highest reading since August 2014 and fourth consecutive...