Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi economy holds steady in Q3 Our GDP Tracker suggests that Saudi Arabia’s economy stabilised in Q3 and was on an improving trend towards the end of the quarter, supported by stronger growth in the oil sector. 7th December 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Focus What higher and lower oil prices would mean for Russia The volatility in oil prices over the past couple of months has prompted clients to ask us how higher and lower oil prices could affect the outlook for Russia’s economy. In this Focus, we use several... 6th December 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly OPEC seal the deal Oil prices surged this week as OPEC surpassed expectations by confirming production cuts and announcing quotas for member countries. Given OPEC’s poor record on compliance, we are sceptical that the... 2nd December 2016 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update OPEC agreement not such a big deal for the world economy Global oil prices jumped as much as 19% this week as OPEC finalised an agreement to cut production. However, this is not as big a deal as the headlines imply. Prices are only a little higher than they... 2nd December 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Chart Pack Markets focus on the Trump positives Following the victory for Donald Trump in the US presidential election, commodity markets chose to focus on his promise of a large fiscal stimulus, including a substantial increase in infrastructure... 1st December 2016 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC confirms Algiers deal, but real test still to come OPEC’s agreement to cut production by 1.2m bpd, in line with the provisional deal made in Algiers at the end of September, was more ambitious than the market (and we) had expected. However, the focus... 30th November 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report Lower net imports of crude oil appeared to be the main driver of the draw on crude oil inventories as demand from refineries actually fell last week. 30th November 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update OPEC deal looks even more perilous Oil prices have been buffeted over the last week by hopes and concerns about the outcome of tomorrow’s OPEC meeting, but we still think that the group will manage to reach a face-saving deal. 29th November 2016 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Colombia GDP (Q3) The sharp slowdown in Colombian GDP growth, to just 1.2% y/y in Q3 from 2.0% y/y in Q2, was due in part to the effects of a truck drivers’ strike. With the dispute having now ended, Q3 may prove to be... 25th November 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Oil market in wait-and-see mode The prices of industrial metals surged again this week, in large part due to investor buying. In contrast, the price of gold fell further as the dollar appreciated and the minutes of the November FOMC... 25th November 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update Growing oil demand quietly rebalancing the market The focus of oil markets over the last few months has been squarely on the potential for OPEC to cut supply. However, growth in demand will have just as big an impact on oil prices over the next year... 24th November 2016 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Anti-corruption drive has further to run The government’s shock demonetisation announcement earlier this month was its boldest measure yet to tackle corruption and formalise large parts of the shadow economy, but it is unlikely to be the... 24th November 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report A slump in net imports of crude oil and another jump in demand from refineries helped to drag down crude inventories last week. 23rd November 2016 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update President Trump and the implications for the Middle East Two weeks on from Donald Trump’s victory in the US Presidential election and we’re starting to get a sense of the likely shape and priorities of his administration. The inherent contradictions in Mr... 23rd November 2016 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Focus Saudi Arabia unlikely to take strong action to boost oil prices The oil cartel, OPEC, is likely to reach some sort of face-saving deal to cut oil output at its meeting next week, but we think claims that Saudi Arabia has abandoned its strategy of protecting its... 22nd November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: Non-oil economy recovers a bit as oil woes continue The improved performance of Nigeria’s non-oil sector is a very positive sign. But with oil output likely to fall yet again in Q4, it is too early to call the bottom of Nigeria’s economic downturn. 21st November 2016 · 1 min read