Emerging Europe Economics Update Prospect of fresh elections adds to headaches for Turkey Markets have reacted negatively to news that coalition negotiations between the two largest parties in Turkey have broken down and that fresh elections are now highly likely. While we don’t think... 13th August 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Reform agenda hits another roadblock The ruling BJP's efforts to push through important economic reforms in the monsoon session of parliament, which finishes today, have been largely unsuccessful. Looking ahead, with attention soon... 13th August 2015 · 1 min read
China Data Response Activity & Spending (Jul.) July’s weaker-than-expected activity and spending data will undoubtedly add to speculation that policymakers are trying to engineer a sustained devaluation of the renminbi in order to shore up growth... 12th August 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greek bailout built on fantasy forecasts While Greece appears finally to be on the verge of receiving a third bailout, the extremely optimisticeconomic & fiscal projections underlying the plan suggest that it might not last for very long. 11th August 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Ugandan rate hike adds to African tightening cycle The Bank of Uganda’s decision to hike interest rates by another 150bp today was an effort to support the flagging currency. The hike is yet another example of Sub-Saharan Africa’s escalating... 10th August 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentina’s primaries put Scioli in the driving seat With most of the votes in Argentina’s primary elections now counted, it appears that Daniel Scioli, of the ruling left-wing Front for Victory coalition, is on course to win the Presidential elections... 10th August 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore at 50: facing life after the miracle As Singapore celebrates its 50th anniversary since independence on 9th August, it can look back on a half-century in which it achieved enormous economic success. However, the country goes into its... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly The “Third Arrow” has slowed to a crawl Prime Minister Abe returned to power in late 2012 with the intention to lift average real GDP growth to 2% by implementing policies at “unprecedented speed”. Despite some success incertain areas... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: The dangers of ‘feed bottle federalism’ The slowly-unfolding budgetary crisis affecting Nigeria’s 36 state-level governments poses some risk to the central governmnet’s fiscal health. But, more importantly, it also exemplifies the flaws in... 5th August 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Whole Economy PMIs (Jul.) Last month’s ‘whole economy’ PMIs provide early signs that activity in the Gulf strengthened at the start of Q3. Elsewhere, although Egypt’s PMI edged down in July, it still points to stronger growth... 4th August 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Is Belgium resolving its structural problems? Belgium has started to reform its labour market and improve its competitiveness. But this will take time to bear fruit, and further work will be needed. Accordingly, over the next few years we expect... 31st July 2015 · 1 min read
RBI Watch New Financial Code risks damaging RBI independence The draft version of the government’s Financial Code, released last week, could have important implications for the functioning of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The adoption of a voting monetary... 30th July 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Focus Will population ageing help or derail efforts to boost inflation? Other things being equal, population ageing should boost price pressures. But that hasn’t happened in Japan because there has been an offsetting increase in the share of adults willing to work... 30th July 2015 · 1 min read
UK Data Response CBI Distributive Trades Survey (Jul.) Despite softening a little, July’s CBI Distributive Trades Survey nonetheless remained robust and the big picture is that retail sales volumes still seem to be growing at a fairly healthy rate. 29th July 2015 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Fed won’t spark EM sell-off today, but data may add to volatility We do not expect any fireworks in EM financial markets after today’s FOMC statement, but with policymakers likely to reiterate that the timing of “lift-off” will be data dependent our upbeat view on... 29th July 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Zambia: New Eurobond raises regional debt concerns The high yield demanded for Zambia’s recent Eurobond is not just a sign of that country’s deteriorating fiscal position. Market sentiment towards Sub-Saharan African government debt seems to be... 28th July 2015 · 1 min read
