The accompanying chart is the paradox of Europe. Its sentiment index is very high yet there is already a clear loss in momentum. Historically, breaks in momentum have led to significant slow downs. So far this one has been different. [...]
Introducing
Robert Brusca
in:Our Authors
Robert A. Brusca is Chief Economist of Fact and Opinion Economics, a consulting firm he founded in Manhattan. He has been an economist on Wall Street for over 25 years. He has visited central banking and large institutional clients in over 30 countries in his career as an economist. Mr. Brusca was a Divisional Research Chief at the Federal Reserve Bank of NY (Chief of the International Financial markets Division), a Fed Watcher at Irving Trust and Chief Economist at Nikko Securities International. He is widely quoted and appears in various media. Mr. Brusca holds an MA and Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University and a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan. His research pursues his strong interests in non aligned policy economics as well as international economics. FAO Economics’ research targets investors to assist them in making better investment decisions in stocks, bonds and in a variety of international assets. The company does not manage money and has no conflicts in giving economic advice.
Publications by Robert Brusca
Global| Aug 31 2007EU Index Near a High but Losing Momentum
- Global| Aug 30 2007
Consumer Confidence is Retreating in Italy
In early 1990 and again in early 2002, Italy scored its highest readings on this index. But since 2002 confidence has dropped. As the Euro area picked up, Italys confidence also recovered but could barely get half-way back to its [...]
- Global| Aug 30 2007
Japan Retail Sales Drop Sharply
Japan retail sales are mostly lower across the board. Special factors have hit the Japanese consumer to be sure. There was a radiation leak at a nuclear plant that turned out to be worse that was first reported. And then a power [...]
- Global| Aug 29 2007
World Liquidity
A look at global money and credit trends should be somewhat reassuring to those worried about the recent stock market downturn. Evidence shows that year/year money growth in countries/regions all around the globe had been quite [...]
- Global| Aug 28 2007
French Housing Starts Jump
In France home construction is being stimulated by new tax rules. The new fiscal incentives allow home-buyers to deduct 40% of their mortgage interest payments from taxable income during the first year of contracts signed after May 6 [...]
- Global| Aug 27 2007
Spain’s PPI Eases Pace in July but Still Too Strong
Spain's price trends show tempered results only for investment goods. Overall PPI inflation is stronger over three months than for year/year trends. Intermediate goods trends are firm at around a 6% pace. Consumer goods price trends [...]
- Global| Aug 27 2007
Spain’s PPI: Eases Monthly Pace in July but Still Too Strong
Spain's price trends show tempered results only for investment goods. Overall PPI inflation is stronger over three months than for year/year trends. Intermediate goods trends are firm at around a 6% pace. Consumer goods price trends [...]
- Global| Aug 24 2007
Yr/Yr UK GDP Growth Holds Steady
GDP steady Y/Y up Q/Q on stronger private consumption. UK trends are more or less in tact with the release of the Q2 GDP report. Both exports and imports are sharply lower owing to a boost in both flows in Q1 2006. Quarterly trade [...]
- Global| Aug 24 2007
German Export and Import Prices Misbehave as Domestic Trends Turn Lower Too
Longer view shows price pressures dissipating in Germany. On the month, German export and import prices were subdued but over three months some pressures are evident. But broader year-over-year trends do seem to have turned a corner. [...]
- Global| Aug 24 2007
Yr/Yr UK GDP Growth Holds Steady
GDP steady Y/Y up Q/Q on stronger private consumption. UK trends are more or less in tact with the release of the Q2 GDP report. Both exports and imports are sharply lower owing to a boost in both flows in Q1 2006. Quarterly trade [...]
- Global| Aug 23 2007
German GDP Rebound Still Not Supported by the Consumer
Germany is a much more export oriented economy than is the United States. With the formation of the EMU, Germany was helped by having a large proportion of its trade no longer subject to foreign exchange fluctuations. Goods sold [...]
- Global| Aug 23 2007
Belgian National Bank Index Declines in August
The BNB index fell to 3.3 in August from 4.2 in July and, along with the German Zew index, it gives us a signal of softening activity in the Euro area. However the decline in the index is not severe and the Belgian metric continues to [...]
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