Emerging Europe Economics Update Weak zloty a cause for concern, but shouldn’t justify rate hikes The recent sell-off in the zloty will make it harder for the Polish government to keep public debt from breaching constitutionally mandated ceilings. In the extreme, policymakers face the risk of... 24th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Forint slump to trigger renewed talk of IMF deal The latest slump in the Hungarian forint has taken the currency to below 300/€ – the rate that, on past form at least, has triggered a response from the authorities. This time around, the response... 23rd May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russia: April data still strong, but a slowdown imminent The raft of activity data released today showed that the Russian economy made a decent start to Q2, with consumers remaining the main engine of growth. Meanwhile, the new cabinet, also announced today... 21st May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Emerging Europe’s currencies caught in the crossfire The growing risk of Greece leaving the euro-zone has taken a heavy toll on Emerging Europe’s currencies. Most are now back at their lows seen in the autumn of last year. Looking ahead, there is... 18th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Policymakers have little room for manoeuvre This week’s dismal first quarter GDP data will sharpen the debate over whether policymakers in Emerging Europe should pursue austerity or focus on growth. But in reality, while there is scope for one... 17th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Greek exit risks revisited With a few notable exceptions, Emerging Europe’s direct exposure to Greece is small. But the contagion from a disorderly Greek exit from the euro-zone would have disastrous consequences for the region... 15th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Q1 GDP data just the tip of the iceberg The raft of Q1 GDP data released today show that output in large parts of Emerging Europe was contracting even before the most recent escalation of the euro-crisis. 15th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Austerity without growth won’t work for Slovenia Slovenia’s debt problems are not as severe as those of other Southern European economies, but its public debt is nonetheless on an unsustainable footing. Moreover, given the backdrop of private sector... 14th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Turkey’s rebalancing more difficult from now on Today’s balance of payments data from Turkey show that the current account deficit continued to narrow in March. It now looks like the economy is around half way through the rebalancing needed to... 11th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Q1 GDP data should impress – but can it last? The raft of Q1 GDP data due to be released over the coming weeks will confirm that, having been on the brink of a crisis towards the end of last year, most economies in Emerging Europe have since... 10th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Is this Poland’s “ECB moment”? The post-MPC press conference did not provide much clarity on whether this morning’s surprise hike in Polish interest rates was a one-off event or the start of a new tightening cycle. On balance, we... 9th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Is Putin 2.0 for real? In his first speech since returning to the Russian presidency, Vladimir Putin underlined the need to shift towards a more liberal economic policy. We have been here before, of course, and we remain... 9th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Balance tips in favour of Polish rates staying on hold It remains a close call, but we think that the weaker run of data over the past couple of weeks has tipped the balance in favour of Polish interest rates being kept on hold at next week’s MPC meeting... 4th May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Bulgaria: back into recession After a boom and bust in domestic demand over the last decade, Bulgaria’s economy appears to be shifting towards export-led growth and away from over-reliance on domestic consumption. But the good... 3rd May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Romanian rates on hold until politics stabilises The National Bank of Romania’s (NBR’s) decision to keep interest rates on hold today suggests that the easing cycle is on hold until the political situation (and the leu) stabilises. 2nd May 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Manufacturing hit by fresh slump in the euro-zone April’s manufacturing PMIs suggest that industrial output in most of Emerging Europe contracted last month – mirroring the recent deterioration in the survey data from Germany. More worryingly, the... 2nd May 2012 · 1 min read
