Research

Our in-house research team covers all relevant elements of the real-estate market, including macro-economic insights. We want to share this information, not only with our team, but also with you, our client or future client. 

Macro-economic insights

Weekly update: week 28

Investors are worried about a recession, with just cause? The trade war has created a fragile economic environment however the stock markets historically are characterised with more volatility then we saw in recent years. It might have bee, naive to think that this low volatility of the markets was the new standard. Nonetheless are many investors moving away from business cycle sensitive stocks and moving towards more defensive investments. Looking at growth numbers, Belgium is the second weakest in the European class, just before Italy. German industries continue to see the orders shrink and the chemical industry is experience sever effects of the current economic climate with BASF giving a profit warning. The EU expects a further slowdown of the European Economy. Across the channel, worries arise on the British economy even though the numbers are not that bad.

Christine Lagarde her name is circulating as the successor for Mario Draghi. Her limited knowledge of central banking fuels critics. As ex chairwoman of the IMF her competences are not questioned and she would be assisted by skilled staff to compensate her non-banking background.

This week Bloomberg accidently falsely presented the words of the Finish National bank which hinted on a severe recession. Consequently, the euro took a hit which later recovered.
Deutsche bank has stopped its ambitions of beeing an international business bank. DB was the last European bank which was active on the international scene of investment banking. There are people today who are flagging the lack of European International Business Bank

A positive consequence of the low interest rates is that governments can finance their debt very cheap. With the current sentiment on the financial markets, the German zero coupon bonds are very popular.

Apart from the US-Chinese trade war, the tensions between the US and Iran are taking dangerous proportions. Iran has stated to enrich uranium over the energy production limit (3,5%). The fear is that they are trying to make nuclear weapons. However, this will take a long time and it is unlikely that the world will allow this to happen. It is a political statement and tool of propaganda.

Does the Fed give in? Powell is hinting towards a wider monetary policy of the Fed. It’s to simplistic to say that this is simply because trump has been demanding this. The economic context hints towards a similar policy. The markets have responded moderately, the effect is neutralised by a similar policy in Europe. The monetary policy cannot undo the problems caused by the trade war. In contrast the amount of jobs in US has been growing steadily, stronger then expected.

In Turkije heeft Erdogan de gouverneur van de centrale bank ontslagen. Dit omdat hij niet akkoord is met het gevoerde beleid. De bank heeft de rent verhoogd om de inflatie tegen te gaan en om een recessie te temperen. De president deelt deze mening niet. Volgens hem ligt de rente aan de basis van de inflatie, wat ingaat tegen de standaard theorieën. Aangezien Turkije aanzienlijk afhankelijk is van Buitenlands geld en deze dergelijke “avontuurlijke uitspraken” niet graag horen stond de Turkse munt terug sterk onder druk. Dit heeft natuurlijk een stijging van de inflatie als gevolg wat Erdogan zijn ideeën direct onderuithaalt. Hij hoopt via deze wegen en met een wijzende vinger naar het buitenland de verslechterde economische situatie van het land te maskeren. (Indien de Turkse economie ten onder gaat heeft dit ook implicaties voor Europa).

De stad Gent wil zich terugtrekken van haar deelname aan de beurs. Antwerpen zit niet te wachten om alleen te gaan en staat het hele project op de helling.

Het aantal transacties op de Amsterdamse vastgoedmarkt is weer in beweging. Dit is voornamelijk te danken aan meer particulieren die ervoor kozen hun eigendom te verkopen.

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Research Archive

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