Middle East & North Africa Economics Update After Gaddafi, what next for the ‘Arab Spring’? The fact that there was no market reaction to the death of Libya’s former leader, Muammar Gaddafi, is no surprise. That said, today’s events could reduce political risks in the Middle East and North... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
Global Economics Focus Sovereign Debt: are the emerging markets immune? Emerging markets are not immune from the deepening debt crisis in the developed world, but most are well-placed to deal with the fallout. China faces a difficult structural transition of its own but... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Oil-rich states well prepared to face the global crisis The drop in PMIs in Saudi Arabia and the UAE provide the first signs that the Gulf States are being hit by the on-going problems in the developed world. But the oil-rich countries have strong balance... 20th October 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Resource-poor countries most at risk from a global crisis The global economic crisis will affect the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through a deterioration in world trade, falls in commodity prices and a drop in capital inflows. We expect that... 14th October 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update IMF aid crucial to heading off an external financing crisis North Africa’s hefty external financing requirements, coupled with turmoil in the global financial markets, have increased the risk that the region could be hit by a balance of payments crisis... 7th October 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Focus Will the 'Arab Spring' bring economic transformation? The recent political turmoil, the so-called ‘Arab Spring’, could ultimately lead to a marked acceleration in economic growth for some parts of the Arab World. Egypt, Morocco and, to a lesser extent... 4th October 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Growth forecasts cut for 2012 Following recent downward revisions to our forecasts for growth across the developed and emerging markets, we have also cut our forecasts for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We now... 30th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack The Arab World’s banks can weather the global crisis The Arab World’s banks are better prepared to face any fallout from the global sovereign debt problems than they were during the financial crisis in 2008. Back then, the region’s financial... 21st September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Are the Gulf States at risk from their exposure to the US? We think that the much-reported risks to the value of the foreign assets held by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from the US economic troubles are overstated. Admittedly, the hydrocarbon... 7th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update What next for Libya? The Libyan economy may begin to feel the benefits of ‘regime change’ sooner than many commentators expect. Given the composition of the Transitional National Council (TNC) and Libya’s vast financial... 23rd August 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Price pressures have eased in the Gulf Inflation pressures are easing in most countries in the Middle East. In the oil-rich Gulf States, despite a rapid rise in food inflation over the past two months, subdued housing costs have eased... 20th August 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economic Outlook Despite a weak global economy, the Gulf is set to grow The high oil price and increased production will ensure continued healthy revenues in the oil-rich Gulf States. As a result, government spending is likely to increase further, which will ensure that... 30th July 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update What is the impact of Saudi Arabia’s aid to Jordan? Saudi Arabia’s additional $1 billion in aid to Jordan will help to avert a short-term fiscal crisis in the resource-poor country. But we are more concerned that this aid will lead to government... 27th July 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Fiscal woes in the resource-poor countries High energy prices have widened the fiscal gap in the Middle East. In the oil-rich Gulf States, the governments are awash with oil money. Meanwhile, the resource-poor Arab countries are struggling... 20th July 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Can it get any worse for the Arab world’s equity markets? Most equity markets in the Arab world have bounced back from the lows reached in March when regional political risks were at their highest. Since the initial bounce though, overall market performance... 15th July 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Tight lending conditions prevail The private sector in the oil-rich Gulf States (in particular the UAE and Kuwait) is still struggling with tight credit conditions. The region’s banks are slowly recovering from the aftermath of the... 21st June 2011 · 1 min read
