Macro Analysis

The British pound fell below $1.50 for the first time since 2010 last Friday one week after Moody’s stripped the UK government of its prized triple-A credit rating. Sterling has had a torrid 2013, as investors have sold sterling on the back of domestic weaknesses, stubbornly high inflation and a still-large fiscal deficit. Absent a [...]

House prices in China rose at their quickest pace in two years this January, suggesting some monetary tightening may be in the cards. The country’s central bank increased interest rates in response to a previous episode of rapid house price increases. Given receding fears over a potential ‘hard landing’ at home, and signs of stabilization [...]

This research note is provided by Fathom Consulting. All of the charts below and many many more, covering a range of topics and countries on both the macroeconomy and financial markets are available in the Chartbook to Datastream users at www.datastream.com. Alternatively you can access Fathom’s Chartbook at www.fathom-consulting.com. Despite a set of gloomy data [...]

A dire set of Q4 GDP data showed that much of the euro area was either in recession, or heading in that direction. This week’s COTW takes a look at how individual economies have fared since the introduction of the common currency. Despite their recent crises, Ireland and Spain stand out as the big winners [...]

This research note is provided by Fathom Consulting. All of the charts below and many many more, covering a range of topics and countries on both the macroeconomy and financial markets are available in the Chartbook to Datastream users at www.datastream.com. Alternatively you can access Fathom’s Chartbook at www.fathom-consulting.com. Introduction Downbeat growth figures from Europe [...]

The US trade balance narrowed sharply in December, highlighting the country’s increasing energy independence. The data suggest that the advance estimate of GDP in the fourth quarter, which was released at the end of January and showed the first fall in output for more than three years, is likely to be upwardly revised. Refresh Chart [...]

Investors threw themselves into “risk-on” investments at the start of the new year, although the odds of greater volatility and uncertainty remain high. After a wary and uncertain end to 2012, investors celebrated the advent of 2013 by once again embracing the concept of risk. They seized on respectable if not dramatic gains in corporate [...]

This research note is provided by Fathom Consulting. All of the charts below and many many more, covering a range of topics and countries on both the macroeconomy and financial markets are available in the Chartbook to Datastream users at www.datastream.com. Alternatively you can access Fathom’s Chartbook at www.fathom-consulting.com. The latest update from the Congressional [...]

After a welcome boost from the Olympics, the UK ended 2012 on a disappointing note, contracting by 0.3% in Q4. We expect the UK economy will return to positive, if weak growth in 2013. While a fresh approach to monetary policy offers hope, unless banks can be encouraged to write down their bad debts, and [...]

This research note is provided by Fathom Consulting. All of the charts below and many many more, covering a range of topics and countries on both the macroeconomy and financial markets are available in the Chartbook to Datastream users at www.datastream.com. Alternatively you can access Fathom’s Chartbook at www.fathom-consulting.com. Last year was one of contradiction. [...]