Latin America Economics Update Argentina Activity Indicator (Sep.) Our Argentina Activity indicator (AAI) suggests that the economy grew in Q2 for the first time since 2013. However, this appears to have been due largely to an aggressive loosening of fiscal policy... 21st September 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Chile prepares the ground for modest rate hikes The Central Bank of Chile left its policy interest rate unchanged at 3.00% last night, but the more hawkish accompanying statement pointed to rate hikes in the near future. As such, we are bringing... 16th September 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Peru rate hike not the start of an aggressive tightening cycle Although the timing of Peru’s decision to raise interest rates by 25bp (to 3.50%) was a surprise, we had been expecting the central bank to shift into tightening mode in the coming quarters... 11th September 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil downgraded, fiscal mess deepens There is growing evidence that, even before the latest drop in oil prices, the US shale oil revolution had started to weigh on oil producers in Latin America. Oil exports to the US from three of the... 10th September 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil's fiscal mess goes from bad to worse The move by Brazil’s government to yet again lower its fiscal targets for 2016 means that its projections for the public finances are finally starting to look realistic. But at the same time, they... 3rd September 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update China concerns send Lat Am markets tumbling The turmoil of the past few weeks has pushed many financial markets in LatinAmerica below our end-year targets. If we’re right in thinking that China’seconomy should avoid the hard landing that many... 27th August 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Weaker real starting to bring benefits to Brazil The latest slump in Brazilian markets has added to gloom over the outlook for the economy, but there are early signs that a much weaker real is now starting to benefit the country’s trade position. 24th August 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Colombia: chance of rate hikes growing A sharp fall in its currency, rising inflation and a widening current account deficit have increased the chance that Colombia’s central bank will tighten monetary conditions in the coming quarters... 18th August 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexico: rate hike next month not yet a done deal We appreciate that we’re going out on a limb in saying this, but we don’t think that an interest rate hike next month in Mexico is necessarily the done deal that many now seem to assume. Indeed, a... 17th August 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Chile and Peru still happy to hold fire Interest rates in both Chile and Peru were left unchanged yesterday and policymakers in both countries are still giving little indication that they expect to tighten monetary policy anytime soon... 14th August 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentina’s primaries put Scioli in the driving seat With most of the votes in Argentina’s primary elections now counted, it appears that Daniel Scioli, of the ruling left-wing Front for Victory coalition, is on course to win the Presidential elections... 10th August 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Crisis deepens in Brazil The economic and political troubles facing Brazil have deepened over the past few weeks. The good news is that we think the big falls in the prices of the country’s commodity exports are probably now... 6th August 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil hikes rates, tightening cycle probably over The decision by Brazil’s monetary policy committee (COPOM) to raise interest rates by another 50bp to 14.25% was largely expected, but the move to signal the end of the tightening cycle in the... 30th July 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Currencies hover around record lows The fact that many of the region’s currencies are now trading at or close to record lows against the dollar has grabbed all the headlines in recent weeks, but the falls of most currencies month-to... 29th July 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil’s credit bubble deflating, consumers feel the squeeze A combination of increases in policy interest rates and curbs on lending by some public banks is taking some of the air out of Brazil’s credit bubble. So far it seems that the bubble is deflating... 28th July 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Chile’s economic recovery falters After a promising start to the year, Chile’s economy probably contracted in the second quarter due to the effects of the recent floods in the north of the country as well as a mini political crisis... 21st July 2015 · 1 min read
