After being locked out of the debt markets for several years Greece made a successful return this week raising €3 bn euros and confidence has tentatively returned to many of the PIIGS debt markets over recent weeks. Now Fitch ratings has seen fit to raise Portugal’s credit rating to BB+ and positive. In Germany the […]
German wholesale prices fall by 1.7% as Germany’s consumer inflation falls to 1% Read More »
Despite a lot of criticism with regards to the steering of the economy by the socialist government French industrial production has improved, according to the latest data available the improvement was by 0.3% in February. Australia produced a very healthy shock to the markets, causing the Aussie to rise versus the majority of its major
Japanese equities were in bearish territory after any hopes for monetary stimulus faded, whilst the rest of Asia-Pacific was up after Wall Street staged a relief rally on Tuesday. Japan’s losses were driven by comments from central bank governor Haruhiko Kuroda. On Tuesday he acknowledged that last week’s increase in the national sales tax was
It’s not often that we flag up the performance of the Swiss economy in our mind the gap column but we felt it justified special mention and focus this morning given the perfect economic microcosm and model the country projects. Not only have retail sales risen by circa 1.1% month on month and the country’s
Swiss unemployment falls as retail sales rise Read More »
German production rose moderately over the last month according to Germany’s official stats department adding belief to what many analysts believe is the powerhouse of the European economy, which will help to single handedly help turn around the area’s fortunes. In February 2014, production in industry was up by 0.4% from the previous month, the
German production rises whilst Australian construction appears to have turned the corner Read More »
From the UK this morning we received a surprise in the form of house price falls with the Halifax reporting that house prices in the UK have fallen by 1.1% in March, this is only the third decline over the past 15 months. Analysts will now be carefully watching to see if this reading is
Germany’s factory orders rise whilst UK house prices fall by 1.1% Read More »
Overnight there was some key data released in Australia which many analysts believe reaffirms Australia’s place as one of the fastest growing economies, with crucially its foundations for economic growth built on solid ground. Retail sales came in on schedule up 0.2% month on month, but it was the trade balance reading which caught analysts’
Chinese PMI signals contraction as Australia’s positive trade balance surprises analysts Read More »
From Spain there was good news published this morning regarding the unemployment rate with a reading showing that unemployment fell by 239,773 in the last year. This is the best performance of registered unemployed in March since 2006. From the UK we had the news that UK house price rises had moderated slightly in March
Overnight we learned that the RBA, the central bank of Australia, (as expected) kept the base rate unchanged at 2.5%. In the statement accompanying the base rate decision the RBA cited improved economic conditions and performance globally, particularly in China, as reasons why the RBA decided to leave the base rate unchanged. There has been
Despite not all of its leading economic indicators being as positive as other leading global economies Germans do appear to have an elevated belief in the quality of the recovery witnessed over recent years. According to stats released this morning retail turnover in Germany has increased by circa 2% in real terms February 2013 –
Germans go shopping in 2014 whilst sales of new homes in Australia increase markedly Read More »
