Africa Economics Update Trade deficit revisions won’t take rand out of firing line The South African rand rallied yesterday following revisions to the methodology used to compile monthly trade data that resulted in a significant fall in the trade deficit. But the rebound has proved... 15th November 2013 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Fresh falls in Latin American currencies Latin American currencies have tumbled against the US dollar since mid-October and in many cases they are close to the lows that they reached during the height of this summer’s market sell-off... 15th November 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Exchange rates to frame EM monetary policy in near term Currency movements will continue to play a major part in determining emerging market (EM) monetary policy. Countries where currencies have weakened alongside large current account deficits - Brazil... 15th November 2013 · 1 min read
EM Markets Chart Pack Renewed underperformance from EM equities The small rise in most emerging market equities over the past month was eclipsed by the 4% or so rise in developed market equities. So far in 2013, emerging equity markets have underperformed... 12th November 2013 · 1 min read
UK Markets Chart Pack US outlook still the key influence on gilt yields Despite the acceleration of the UK’s economic recovery, gilt yields and interest rate expectations have fallen back over the last month. It would be tempting to conclude that the markets are starting... 7th November 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Czech Bank pulls the trigger on unconventional easing Faced with growing concerns about deflation, the Czech National Bank voted to ease monetary policy further today by intervening in the foreign exchange market to weaken the koruna. Few details were... 7th November 2013 · 1 min read
DM Markets Chart Pack Equities boosted by debt-ceiling resolution The extension of the debt ceiling and continued indications that the Fed will not reduce the pace of its asset purchases for a while helped buoy a range of assets in October. Equities benefited more... 5th November 2013 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Will the Fed taper be a game-changer? The question of exactly when the US Fed will start to taper its asset purchases under QE3 has understandably been the focus of much analysis and speculation (including by ourselves). There are six... 5th November 2013 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Canadian dollar's descent not over The recent pullback in the Canadian dollar owes more to weaker domestic fundamentals rather than volatile commodity prices. With domestic economic conditions likely to remain sluggish through next... 4th November 2013 · 1 min read
EM Valuations Monitor Is the South African rand really undervalued? The extent of its fall so far this year has made the South African rand appear undervalued when the current real effective exchange rate is compared both to its long-run average and to its long-run... 31st October 2013 · 1 min read
Global Markets Outlook Which assets will prove resilient to Fed tapering? The Fed now looks as if it will start to scale back its asset purchases next spring, although the tone of the FOMC's late-October statement suggests that the process might even begin earlier. As the... 31st October 2013 · 1 min read
China Economics Update China’s equities fall, market rates rise China's stock market fell in late October as money-market rates surged. A rerun of June's cash crunch is not on the cards, but there is increasing evidence that the policy stance is shifting back... 31st October 2013 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Bond markets buoyed by delay to Fed “taper” Bond markets across the MENA region have rallied over the past month as it looks increasingly likely that the US Fed will delay tapering its asset purchases under QE3 until early next year. Elsewhere... 29th October 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asian markets see small rises Following a rollercoaster couple of months, which saw big falls in financial markets in August, followed by a strong rebound in September, equity markets have recorded small gains this month... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Don't write off the dollar The crisis over the debt ceiling, the prospect of “QEternity”, and some recent evidence that foreign investors have been selling US assets have all revived talk that the dollar is facing a prolonged... 25th October 2013 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazilian real has further to fall The decision by Brazil’s central bank to respond to what has been a relatively modest rebound in the real over the past month by scaling back some of its support for the currency suggests that... 25th October 2013 · 1 min read