India Economics Update Another look at the ailing banking sector The sharp rise in non-performing loans (NPLs) in Q1 does not indicate that there has been a sudden deterioration in asset quality in India, but instead suggests a greater recognition of stressed... 30th May 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Usual suspects repeating the same old mistakes By keeping monetary policy too loose for too long, Pakistan, Vietnam and Sri Lanka now face either a surge in inflation or a rise in bad debts. What’s more, central banks remain complacent about the... 27th May 2016 · 1 min read
China Economics Update What is going on with the renminbi? In trade-weighted terms, the renminbi has regained some lost ground recently. But all the headlinesare about it falling to multi-year lows against the dollar. This underlines the difficult position... 25th May 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Eurogroup’s Greek debt pledges fall a long way short The likely disbursement of the next tranche of Greece’s third bailout may have reduced the risk of a summer flare-up of the country’s debt crisis. But with the creditors’ pledges on debt relief... 25th May 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Hungary ends easing cycle, Turkey’s has further to run Having cut its policy rate by 15bp to 0.90% earlier today, the National Bank of Hungary’s MPC used the accompanying press release to comment that interest rates would now be left unchanged. In... 24th May 2016 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Public Finances (Apr.) The disappointing tone of the latest public borrowing figures ended the recent short run of more upbeat economic data and indicated that the Chancellor has started the fiscal year on the back foot. 24th May 2016 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Can China afford to bail out its banks? China’s government has the resources to clean up the bad debts in its financial system. Even if the corporate sector were to default on a quarter of its debt and the government responded by bailing... 19th May 2016 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Capital Flows Monitor (Apr.) Foreigners continued to pull money out of China last month. But a further slowdown in the pace of external debt deleveraging helped to keep capital outflows manageable. 17th May 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Mounting risks bode ill for Italy Like much of the rest of the euro-zone, Italy’s economy got off to a decent start to the year. However,the outlook for growth remains weak and the risks to the recovery are mounting. Eventually... 16th May 2016 · 1 min read
China Data Response Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Apr.) Many have rushed to interpret today’s below-consensus lending and credit data as signalling that a shift in policymakers’ focus back to controlling credit risks is already having an impact. While that... 13th May 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update EM credit bubbles deflating, but risks building in China Credit growth is slowing in most of the economies we have previously identified as being at risk from a rapid build-up of private sector debt. The exception is China, where aggressive stimulus has... 12th May 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greek debt talks won’t provide much relief The compromises reached by Greece and its creditors this week should allow the first bailout review to finally be completed and have prompted a favourable market response. But the first discussions... 11th May 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Bankruptcy reform would be a major step forward The Lok Sabha’s vote in favour of an overhaul of India’s archaic bankruptcy laws is a step towards creating a more friendly business environment and easing constraints in the banking sector. What’s... 10th May 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Kenya: Rising debt adds to economic vulnerabilities Kenya’s high public debt should stabilise as a share of GDP if – as we expect – growth stays strong. But a sharp slowdown or a run on the currency could easily put the debt ratio on an unsustainbale... 6th May 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: Collapse of capital inflows a big blow to economy The flow of foreign capital into Nigeria has slowed to a trickle. This will exacerbate the country’s serious balance of payment problems and further depress investment in an economy that is starved of... 5th May 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update EMs, financial risks and the Fed With the Fed leaving the door open to another interest rate hike at June’s FOMC meeting, focus is starting to shift once again to financial vulnerabilities in EMs. A handful of countries are likely to... 4th May 2016 · 1 min read
