US first time home buyers likely to become more active in 2016

Dec 23, 2015 02:28 am UTC| Commentary

In US, the borrowing costs are likely to remain low, with the rise in Fed funds rate, which is likely to have modest impact on fixed term mortgage rates.US benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield used to price 30-year...

US existing home sales likely to surge in December

Dec 23, 2015 02:27 am UTC| Commentary

In US, November sales of existing homes dropped to 4.76 million units (annualized) , coming in considerably below expectations. Revisions to the previous month were also negative, subtracting 40k units from Octobers...

New Zealand GDP growth stabilizes

Dec 23, 2015 00:43 am UTC| Commentary

GDP growth in New Zealand was a little firmer than expected in 3Q at 0.9%q/q (JPM and consensus: 0.8%). This represents a rebound from a soft 1% annualized in the first half, and helps arrest the drop in the annual growth...

Currency War Series

South Africa's SARB likely to hike 25bp in January, with risks tilted to a 50bp move

Dec 23, 2015 00:30 am UTC| Commentary

The SARB is expected to hike 25bp in January (with risks of a 50bp move) and see the policy rate at 7.25%-7.50 by end- 2016 with GDP growth at 1.2%y/y, modestly softer than this year. In the near term, strict fiscal...

Emerging Market Crisis Series

Political developments continue to cloud the horizon in Brazil

Dec 23, 2015 00:11 am UTC| Commentary Politics

The political environment continues to change quickly, maintaining considerable uncertainty. The Supreme Court votes on the impeachment proceedings were largely in favor of the government and nullified most of the steps...

New Zealand's trade deficit narrowed by more than expected in November

Dec 22, 2015 23:15 pm UTC| Commentary

New Zealands trade deficit narrowed more than expected in November as a result of a pick-up in exports. However, this wasnt enough to stop the trade deficit for the year widening to -$3.7b, the largest its been since...

Euro area official data still a bit soft in 4Q15

Dec 22, 2015 22:44 pm UTC| Commentary

The business surveys suggest that the underlying pace of growth remains solid. The official October activity data, however, got off to a softer start in 4Q15. Euro area IP rose 0.6%m/m and is 1.2% ar above the average in...