BoC’s growth forecast for Q3 face significant risk

Sep 25, 2015 05:21 am UTC| Commentary Central Banks

Retail sales volumes were up by a somewhat mild 0.2% m/m. Housing starts were sharply higher at 216,900 from 193,300 the prior month. The fact that this was led by a roughly 20% m/m rise in multi-housing units that carry...

Taiwan's central bank cut policy rate for the first time in six years

Sep 25, 2015 01:56 am UTC| Commentary Central Banks

Taiwans central bank cut rates by 12.5bps yesterday, taking the benchmark discount rate to 1.75% from 1.875%. The widening of a negative output gap, easing of inflation expectations and relatively high real interest rates...

Bank of Israel decided to keep base rate on hold

Sep 24, 2015 21:23 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks

The Bank of Israel (BoI) decided to keep its base rate on hold at 0.10%, in line with expectations. The BoI staff has lowered both its inflation and growth forecasts substantially since its June forecasts. Notwithstanding,...

Delay in Fed liftoff has added yet another layer of uncertainty to an already foggy EM outlook

Sep 24, 2015 17:21 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks

The Feds decision to delay liftoff supports our view EM rates will remain low for some time. Oil prices have dropped 22% since early July, and although commodities have been stable in September, the cumulative loss amounts...

BOC rate cut bet rises after Norges Bank surprises with rate cut

Sep 24, 2015 15:39 pm UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks

Norways Norges bank surprised markets today with a rate cut of 25 basis points, pushing Krone lower against almost all currencies. Krone is currently trading at against Dollar, down % for the day so far. Norways actions...

Path of ECB policy a likely worry for SNB

Sep 24, 2015 11:13 am UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks

The Swiss National Bank delivered its monetary policy announcement on Sept 17th, where it left the policy mix unchanged as broadly expected, in an effort to rein in the Swiss franc, which it said remained significantly...

Taiwan CBC likely to keep benchmark rates unchanged

Sep 24, 2015 11:02 am UTC| Commentary Central Banks

In todays statement, the CBC pointed out that with inflation in negative territory, real interest rates in Taiwan were still relatively high, an indication to us that the bank can still ease (towards the post-Lehman low of...