No change expected in SNB policy

Mar 19, 2015 06:10 am UTC| Commentary

In December, in light of accelerating pressure on the exchange rate floor and growing expectations of further ECB easing (QE), the SNB lowered its interest on sight deposit account balances to -0.25% (on balances exceeding...

European Council to discuss Energy Union and the European Semester

Mar 19, 2015 06:07 am UTC| Commentary

Amidst a still-fragile negotiation process with Greece, the European Council will discuss three main topics on 19-20 March: the Energy Union, Russia / Ukraine and the European Semester. On the Energy Union, the EU leaders...

NZ GDP Review: Westpac

Mar 19, 2015 05:36 am UTC| Commentary

As expected, the New Zealand economy ended 2014 on as strong a note as it began. GDP rose by 0.8% in the December quarter, which was a touch higher than the forecast, but was accompanied by a slight downward revision to...

The Day Ahead: Lloyds Bank

Mar 19, 2015 05:32 am UTC| Commentary

On a quiet day for data releases, markets will continue to ruminate on last nights FOMC policy decision and statement. As expected, the Fed excised the word patient from its forward guidance. However, Fed Chair Yellen...

Fed dots allow UST market to price in ‘patient’ even more aggressively

Mar 19, 2015 05:21 am UTC| Commentary

Standard Chartered notes as follows... Given the Feds updated economic projections, and particularly the much more dovish dot-plot, we lower our US Treasury (UST) yield forecasts to show a more gradual upward...

UK official forecasts revised

Mar 19, 2015 05:08 am UTC| Commentary

The UK budget continues to indicate a squeeze on public spending in the coming years, though the impact of low oil prices and rising real earnings should underpin growth.Updated forecasts from the Office for Budget...

Hong Kong holiday data distortion likely caused February’s CPI jump

Mar 19, 2015 05:06 am UTC| Commentary

Hong Kong will announce CPI data on 20 March.Standard Chartered notes its expectations as follows.... We expect headline inflation of 4.9% y/y, up from 4.1% in January, likely because the Lunar New Year fell in January...