Markit Economics released the flash results from several of its key surveys. Included is manufacturing in Japan (lower), as well as composites (manufacturing plus services) for the United States and Europe. Within the EU, Markit offers details for France and Germany. Given the nature of sentiment surveys, we tend to ignore these most months unless they suggest either pending changes or extremes. Beginning with the US,...
Read More »Anchoring Globally Synchronized Growth, Or We Gave Up Long Ago?
January was the last month in which China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) specifically mentioned Fixed Asset Investment (FAI) of state holding enterprises (or SOE’s). For the month of December 2017, the NBS reported accumulated growth (meaning for all of 2017) in this channel of 10.1%. Through FAI of SOE’s, Chinese authorities in early 2016 had panicked themselves into unleashing considerable “stimulus.” There...
Read More »All The World’s A (Imagined) Labor Shortage
Last year’s infatuation with globally synchronized growth was at least understandable. From a certain, narrow point of view, Europe’s economy had accelerated. So, too, it seemed later in the year for the US economy. The Bank of Japan was actually talking about ending QQE with inflation in sight, and the PBOC was purportedly tightening as China’s economy appeared to many ready for its rebound. Operating under these...
Read More »Viel Potenzial bei nachhaltigen Investitionen
Bild: Finanz und Wirtschaft Forum Das Forum "Nachhaltig Investieren 2018" der Finanz und Wirtschaft war von vorsichtigem Optimismus geprägt, dass sich ESG-Kriterien durchsetzen werden. Ein Standard existiert allerdings noch nicht. Zudem wurde das Schweizer Pensionskassenmodell kritisch beleuchtet. Ende 2016 wurden weltweit 22,9 Billionen USD in nachhaltigen Strategien (ESG), investiert. Dies...
Read More »Emerging Markets: Preview of the Week Ahead
Stock Markets EM FX ended Friday on a week note and capped of another generally negative week. Worst performers last week were ARS, BRL, and TRY while the best were ZAR, RUB, and KRW. We remain negative on EM FX and look for losses to continue. US retail sales data Tuesday pose further downside risks to EM FX. Stock Markets Emerging Markets, May 08 - Click to enlarge India India reports April WPI and...
Read More »What China’s Trade Conditions Say About The Right Side Of ‘L’
Chinese exports rose 12.9% year-over-year in April 2018. China Exports, Jan 2008 - Apr 2018(see more posts on China Exports, ) - Click to enlarge Imports were up 20.9%. As always, both numbers sound impressive but they are far short of rates consistent with a growing global economy. China’s participation in global growth, synchronized or not, is a must. The lack of acceleration on the export side tells us a lot...
Read More »Watching Imports
The US trade deficit, a sensitive political topic these days, declined sharply in March. It had expanded significantly (more deficit) in January and February, reaching nearly -$76 billion (seasonally adjusted) in the latter month, before posting -$68 billion in the latest figures. Exports rose while imports fell in March, making for the largest single month change in the trade condition in many years. That may mean...
Read More »FX Daily, May 08: Dollar Races Ahead
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.56% to 1.1885 CHF. EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, May 08(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates The US dollar’s surge continues. The Dollar Index is testing the space above 93.00. A month ago it was below 90. It does not appear to require fresh developments. The market continues to trade as if there are short dollar positions that are...
Read More »Emerging Markets Preview: The Week Ahead
Stock Markets EM FX came under intense selling pressures last week. The worst performers were ARS, TRY, and MXN while the best were PHP, KRW, and TWD. US rates are likely to remain the key driver for EM FX, and so PPI and CPI data will be closely watched this week. We believe EM FX will remain under pressure. Stock Markets Emerging Markets, May 08 - Click to enlarge Indonesia Indonesia reports Q1 GDP Monday,...
Read More »Chinas historische Wende
Arbeiter vor einem Kraftwerk in Peking. Foto: Michael Reynolds (Keystone) Die Entwicklung der CO2-Konzentration in der Atmosphäre hängt ganz wesentlich davon ab, wie sich die Kohleproduktion entwickeln wird. Die letzten zwei Jahrzehnte waren diesbezüglich wenig ermutigend. China und zunehmend auch Indien fuhren ihre Produktion hoch. 2015 betrug der Anteil der Kohle an der globalen Primärenergie-Produktion (TPES) 28 Prozent gegenüber 24,5 Prozent im Jahr 1971. Die folgende Grafik zeigt...
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