Latin America Economics Update Mexican equity market highlights the risk of recession With the Mexican equity market registering three consecutive quarter-on-quarter falls over the course of 2011, the Bolsa may be pointing to a dreaded ‘double-dip’ recession. 13th October 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Currency depreciation unlikely to delay interest rate cuts for long We doubt that the recent sell-off of currencies in Latin America will cause inflation to rise significantly over the coming months. Indeed, with economic activity set to slow over the coming months... 13th October 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Chile’s budget expansion is built on solid foundations Chile’s 2012 draft budget sets out a 5% increase in public spending with no offsetting rise in taxes. On first inspection we would caution that some of the assumptions look to be too optimistic... 7th October 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazilian inflation has probably peaked Data released later this week are likely to show another pick-up in Brazilian inflation and will no doubt lead to fresh criticism of the decision to cut interest rates at August’s COPOM meeting. But... 7th October 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexican IMEF surveys point to weak Q3 The further deterioration in last month’s Mexican IMEF surveys adds to the evidence that the economy struggled in Q3. Indeed, despite the apparent resilience in the neighbouring US economy, Mexican... 5th October 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil industry sliding into recession This afternoon’s PMI survey data from Brazil suggest that the industrial sector is sliding into recession. In this context, we believe that the recent decision by the central bank (BCB) to cut... 4th October 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Uruguay: rates have peaked, cuts to follow in 2012 The Central Bank of Uruguay (BCU) left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 8.0% last night as the board weighed downside risks to growth against stubbornly high inflation. We believe that the BCU... 1st October 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Rate cuts back on the agenda for 2012 The rapid deterioration in the growth outlook for the developed world, and the deepening crisis in Europe in particular, should in time vindicate last month’s surprise (and controversial) decision by... 29th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Credit cycle about to turn in Latin America Lending growth has accelerated throughout Latin America and in some countries – notably Brazil and Argentina – it has reached unsustainable levels. Capital ratios remain high, but will fall if... 27th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Pillars to Colombian growth set to weaken While the Colombian economy performed well in the first half of this year, the current global market mayhem underlines our belief that the economy will slow next year. But growth is unlikely to... 23rd September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update How vulnerable is Chile to a global slowdown? Chile’s open economy is more susceptible than most in the region to a deterioration of external demand. Policy stimulus will provide some relief, however we anticipate a below-consensus 3% growth in... 23rd September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update What should we make of the real’s fall from grace? Fears that the slump in the Brazilian real will lead to a further rise in inflation look greatly exaggerated. There is almost no relationship between fluctuations in the currency and inflation, while... 23rd September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentina: threat of overheating still looms large Argentina’s Q2 GDP figures reinforce our belief that the economy is overheating and poised for a sharp correction in the coming years. Official statistics continue to overstate the economy’s growth... 20th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Uruguay’s slowing growth to continue for a while yet Uruguay’s economy slowed in Q2 as a deteriorating trade balance weighed on growth. While weaker external conditions mean that growth will cool further over the next year, relatively solid fundamentals... 16th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentina’s inflation inaccuracies underlie deeper economic ills Official statistics continue to drastically underreport inflation in Argentina, resulting in a number of serious economic distortions. Building pressures on the regime make a recession probable... 16th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexico: Weak wage growth to underpin fragile domestic demand Mexico’s status as a low productivity economy means that jobs are created even at low rates of GDP growth. The problem, however, is that a surplus pool of labour, coupled with a growing population and... 14th September 2011 · 1 min read
