Latin America Economics Update Chile: tightening cycle has ended but rates will stay high Chile’s central bank (BCCh) became the latest in the emerging world to end its tightening cycle yesterday. But with inflation only likely to fall back towards target in late-2023 and the external... 13th October 2022 · 3 mins read
Global Economics Update From inflation crisis to financial crisis? Problems at California-based lender Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) have refocussed attention on financial sector risks. In light of this, we are resending a report from last October that provides a... 11th October 2022 · 5 mins read
Global Markets Update What Lula could mean for Brazil’s financial markets Investors seem to have taken the prospect of a second Lula presidency positively so far, but we suspect returns from the country’s dollar bonds and equities will disappoint over the next couple of... 3rd October 2022 · 5 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Lula in pole position but will face hurdles in congress Left-wing former president Lula looks most likely to win the second-round run-off presidential vote on 30th October. But the surprisingly strong performance of President Bolsonaro and his allies on... 3rd October 2022 · 3 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Banxico and BanRep to remain in hawkish mood Central banks in Mexico and Colombia delivered further large interest rates hikes yesterday, of 75bp and 100bp respectively, and the backdrop of strong inflation pressures and tighter external... 30th September 2022 · 3 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Fiscal risks loom largest in Brazil and Colombia The improvement in government budget positions across Latin America over the past year or so has been driven in large part by temporary factors and is likely to reverse before long. As things stand... 22nd September 2022 · 5 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil: tightening cycle now over but rates to stay high The Brazilian central bank’s decision to leave the Selic rate unchanged at 13.75% after 12 consecutive hikes makes it one of the first central banks globally to bring its tightening cycle to an end... 22nd September 2022 · 3 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Mexico: weak growth & lower oil prices pose fiscal risk Mexico’s 2023 budget proposal suggests that officials intend to stick to their tight policy stance, but the public finances are likely to deteriorate if (as we expect) oil prices fall back and the... 15th September 2022 · 2 mins read
Global Markets Update We expect Brazil’s financial markets to struggle We think a combination of domestic and external factors will push up risk premia in Brazil over the rest of this year. This informs our forecasts that the real will weaken and the country’s bonds will... 8th September 2022 · 4 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Chile: nearing the end of the tightening cycle The Monetary Policy Report released by Chile’s central bank today, following on from its larger-than-expected 100bp rate increase to 10.75% yesterday, suggests that its tightening cycle is drawing to... 7th September 2022 · 3 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil Election Watch – the state of the race Former President Lula holds a commanding lead in the polls ahead of Brazil’s presidential election on 2nd October. It seems unlikely that he would govern as radically as his party’s manifesto suggests... 6th September 2022 · 5 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Chile at a turning point Chile’s new constitution, which will be put to the people in a referendum this coming Sunday, would usher in sweeping changes to the country’s current economic model. Even if the constitution is... 1st September 2022 · 6 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Chile’s current account, the peso and FX debts The further widening of Chile’s current account deficit in Q2 combined with an increased reliance on portfolio inflows leave the Chilean peso vulnerable to a deterioration in investor risk appetite... 24th August 2022 · 6 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Mexico and the impact of US economic weakness Weakness in the US economy over the coming quarters is likely to result in softer (rather than a collapse in) demand for Mexico’s goods exports as supply constraints fade, but the recovery in the... 22nd August 2022 · 4 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Colombia: regional outperformer in 2022 The robust 1.5% q/q rise in Colombia’s GDP in Q2 suggests that the economy’s recovery will be among the strongest in the region this year. Strong growth, alongside upside inflation surprises and the... 17th August 2022 · 3 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Banxico to take its foot off the brakes Mexico’s central bank (Banxico) hiked interest rates by 75bp, to 8.50%, for a second consecutive meeting yesterday but, amid mounting evidence that the economy is struggling and with inflation close... 12th August 2022 · 3 mins read
