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Investing in high-yield or emerging market bonds are two attractive alternatives in the current uncertain market environment. For those willing to bear the risk of owning equities, investing in companies with high dividend yields is also a good option. Here you can hear Hans Peterson, head of Investment Strategy at SEB, outline some main conclusions in the most recent issue of the Investment Outlook report. Click link to read full report.

Annika Falkengren, SEB’s CEO, rang the closing bell at the NASDAQ OMX exchange yesterday (10 May), reminding those present that it wasn’t that long ago that the Nordic countries were considered, to some extent, emerging markets.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Falkengren highlighted how Nordic companies had improved their standing in the American market dramatically since SEB first followed its client into the world’s largest economy.

SEB published its Nordic Outlook report Tuesday and at the same time provided forecasts in a number of areas. One such forecast was for a capital infusion of 50 billion euro at the European Investment Bank (EIB) in order to finance investments across Europe.

“We want to clarify that this was a forecast we made without having any unique information regarding the size of any capital infusion or if such an infusion will happen at all,” Robert Bergqvist, SEB’s Chief Economist, says.

SEB’s experts in a new issue of Commodities Monthly forecast that commodity prices remain under pressure from deteriorating economic conditions in the eurozone and loss of bullish momentum in the US following disappointing growth and employment data. Chinese manufacturing PMIs have stabilised with improvements increasing the likelihood of a soft landing. Slower food price inflation should provide scope for Chinese authorities to ease monetary policy should it become necessary to support economic growth.

A Greek parliamentary election scheduled for May 6 risks upsetting the balance achieved by the present caretaker government and derail the current rescue package. However, we believe the most likely outcome is a pro bail-out government coalition between New Democracy and Pasok, although other outcomes are possible, writes SEB economist Andreas Johnson in a new research note.

SEB's Chief Strategist Johan Javeus, in new report released Friday, argues that Spain is likely to need a bailout but is unlikely to default. He says Spain's relatively low debt level is the best insurance that a Greek-style default can be avoided.

The world economy seems to have reached a new crossroads. The question is whether the positive trend can be strengthened, in an environment of continued debt consolidation needs and persistently high oil prices. Håkan Frisén, SEB’s head of economic research, discusses the issue in a new report released Tuesday.

In a new report, SEB’s experts say Brent crude is likely to face several headwinds over the next few months. Meanwhile, the projected full impact of Iranian sanctions and growing seasonal oil demand worldwide is however also ahead. The experts however say global refining economics continued to improve in March as worldwide gasoline demand is strong while inventories are low or falling.

Some 50 chief executives participated in SEB's 2012 Nordic Business Delegation. During a few intensive days on location in Seoul, the CEO group and SEB’s top managers heard stimulating lectures about South Korea, gained historical insights, took part in discussions and visited the Demilitarised Zone and the border between North and South Korea. Robert Bergqvist, SEB's chief economist, has published a travel report.

Danish growth stalled in the latter part of 2011 as export growth slowed and public consumption kept contracting. The fiscal stance is set to reverse providing an important growth impetus this year, SEB’s economists forecast in a new report. Still the economists project full-year GDP growth of only 0.5 per cent for 2012 before it recovers to 1.4 per cent in 2013.

SEB’s economists say it is clear that activity in the Chinese economy has been weak at the start of 2012 and that recent development puts a downside risk to their above-consensus GDP forecast of 8.7 per cent growth in 2012. Still, they see a rebound in activity in April and there’s no hard landing in sight.

While adjusting the growth forecast for the UK economy this year marginally up, SEB’s economist keep their overall bearish outlook. The economists now project the UK economy will grow 0.4 per cent in 2012 and 1.4 per cent in 2013. The labor force is growing and the unemployment rate is on a rising trend. Unemployment should hit 8.8 per cent in 2013.

SEB’s economist have revised up their forecast for the euro zone economy due to positive indicators recently as well as a stabilisation in financial markets after the European Central Bank’s actions. The economists, led by Andreas Johnson, now project the euro zone’s GDP to fall 0.6 per cent in 2012 before returning to growth of 0.8 per cent in 2013.

SEB’s economists project the US economy will rebound later in 2012 after GDP growth slows to 2 per cent in the first quarter. They say many soft indicators point to a strengthening final demand and therefore keep their 2012 GDP growth forecast at 2.5 per cent. The economists, led by Mattias Bruér, forecast unemployment gradually declining tow 7.4 per cent at the end of 2013.

