Latin America Economics Update What’s behind the weakness in Brazilian industry? Part of the recent weakness in Brazilian industry can be pinned on softer external demand, particularly from Argentina. But the sector has also been affected by temporary factors which have probably... 28th March 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil’s central bank pledges continuity The wording of last night’s Brazilian monetary policy statement provides further evidence that the appointment of new governor Roberto Campos Neto won’t cause much of a change to monetary policy. With... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Colombia: current account concerns growing Colombia’s current account deficit is widening, making the recovery vulnerable to a deterioration in global risk appetite that we expect later this year. The country’s weak external position is likely... 18th March 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Venezuela: US sanctions starting to bite Venezuela’s oil exports have dropped sharply following the imposition of US sanctions on PDVSA last month, and further falls are likely in the coming months. This will make it increasingly difficult... 11th March 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Taking stock of Amlo’s first 100 days Sunday marks Andrés Manuel López’s Obrador’s (Amlo’s) first 100 days as Mexico’s president, and some of his unorthodox policies appear to have resulted in a 50-60bp risk premium on sovereign debt... 7th March 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Banxico’s core inflation concerns overdone The Mexican central bank’s recently released Q1 Inflation Report reiterated concerns about sticky core inflation. But we think these worries are overdone, and core inflation should fall back in the... 5th March 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Colombia: Ecopetrol sale won’t solve fiscal problems A partial sale of Colombia’s state-owned oil company, Ecopetrol, now appears likely and should limit the scale of fiscal austerity, particularly in 2020. But Colombia is yet to fully adjust to low oil... 26th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil, soybeans and the trade war Brazil would be the biggest loser if China increases its imports of US soybeans as part of a trade deal. But the overall impact on Brazil’s export revenues and overall GDP growth would probably be... 25th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Explaining the weakness in Mexican industry The slump in Mexican industry late last year largely reflects domestic problems, particularly in the mining sector. But with the US economy now coming off the boil, the external environment will be an... 25th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Unpacking the Pemex problem The Mexican government’s bailout for Pemex last week is unlikely to solve the company’s fundamental issues, which stem from an extremely heavy tax burden and chronically low productivity. In the... 20th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil: pension plan ambitious, but just a starting point The Brazilian government’s pension reform plan unveiled today lives up to high hopes and is likely to sustain the rally in local markets over the coming weeks. But history suggests that the... 20th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update What next for interest rates in the Andes? The weakness of the latest inflation and economic activity data in Chile means we now think that the central bank will pause its tightening cycle until next year (previously we expected 50bp of hikes... 18th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Venezuela likely to need large debt write-down Views are polarised about size of the losses Venezuelan bondholders might face in an eventual debt restructuring, with some suggesting only modest debt relief is needed and others suggesting a large... 12th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Chile hikes rates but strikes less hawkish tone The statement accompanying the Chilean central bank’s decision to hike its policy rate by 25bp to 3.00% last night was slightly less hawkish than the previous one, and supports our view for fewer rate... 31st January 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update US sanctions PDVSA, next few months critical The decision by the US to impose sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, will lead to a large loss of export earnings in the next few months. If Maduro can cling on to power during... 29th January 2019 · 4 mins read
Latin America Economics Update What now for Venezuela? The decision by the US and other governments to recognise the leader of Venezuela’s opposition Juan Guaido as president seems to have ratcheted up the pressure on the Maduro regime. Regardless of how... 24th January 2019 · 1 min read
