Financial Markets…Year-to-date global corporate bond sales rose to $3.43 trillion, already surpassing 2011’s full year total of $3.29 trillion, as further stimulus from global central banks pushed yields to record lows. Funding costs for the riskiest to the most creditworthy corporates are plunging as the persistent low-yield environment spurred unprecedented investor demand.
Perceived default risk of US corporate debt climbed for a third consecutive day, with the benchmark Markit CDX North America Investment Grade Index rising 3.6 basis points to 108 bps, amid growing concerns that the so-called US fiscal cliff could push the world largest economy into deep recession.
Ghana’s 3-month borrowing costs, which fell to a five month low last week, are gearing for further decline today after the central bank issued record volume of domestic bonds, lowering its financing needs in near-terms. The 3-month yield on Ghana’s Treasury bills dropped 69 bps to 22.33% last week, but they are still the highest among African countries.
In its November update released earlier today, the US Department of Agriculture reported marginal increases in global grain supplies (compared to the October update) for the 2012/13 crop year ending in May 2013. Yet, stock-to-use ratio for corn—and less so for wheat—remain at historical low levels. The rice market is well-supplied with trade expected to surpass 38 million tons in 2012—a record high.
High-income Economies…France's industrial production posted the biggest monthly drop since December 2009, falling 2.7% (m/m) in September (-2.1% y/y), with both manufacturing production and construction contracting. The Bank of France said the economy may shrink in the fourth quarter.
Italy’s industrial production fell by 1.5% (m/m) in September (-4.8% y/y), the most in five months, suggesting the country remained in recession in the third quarter.
Greece’s industrial production fell 7.3% (y/y) in September, resuming its downward trend after rising temporarily by 2.5% in August.
Sweden’s industrial production fell 5% (y/y) in September, following a 2.7% increase the previous month.
Germany’s annual consumer price inflation on a EU-harmonized basis remained at 2.1% (y/y) in October, the same rate as September (+0.1% m/m). A 5.5% (y/y) increase in domestic gas and diesel prices and increases in some food items prevented inflation from falling.
UK’s goods trade deficit fell to 8.4bn pounds in September from 10bn pounds in August, as exports rose 1.1% (m/m), while imports fell a larger 3.9% (m/m) because of lower imports of fuel and manufactured goods.
US consumer confidence continued to improve for the fourth month in November, with the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index climbing to 84.9 (a five-year high) from 82.6 in October as the labor market showed signs of improvement.
Hungary’s industrial output rose 0.6% (m/m) in September, following 1.8% increase in August. Despite the monthly increases, industrial output in September was 3.8% lower than the same month the previous year.
Developing Economies…China’s retail sales rose 14.5% (y/y) in October slightly faster than 14.2% in September, while consumer price inflation dropped to its weakest level in nearly three years to 1.7% (y/y) in October from 1.9% in September on declining food inflation.
Growth in China's industrial production accelerated to 9.6% (y/y) in October from 9.2% in September China’s producer prices fell at a slower pace of 2.8% (y/y) in October compared to a 3.6% fall in September. China's total fixed asset investments were 20.7% higher during the January-October period compared to the same period last year.
Malaysia's exports grew 2.6% (y/y) in September, recovering from a 4.5% contraction in August on strong demand from ASEAN, the US, India and Taiwan, while exports to the European Union decreased 12.5%. Import growth accelerated to 9.6% (y/y) in September from 2.8% in August.
The central bank of Peru held its benchmark interest steady at 4.25%. Peru's inflation rate fell to 3.25% (y/y) in October from 3.74% in September, but remains above the central bank's targets inflation of 2.0% (+/- 1). An acceleration of inflation in September was related to a weather conditions-related temporary supply side factor.
Russia's central bank held its benchmark refinancing rate steady in October. Inflation declined in October slightly to 6.5% (y/y) from 6.6% in September, but remains above the Bank of Russia's target of 5-6 percent inflation range. The bank noted that inflation is stabilizing due to a moderation in food prices which had experienced a temporary upswing related to a supply shock associated with a bad harvest.
Hammerby Sjöstad, in central Stockholm, is integrated urban water management in action. The district, which was intended to be an Olympic Village, once was an old industrial area, but it has been transformed into a sustainable city.
