22 January 2024
The week ahead
- On Wednesday, Statistics Iceland is set to publish the Wage Index for December.
- Thursday is an interest rate decision day for the European Central Bank and the US is set to release preliminary national accounts for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Image of the week
Total government expenditure on domestic research and development (R&D) in 2022 amounted to ISK 100 billion, or the equivalent of 2.7% of GDP, according to figures from Statistics Iceland last week. In Western Europe, this ratio is highest in Belgium, followed by Sweden. The ratio is also higher in Finland and Denmark, but Iceland exceeds the EU average slightly.
Highlights of the previous week
- The housing price index rose by 0.5% between months in December. The 12-month increase of the index measured 4.5% and has risen steadily from a low point of 0.8% in July 2023. In addition to the housing price index, the Housing and Construction Authority (HMS) released the rent index and its monthly report on the real estate market.
- The Central Bank of Iceland (CBI) published payment card turnover figures for December. Total household payment card turnover was ISK 114 billion in December, contracting by 1.5% between years at fixed prices. Household payment card turnover has now contracted nine months in a row between years. Private consumption is not unlikely to have contracted in the fourth quarter of last year, as in the third - Statistics Iceland publishes the national accounts for the fourth quarter on 29 February.
- The CBI posted a press release on the foreign exchange market, exchange rate developments, and international reserves in 2023.
- Inflation measured 4.0% in Britain in December. This figure was higher than expected and this was the first annual increase between months since February 2023.
- On the stock market, Sjóvá published an earnings warning and Marel notified the stock exchange that the company had received an updated non-binding MoU from the John Bean Technologies Corporation for a potential offer for all shares in the company.
- On the bond market, Reitir issued bonds, Ölgerðin sold bills and Municipal Credit Iceland cancelled its scheduled bond auction.
Statistics and market data
Disclaimer
This review and/or summary is marketing material intended for information purposes and not for business purposes. This marketing material does not contain investment advice or independent investment analysis. The legal provisions that apply to financial advice and financial analysis do not apply to this content, including the ban on transactions prior to publication.Information about the prices of domestic shares, bonds and/or indices is source from Nasdaq Iceland - the Stock Exchange. Landsbankinn’s website contains further information under each individual equity, bond class or index. Information about the prices of non-domestic financial instruments, indices and/or funds are sourced from parties Landsbankinn considers reliable. Past returns are not an indication of future returns.Information about the past returns of Landsbréf funds is based on information from Landsbréf. Detailed information about the historic performance of individual funds is available on Landsbankinn’s website, including on returns for the past 5 years. Information about the past performance of funds show nominal returns, unless otherwise stated. If results are based on foreign currencies, returns may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations. Past returns are not necessarily an indication of future returns.Securities transactions involve risk and readers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Risk Description for Trading in Financial Instruments and Landsbankinn’s Conflict of Interest Policy, available on Landsbankinn’s website. Landsbankinn is licensed to operate as a commercial bank in accordance with Act No. 161/2002, on Financial Undertakings, and is subject to supervision by the Financial Supervisory Authority of the Central Bank of Iceland (https://www.cb.is/financial-supervision/)You may also be interested in
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Inflation decreased unexpectedly between months in August. The economy contracted slightly between months in the second quarter. At the same time, it has become clear that GDP growth was higher in 2023 than previously thought, and that the contraction was less pronounced in the first quarter. This week, the Central Bank of Iceland (CBI) publishes the balance of payment and the minutes of the last meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
26 August 2024
Non-domestic payment card turnover in Iceland is higher this year to date than previously thought, according to updated figures published by the Central Bank of Iceland (CBI) last week. This week’s highpoint is the CBI’s interest rate decision on Wednesday.
19 August 2024
Non-domestic payment card turnover in Iceland is higher this year to date than previously thought, according to updated figures published by the Central Bank of Iceland (CBI) last week. This week’s highpoint is the CBI’s interest rate decision on Wednesday.
12 August 2024
Departure by non-domestic travellers from Leifsstöð International Airport in July were very similar to the previous year while departures by domestic tourists are somewhat fewer. August measurements for the consumer price index take place this week and several listed companies publish results.
6 August 2024
Overnight stays by non-Icelandic travellers across all registered accommodation types contracted by 1.4% between years in June. This contraction is lower than that measured in non-domestic tourist numbers and payment card turnover
15 July 2024
The volume of travellers to Iceland decreased by 9% in June this year compared to June 2023. Unemployment was 3.1% in June, slightly higher than the same time last year.
8 July 2024
High interest rates have encouraged savings and detracted from demand in the economy. Household deposits had grown by 20% in May this year from the same month in 2023, according to the Central Bank of Iceland’s (CBI) newly published Hagvísar. Demand deposits have increased most.
1 July 2024
The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.48% in June. As a result, inflation measured 5.8%, down from 6.2%. Turnover based on March-April VAT reports contracted by 4.6% in real terms and the wage index rose by 0.2% in May, according to figures released by Statistics Iceland last week.
24 June 2024
The housing price index was up by 1.4% in May and the rental price index by 3.2%, according to figures published last week. While the Bank of England maintained an unchanged policy rate, the Swiss National Bank lowered its rate by 0.25 percentage points. Of most interest domestically this week is without doubt the CPI, to be published by Statistics Iceland on Thursday.
18 June 2024
Last week, we saw the publication of unemployment figures, tourist numbers and domestic payment card turnover in May. The US Federal Reserve kept its policy rate unchanged. Later today, the Housing and Construction Authority (HMS) releases the housing price index.