Commerzbank AG

Brexit continues to approach for the UK, the much anticipated French election is just around the corner, but sentiment indicators demonstrate that there is an air of optimism among European companies. “Loose ECB monetary policy is gradually reaching the real economy, not just the financial and housing markets,” said Commerzbank’s chief economist, Jörg Krämer, on Thursday in Frankfurt. In addition, there is a stronger global demand, although this faces unresolved problems in emerging countries. Commerzbank economists expect economic growth in the Eurozone to be slightly above consensus at 1.8% for this year. 

In the French presidential elections, the Bank’s economists predict that Emmanuel Macron is on course for victory. “But Macron is not the nation’s saviour,” Krämer comments. He believes significant reforms will not be made by Macron. In Germany, Krämer expects a continuation of the consumer-driven upswing. Although other stumbling blocks could arise, for example the rollback of former Schröder reforms, the upswing is expected to continue in the short term. Commerzbank economists forecast that the German economy will grow by 1.6% in 2017, proving slightly more optimistic than the leading economic-research institutes.

As a result of an increase in inflation, pressure on the European Central Bank (ECB) to withdraw from the expansionary monetary policy rose. This will ease when the inflation rate falls over the course of 2017. Commerzbank analysts believe consumer prices will rise by 1.4% on average this year. As in 2016, the core inflation rate will only rise by 0.9%. Against this backdrop, Commerzbank analysts expect ECB will not raise interest rates for the moment. However, in the next year ECB will gradually scale back its bond buying, as it would otherwise exceed set limits. “But an enforced end to the bond buying should not be misinterpreted as the end of the loose monetary policy,” Krämer says. 

Meanwhile, the US central bank began to normalise its monetary policy. “The US economy is developing roughly in line with the Fed’s expectations,” Krämer states. Commerzbank analysts expect two further rate hikes this year – one in June and one in December. However, the protectionist policy by the US president could still cause uncertainty. The Bank’s economists expect the US government to primarily address weaker trade partners like Mexico. “But Donald Trump will not provoke larger trading areas such as China and the EU,” Krämer says. “For example, if the Chinese were to retaliate and impose duties on US agricultural imports, farmers in the Midwest would suffer badly. But many of them voted for Trump.” 

Recent production cuts agreed upon by OPEC and some non-OPEC countries have supported the oil price. However, Commerzbank analysts adhere to their forecast of Brent oil falling below $50 a barrel again by the end of the year. “The agreements of the OPEC countries will go to pieces as soon as they sense to being at risk of losing market share to other producing countries,” Krämer explains. With regard to the DAX Commerzbank experts also stand by their end of the year forecast of 11,700 points, although it is currently above this level. “We believe the market has run too far,” Krämer warns.

 

Commerzbank Research Prognoses

Growth in gross domestic product in real terms in % compared to previous year

	2017	2018
Eurozone	1,8	1,6
- Germany	1,6	1,5
- France	1,6	1,7
- Italy	1	1,1
United Kingdom	1,8	1,7
USA	2,3	2,3
China	6,5	6,3
World	3,3	3,4

 

 

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Press contact
Stefan Gringel               +49 69 136-51435         stefan.gringel@commerzbank.com

 

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About Commerzbank
Commerzbank is a leading international commercial bank with branches and offices in almost 50 countries. In the two business segments Private and Small Business Customers, as well as Corporate Clients, the Bank offers a comprehensive portfolio of financial services which is precisely aligned to the clients’ needs. Commerzbank finances 30% of Germany’s foreign trade and is leading in financing for corporate clients in Germany. Due to its in-depth sector know-how in the German economy, the Bank is a leading provider of capital market products. Its subsidiaries Comdirect in Germany and mBank in Poland are two of the world’s most innovative online banks. With approximately 1,000 branches, Commerzbank has one of the densest branch networks among German private banks. In total, Commerzbank serves more than 17.5 million private and small business customers, as well as more than 60,000 corporate clients, multinationals, financial service providers, and institutional clients. The Bank, which was founded in 1870, is represented at all the world’s major stock exchanges. In 2016, it generated gross revenues of €9.4 billion with approximately 49,900 employees.

 

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Disclaimer
This release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. In this release, these statements concern inter alia the expected  future business of Commerzbank, efficiency gains and expected synergies, expected growth prospects and other opportunities for an increase in value of Commerzbank as well as expected future financial results, restructuring costs and other financial developments and information. These forward-looking statements are based on the management’s current plans, expectations, estimates and projections. They are subject to a number of assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from any future results and developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include the conditions in the financial markets in Germany, in Europe, in the USA and other regions from which Commerzbank derives a substantial portion of its revenues and in which Commerzbank holds a substantial portion of its assets, the development of asset prices and market volatility, especially due to the ongoing European debt crisis, potential defaults of borrowers or trading counterparties, the implementation of its strategic initiatives to improve its business model, particularly to reduce its ACR portfolio, the reliability of its risk management policies, procedures and methods, risks arising as a result of regulatory change and other risks. Forward-looking statements therefore speak only as of the date they are made. Commerzbank has no obligation to update or release any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

 

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