Economic Perspectives July 2018

Highlights

  • Recent evidence suggests that while the global business cycle is still in good shape, it may be facing some significant challenges. Developed economies, in particular the US, are doing better than emerging markets at present. On the one hand this is a result of the strong performance of the US economy that is supported by fiscal stimulus. On the other, the looming threat of a trade war disturbing the workings of global value chains poses large risks for a lot of export-oriented emerging economies. Due to its trade openness Europe may be negatively affected by escalating trade conflicts too.
  • In recent weeks, the trade tensions shifted up a gear with the implementation of additional tariffs on US imports from China, Chinese retaliation measures in response to this and the implementation of retaliation actions from several other US trading partners due to higher US tariffs on steel and aluminium. Potential next steps could be even more import tariffs by the US and/or US tariffs on car imports. It is hard to predict when and how this trade conflict will end. Related uncertainties are already weighing on sentiment and investment decisions globally. A significant further escalation with increasing protectionist measures is hence the main risk in our global scenario.
  • Higher-than-expected oil prices are putting some temporary upward pressure on headline inflation around the world. Preliminary June inflation data for the euro area pointed to a slight increase of headline inflation to 2.0%, while core inflation remains stubbornly subdued at only 1.0%. Also in the US we have seen inflationary pressures building. However, US core inflation, supported by the sustained strength of the economy, is moving in a similar upward direction as the headline series.
  • Risk awareness on financial markets has risen of late. This led to increased safe haven flows towards Germany and to a lesser extent also to the US, Japan and Switzerland, causing the USD to strengthen and government bond yields to drop. In this context, we saw some intra-EU spreads and emerging market rates rising. This environment of increased global risk aversion with the corresponding flight to quality led us to lower the path of the German 10y government bond yields on a 12 months’ horizon. Given the US-German bond yield differential that will be larger than previously expected on a short-term horizon, together with the further market pricing in of monetary policy divergence, we expect the FX weakness of the Euro to continue in the short term.
  • Focus article - Economic aspects of international immigration

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Disclaimer:

This publication was produced by the economists of the KBC group. All opinions expressed in this publication represent the personal opinions of the author(s) at the date stated therein and are subject to change without notice. KBC Groep NV makes no warranties as to the extent to which the scenarios, risks and forecasts proposed reflect market expectations, nor as to the extent to which they will actually materialise. All forecasts are indicative. Sustainability is part of the overall business strategy of KBC Group NV (see https://www.kbc.com/en/corporate-sustainability.html). We take this strategy into account when choosing topics for our publications, but a thorough analysis of economic and financial developments requires discussing a wider variety of topics. The data in this publication are general and purely informative. The information cannot be considered as an offer to sell or buy financial instruments. Nor can it be considered as investment advice, investment recommendation or "investment research" within the meaning of the law and regulations on the markets in financial instruments. Save the express prior and written consent of KBC Groep NV, any transfer, sale, distribution or reproduction of the information, publication and data is prohibited, regardless of form or means. KBC Groep NV cannot be held liable for the accuracy or completeness of the information or for the direct or indirect damage that would result from the use of this document.

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