The EU Commission revised its 2017 Euro-zone GDP growth forecast marginally higher to 1.6% from 1.5% previously, although this was still lower than the 2016 outcome and the underlying tone remained generally downbeat with a high degree of uncertainty over both domestic and US developments.
The inflation forecast for this year was revised higher to 1.7% from 1.4% previously, but with an expected slowdown to 1.4% in 2018 and still below the ECB target.
Fifty Up Exactly 50 years ago today I set out on my career in the City of London. Many of the men whom I worked with wore bowler hats and smoked pipes. Discount House men wore morning dress and top hats. Everyone wore two or three piece suits and black shoes. If you wore brown […]
Bank of England In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Governor Bailey made it clear that Central Banks could afford to cut interest rates more sharply. Markets correctly interpreted that statement as him preparing the way for cuts at pretty much every Bank of England MPC meeting for the next 6 months until they reach […]
Commodities With Gold at USD 2676 and Brent Crude at USD 79.04 there are no clearer indicators that world markets are fully focused on the regional crisis encompassing Iran/USA/Israel/Gaza/Lebanon/Yemen this weekend. Unsurprisingly USD is back to its strongest levels for some weeks against all other major currencies. EUR/USD 1.0935 A3 For UK readers this has […]