UK Stronger earnings data and inflation

Jul 03, 2015 15:26 pm UTC| Commentary

UK April weekly earnings data reported a better than expected 2.7% 3m y/y rise. This was the strongest increase since early 2009, which suggested that despite pay freezes in some industries that almost 90% of Q1 UK pay...

Greece referendum sounding like a ultimatum

Jul 03, 2015 15:09 pm UTC| Commentary

Exactly at the point in time when Europeans were eventually acknowledging that an agreement was within reach, the decision by Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras to organize a referendum on 5th of July was a surprise and...

Greece Debt sustainability still has to be restored

Jul 03, 2015 14:59 pm UTC| Commentary

Hopefully, negotiations will resume for an agreement on a financing strategy for Greece over the medium term. On these grounds, challenges will remain unchanged. Due to its size, debt sustainability is indeed, weak,...

‘Yes' vote, a semi-stable outcome at best for Greece

Jul 03, 2015 14:43 pm UTC| Commentary

A Yes vote would allow negotiations to resume on the basis of the late June proposals. However, early elections or an unstable coalition would also follow a Yes vote. And given the time and complexity entailed by a new...

A ‘No' vote would significantly increase the odds of Grexit, though some hopes remain that it could be avoided

Jul 03, 2015 14:32 pm UTC| Commentary

A No vote would not immediately trigger a Grexit, especially as the chance of new elections still remain, even in this scenario Greek president would most likely resign. Moreover, some form of negotiation may resume. As...

Greece after the referendum: a semi-stable outcome at best

Jul 03, 2015 14:25 pm UTC| Commentary

The referendum announced by PM Tsipras for Sunday 5 July is now almost certain to go ahead. With the Yes and No votes neck and neck in recent polls, the outcome remains uncertain. It is believed that there is a 60%...

ICAC expects higher cotton price despite inventory sales in China

Jul 03, 2015 10:35 am UTC| Commentary

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) expressed concern yesterday about the situation on the cotton market, explaining that this was due to Chinas announcement that it intends to sell some of its high...