Canada's merchandise trade report massively missed expectations

May 06, 2015 00:38 am UTC| Commentary

Canadas merchandise trade report massively missed expectations (-3.0bn vs est. -0.8bn) with the deficit wideningto a record in March, and the Feb deficit revised much wider as well (to -2.2bn from 1.0bn).In volume terms,...

UK Construction PMI came in considerably worse than expected

May 05, 2015 23:50 pm UTC| Commentary

United Kingdom construction PMI came in considerably worse than expected at 54.2 (cons: 57.4), extending the sharp drop seenin the last reading.UK economist notes that the slower momentum stretches across activity and new...

US trade deficit widened from $35.9bn to $51.4bn March

May 05, 2015 22:41 pm UTC| Commentary

United States trade deficit widened from $35.9bn to $51.4bn March, as exports rose 0.9% after falls in the previous four months but imports jumped 7.7%.The imports jump included a 10.8% surge in non-oil imports, as the...

US ISM non-manufacturing rose 1.3 pts to 57.8 in April

May 05, 2015 22:35 pm UTC| Commentary

United States ISM non-manufacturing rose 1.3 pts to 57.8 in April, its highest for the year so far, contrasting with the ISM factory indexs close to stalled readings in March and April (lowest in nearly 2 years).April...

An inconclusive result would be detrimental for sterling

May 05, 2015 22:29 pm UTC| Commentary

The most detrimental outcome for sterling is no government. Sterling trades with a high political risk discount due to a reliance on foreign investment to fund the UKs current account deficit.British pound (GBP)...

UK fiscal policy and the EU are key differentiators, though BoE policy would likely adjust

May 05, 2015 22:23 pm UTC| Commentary

The parties have outlined a range of manifesto policies, but the following issues are key in terms of the markets response, post-election: How quickly the fiscal deficit is cut - manifestos suggest faster under the...

UK faces a hung parliament after the 7 May general election

May 05, 2015 22:14 pm UTC| Commentary

Over the past month, UK election uncertainty has not diminished: polls still point to a hung parliament after the 7 May election. Neither main party, Conservative or Labour, is polling near the 323 seats needed for a...