China is set to replace its president and prime minister in October or November. In a review of the Chinese economy, SEB’s economists led by Andreas Johnson say the leadership changeover will put major reforms on hold as politicians seeking more senior positions in the political hierarchy want to avoid controversial decisions, and those leaving office wishing to do so with their legacy intact. Little is known about how future economic policy will be affected but future reforms are expected to aim for slower but more balanced growth.

SEB economist Mattias Bruer takes a look at the US labor market and statements from the Federal Reserve to get a better view of what might lie ahead in terms of policy decisions from the central bank. He recommends focusing less on the unemployment rate and more on employment, GDP and inflation trends to find an answer. Bruer says further quantitative easing, QE3, remains on the table.

Moody's Investors service, the credit ratings agency, has placed 114 financial institutions, including SEB, on a watch list for possible downgrades to their long-term credit ratings.

European investors and money managers, in a survey done by Institutional Investor magazine, named SEB Enskilda the best provider of Nordic equity research. "The survey shows that our entire Nordic team is delivering research that customers outside the Nordic region highly appreciate," Fredrik Carlsson, head of Equity Research at SEB Enskilda, says

Clear signals of a US recovery combined with a deepening euro zone debt crisis have figured prominently in recent economic developments. SEB’s economists have presented updated forecasts for various regions in the past week. They have adjusted GDP growth in the United States upward to 2.3 per cent in 2012, while they now expect the euro zone economy to shrink by 0.6 per cent. Strong fourth quarter 2011 GDP figures have led to an upward revision of this year’s Chinese growth. Taken together, this means that SEB now anticipates marginally higher global growth compared to the November forecast in Nordic Outlook.

SEB’s economists maintain their relatively positive view on Russia in the near term as long as the oil price stays at roughly the level as it is today. They forecast GDP to grow by 3.6 per cent in 2012 and 4.1 per cent in 2013, a minor downward revision for both years compared to the forecast made in November 2011.

SEB’s economists in a note says that while the ongoing crisis in the euro zone and worsening economic outlook for many of the UK’s important trading partners are downside risks, leading indicators such as the PMIs have been encouraging, suggesting that GDP growth will turn positive again in the current quarter. The UK may thus escape a technical recession. All in all, SEB’s GDP forecasts have been lowered to 0.4 per cent for 2012 and 1.7 per cent in 2013.

SEB’s economists have raised their forecast for China’s GDP growth to 8.5 per cent in 2012 and 8.7 per cent in 2013 following growth of 8.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011. The economists say that as long as the euro zone debt and banking crisis does not spread globally there’s a chance growth could exceed the forecast.

SEB’s economists in a forecast update estimate that U.S. real GDP grew at a 3.5 per cent annualised rate in the fourth quarter; a tad higher than the bank’s forecast in the latest Nordic Outlook. The economy clearly has momentum and the fiscal headwind is actually less severe than previously forecasted, at least in the very short term. But while the U.S. economy gives off the allure of a country that has decoupled, the economists are concerned about the tightening in financial conditions as well as the lagged effects from the recession in Europe.

As the Chinese standard of living improves, social unrest is both increasing and changing character. China is currently approaching a level of affluence which research has shown increases the likelihood of democratisation. Indeed, protests appear to be refocusing from economic to political issues, writes SEB economist Andreas Johnson in a research note.

However, what is at stake is not an overthrow of government but rather reform of the country's political system.

Thursday’s eurozone agreement is a step in the right direction. However, we’re moving through a 3-stage process: solving liquidity problems, solving solvency problems, and re-building economies to create long-term economic growth/stability. We are still in the first stage. Moreover, challenges will remain due to uncertainty about the situation in Portugal, Ireland and Spain, more question marks about global growth momentum and the political and democratic implications of latest and upcoming necessary political decisions.

The European Commission will present a proposal for a Tobin tax on financial transactions this autumn. Implementation of this tax is unlikely as both Sweden and the UK oppose it. It would be easier to find support for a stability levy, writes SEB economist Andreas Johnson in a note published Wednesday.

SEB, the first Nordic bank to offer trade-related service for off-shore renminbi (referred to as CNH), can now also provide improved capabilities on-shore in China, making it a one-stop-shop for payments in and out of the country.

On 12 January, 2010, a devastating earthquake hit Haiti. Contributions from SEB and other companies have made a difference. Watch the film where Gary Shaye, on-site manager for Save the Children in Haiti, talks about the organisation's  work to help the children of Haiti.

 During the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, SEB has stepped up efforts to position itself as the gateway to the Nordic markets for Chinese financial institutions. The timing is right as the Chinese government has started to cautiously relax controls on the flow of capital in and out of the country.