Emerging Europe Economics Update Israel’s recovery showing early signs of labour shortages The re-opening of Israel’s economy since March has driven a sharp tightening of labour market conditions and a growing share of firms are reporting labour shortages. This appears to be concentrated in... 6th May 2021 · 4 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update CBRT eyeing up an easing cycle Turkey’s central bank didn’t spring any surprises and left its one-week repo rate on hold at 19.00% today and, while the accompanying statement maintained a hawkish tone, policymakers left the door... 6th May 2021 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update CBR signals further tightening to tackle inflation Russia’s central bank (CBR) hiked its policy rate by 50bp, to 5.00%, at today’s meeting and the accompanying statement strengthened the central bank’s hawkish message about the need for additional... 23rd April 2021 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update US-Russia escalation as sanctions target sovereign debt The decision by the US to impose sanctions on newly-issued Russian sovereign debt has caused a sell-off in the ruble and sovereign bonds today, but we think any further market fallout or the... 15th April 2021 · 4 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update CBRT opening the door to rate cuts The decision by the Turkish central bank (CBRT) to leave its policy rate at 19.00% was accompanied by reassuring language that the MPC, under new governor Sahap Kavciouglu, aims to bring down... 15th April 2021 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russia: looser fiscal policy in store, but no splurge The resilience of tax receipts and the improved outlook for oil and gas revenues should provide scope for Russia’s government to soften its grip on the public finances and ease policy over the next... 13th April 2021 · 4 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Turkey: capital controls would probably be ineffective Turkey’s large external vulnerabilities mean that aggressive rate cuts by the central bank (CBRT) would run the risk of sharp and destabilising falls in the lira. A probable next step by policymakers... 8th April 2021 · 4 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Turkey: lessons from previous easing cycles Past experience suggests that, with inflation near a peak and the economy slowing (alongside pressure from President Erdogan for lower interest rates), Turkey’s central bank will push ahead and ease... 31st March 2021 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update New forecasts for Turkey The upheaval at Turkey’s central bank means that we now expect a 200bp interest rate cut next month followed by further aggressive easing in the second half of 2021. But the result is that inflation... 26th March 2021 · 5 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Revisiting Turkey’s dire external position The replacement at the helm of Turkey’s central bank is particularly worrying against a backdrop of a dire balance of payments position, large dependence on foreign capital inflows and the central... 23rd March 2021 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Direction shifting towards tightening in Hungary Hungary’s central bank (MNB) left its key interest rates on hold today but the tone of the communications could not have been much more hawkish without raising interest rates. The MNB is defending its... 23rd March 2021 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Turkey’s banks are a major cause for concern The abrupt sacking of Turkey’s central bank (CBRT) governor on Friday has triggered sharp falls in the lira and a tightening of external financing conditions. The banking sector is a key source of... 22nd March 2021 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Erdogan sacks Agbal, risk of currency crisis grows The shock decision by Turkey’s President Erdogan to sack central bank governor Naci Agbal late on Friday is likely to trigger large falls in the lira when markets open on Monday. It looks like the... 20th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update CBR: a hike and clear signal for aggressive tightening Russia’s central bank (CBR) unexpectedly hiked its key policy rate by 25bp to 4.50% at today’s meeting in response to the recent surge in inflation and the accompanying communications sent a strong... 19th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update CBRT overdelivers to reassure investors Turkey’s central bank didn’t disappoint investors, delivering a larger-than-expected 200bp interest rate hike (to 19.00%) today, and we think that it will keep monetary conditions tighter than most... 18th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Virus developments pushing back the recovery The renewed surge in virus cases and tightening of restrictions across Central Europe will deal a heavy blow to the recovery in the first half of this year. Meanwhile, slow vaccine rollouts mean that... 17th March 2021 · 2 mins read
