Emerging Europe Economics Update Struggling Polish economy to trigger further rate cut The weakness of the latest Polish inflation and activity data suggests that the central bank could resume its easing cycle. Admittedly, the MPC appears divided on whether further easing is needed. But... 25th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Inflation outlook remains subdued Emerging Market (EM) inflation fell back in March as temporary distortions related to the Chinese New Year dropped out of the annual comparison. Looking ahead, with underlying price pressures... 25th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Forint concerns limit scope for aggressive easing in Hungary Falling inflation and an economy struggling to escape from recession mean that further interest rate cuts are likely in Hungary. But we remain of the view that currency concerns will prevent... 23rd April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russia: the implications of oil's fall to below $100pb The drop in oil prices over the past month will limit the room for fiscal stimulus in response to the slump in Russia’s economy since the turn of the year and is another reason to expect the recovery... 17th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update What has driven Russia's slowdown? The raft of Russian activity data for March, due to be released this week, is likely to show a slight improvement from February. But growth in Q1 is still set to be much weaker than at the end of last... 16th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Weak inflation to trigger further Polish rate cut The weakness of the latest inflation data across Central Europe should allow further loosening of monetary policy, even in Poland, where we have now pencilled in a 25bp rate cut later this year. 15th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Turkey's phoney rate cut We expect the Central Bank of Turkey to cut its benchmark one-week repo rate for the first time in four months at next week’s MPC meeting. But the myriad of different tools now deployed by the Bank... 12th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Polish National Bank takes more dovish stance The Polish MPC appears to have taken a slightly more dovish stance since last month following weaker-than-expected inflation and activity data. Our base case remains that interest rates will be left... 10th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Ukraine fails to agree on an IMF deal, again The failure of the authorities to agree on a new IMF programme leaves Ukraine extremely exposed if financial market tensions flare up again. Meanwhile, the government has recently unveiled its... 10th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Market rally reverses course Most Emerging European stock markets and currencies have weakened over the past month on the back of the Cypriot crisis and fears of contagion to the rest of the euro-zone. This serves as a timely... 8th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Policy easing likely to focus on weaker ruble Pressure is mounting on Russian policymakers to act to stimulate the slowing economy. But unlike in 2008-09, there is little room for a large-scale fiscal stimulus. And substantial cuts in interest... 5th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Hungary's "Funding for Growth" scheme lacks punch The “Funding for Growth” scheme announced by the National Bank of Hungary is not quite as radical as it could have been. This helps to explain the relatively muted reaction in the financial markets... 4th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russia Q4 GDP data old news, Q1 set to be even worse Detailed Q4 GDP data for Russia, released earlier today, confirmed what we already knew – namely that economic growth slowed to its weakest pace in three years in the final quarter of last year. More... 2nd April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Manufacturing recovery stutters The latest batch of manufacturing PMIs in Emerging Europe shows that activity slowed across the board last month. Activity remains strongest in Turkey. But the weakness of the Central European... 2nd April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Turkish economy turning the corner The slowdown in the Turkish economy in Q4 of last year appears to be the trough, and our GDP tracker suggests that growth has picked up to around 2.5% y/y at the start of 2013. Nonetheless, the... 2nd April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Don't underestimate Ukraine's exposure to Cyprus Most attention has focussed on the impact that the Cypriot bail-out could have on Russian depositors, but the deal may pose much bigger risks for Ukraine, which is already on the brink of a balance of... 28th March 2013 · 1 min read