Latin America Economics Update Mexico: the costs and benefits of a weaker peso The drop in the peso to a record low against the dollar in recent weeks has rekindled concerns about what impact this will have on Mexico’s economy. In practice, however, the economics of currency... 20th July 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Chile: interest rate hikes still some way off Interest rates in Chile were left unchanged at 3.00% last night and the more dovish tone of the accompanying statement supports our long-held view that rate hikes are still some way off. We do not... 15th July 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexico oil auctions: what to look for and what they mean Mexico’s government will tomorrow auction rights to private companies to exploit oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico – a move that marks the first step in opening up the country’s energy sector to... 14th July 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Lat Am’s shifting relationship with China The collapse in China’s stock market has rekindled fears over the outlook for its economy and led to renewed concerns about the spillovers to other EMs, including those in Latin America. As it happens... 10th July 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Political crisis deepens in Brazil Brazil’s political crisis has deepened over the past few weeks, with the latest testimonies in the so-called “car wash” probe bringing allegations of corruption at Petrobras a step closer to the door... 6th July 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentine policymakers still up to their old tricks Argentina’s statistics office reported that GDP grew by 1.1% y/y in Q1, but independent data suggestthat although conditions have improved, there has not yet been a return to growth. And worryingly... 29th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil inflation report suggests more tightening to come The Central Bank of Brazil’s Q2 Inflation Report gives the clearest indication yet that policymakersbelieve they have more work to do in the fight against inflation. We’ve pencilled in another... 26th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Changes to Brazil’s inflation target reinforce hawkish message The changes announced by Brazil’s government to the central bank’s inflation target are small in thegrand scheme of things but reinforce the overall message that policymakers are serious about getting... 26th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Lat Am markets shrug off threat of Fed hikes Markets in Latin America have shrugged off signs that the US Fed will begin to raise interest rates over the coming months. While most currencies have weakened in recent weeks, the falls have been... 26th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Colombian policymakers unlikely to follow the Fed The decision by Colombia’s central bank to leave interest rates unchanged at 4.50% last night was not a surprise – but what was more notable was that, given the economy’s large current account deficit... 25th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update A closer look at Chile’s current account improvement Chile is the only country in Latin America that has managed to reduce its current account deficit since the “Taper Tantrum” of 2013, which makes the economy less exposed to tightening external... 16th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Policymakers in Chile and Peru likely to hold fire until 2016 Interest rates in Chile and Peru were left unchanged last night and with both economies in the early stages of recovery, policymakers are likely to delay rate hikes until next year, even if the Fed... 12th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Latin America & Fed tightening: risks revisited Several economies in Latin America have large current account deficits that could leave them vulnerable as and when the Fed starts to raise interest rates. The risks in Brazil are, by now, well known... 10th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update What next for crisis-stricken Venezuela? With Venezuela’s economic crisis intensifying, attention is starting to focus on how the country might get out of this mess. Two options have been suggested in recent weeks – one is the establishment... 9th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexico elections: a glass half-full Elections in Mexico on Sunday delivered a broadly market-positive result, with the coalition led by the ruling PRI Party retaining its majority in Congress. But while this should ensure that Mexico... 8th June 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil hikes rates; attention now turns to Inflation Report The decision by Brazil’s monetary policy committee (COPOM) to raise interest rates by another 50bp to 13.75% was expected, but the fact that the accompanying statement was left unchanged from the last... 4th June 2015 · 1 min read
