Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egyptian pound being supported at unsustainable levels President Morsi’s decision to grant himself sweeping powers has thrown Egypt into a constitutional crisis, the outcome of which is highly uncertain and will frame the near-term outlook for the economy... 29th November 2012 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Too soon to call the major turn in the yen? Next month’s elections in Japan are unlikely to mark the major shift towards yen weakness that many now anticipate. To be clear, in the next 3-5 years the yen probably will fall sharply. After all... 26th November 2012 · 1 min read
UK Markets Outlook Markets underestimating chances of more stimulus UK asset prices have been undermined by fading expectations of more monetary stimulus and the partial reversal of safe-haven demand as euro-zone concerns have eased. Although a cut in official... 22nd November 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Are emerging market foreign exchange reserves adequate? Foreign exchange reserves in many emerging economies have fallen over the last year, leaving some exposed to a sharp slowdown in export revenues or to a sudden stop in capital inflows. Venezuela is... 22nd November 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus How would a euro break-up affect the core? A euro-zone break-up would see the re-instated domestic currencies of the region’s core economies appreciate sharply. Without appropriate policy action, the resulting damage to exports would more than... 20th November 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Which EM currencies are cheap and which are expensive? Within the emerging world, the currencies of Russia, Brazil, Egypt, Venezuela and Turkey look most overvalued. By contrast, the currencies of most Asian economies, including China, look undervalued. 19th November 2012 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Safe haven demand to support the yen through 2013 Expectations of more aggressive monetary easing from the Bank of Japan have weakened the yen, even though there is already little practical difference between its stance and that of the Fed. On... 15th November 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly What should we make of Korea’s strengthening currency? The Korean won has been one of Asia’s strongest-performing currencies this year, which has prompted speculation of a shift in Korea’s exchange rate policy and worries that currency appreciation is... 12th November 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt: IMF deal closer, but devaluation still an issue Media reports suggesting that the Egyptian government could reach a deal with the IMF within the next few months is clearly good news. However, we have been here before and we suspect the issue of... 8th November 2012 · 1 min read
Global Markets Outlook A renewed struggle in store for risky assets The boost to risky assets from QE3 may already be over. The prices of equities and commodities have generally fallen since mid-September. And while the ECB brought the euro-zone back from the brink in... 30th October 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update “Currency manipulation” tag would still carry weight A declaration by a US administration that China is a “currency manipulator” may have no immediate consequences but it would open the door to more substantive trade sanctions against China in future. 29th October 2012 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South African rate cut in November now looks off the cards South African inflation surprised to the upside in September, and we think it is likely to accelerate further to peak at around 6% y/y in early 2013. As such, we now think the Reserve Bank will keep... 24th October 2012 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Devaluation of Venezuelan bolivar on the cards for 2013 The fact that over half of FX transactions in Venezuela have already been forced onto the black market – where the bolivar trades at much weaker rates – means that the country has already seen a sharp... 22nd October 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Will the reform boost for Indian markets last? The recent burst of reforms has buoyed India’s equity and currency markets, and some further measures are possible in the coming weeks. However, the country’s fundamental outlook has not improved... 11th October 2012 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Tokyo gatherings unlikely to amount to much Finance ministers and central bankers from the G7 meet tomorrow in Tokyo ahead of the annual gathering of the IMF and the World Bank there, which concludes on Sunday. Although these meetings can very... 10th October 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook Bumpy road ahead Although Asia will not be immune from the continuing crisis in the euro-zone and weak global demand, healthy fundamentals and plenty of scope for policy easing mean growth should hold up relatively... 10th October 2012 · 1 min read
