Disappointing US economic data put oil prices under pressure

Oct 28, 2015 10:04 am UTC| Commentary Economy

Weak US economic data such as a sharp fall in consumer confidence were the final straw, as this makes for a much gloomier outlook as regards oil demand in the most important oil consumer country. In view of the negative...

Pro-cyclical improvement in Euro area's labour productivity pushes ULC lower

Oct 28, 2015 07:31 am UTC| Commentary Economy

Unit labour cost (ULC is a measure of total compensation adjusted for labour productivity growth) increased by 0.8% yoy in Q2 15, marking its slowest rise since Q2 11. ULC is moderating on the back of higher growth in...

Brazil government’s international liquidity position seems exceedingly strong

Oct 28, 2015 07:13 am UTC| Commentary Economy

The Brazilian public sector could in principle pay down the entire external debt and still own three-quarters of the international reserves now sitting on the central banks balance sheet. Since it is very unlikely that...

Japan to experience more stagnant inflation

Oct 28, 2015 06:07 am UTC| Commentary Economy

Japans nationwide CPI (excluding fresh food) likely fell in September. Factors such as the passing on of price increases to products as a result of cost push inflation caused by yen depreciation and the recovery in...

China's perceived buying conditions likely declined on a broad basis

Oct 28, 2015 05:28 am UTC| Commentary Economy

In China, more specific questions on specific spending plans showed large declines in plans for shopping (-7.9%) entertainment spending (-6.7%) dining out (-5.7% with a smaller 2.9% decline for western style fast food)....

US labor market gives hollow feeling to recovery

Oct 28, 2015 04:39 am UTC| Commentary Economy

Deep dissatisfaction with US labor market has been a hallmark of the current US economic recovery, as well as the previous ones since the 1990s. Despite significant improvement on a wide variety of other labor market...

Strong GBP and Europe's week growth impacts UK's exports

Oct 28, 2015 04:34 am UTC| Commentary Economy

UKs private consumption is stimulated by a combination of low interest rates, very high consumer confidence, increasing house prices, high employment and positive real wage growth for the first time since 2009. Going...