Latin America Chart Pack Markets take another pounding The Central Bank of Uruguay (BCU) left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 8.0% last night as the board weighed downside risks to growth against stubbornly high inflation. We believe that the BCU... 30th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Rate cuts back on the agenda for 2012 The rapid deterioration in the growth outlook for the developed world, and the deepening crisis in Europe in particular, should in time vindicate last month’s surprise (and controversial) decision by... 29th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Credit cycle about to turn in Latin America Lending growth has accelerated throughout Latin America and in some countries – notably Brazil and Argentina – it has reached unsustainable levels. Capital ratios remain high, but will fall if... 27th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Pillars to Colombian growth set to weaken While the Colombian economy performed well in the first half of this year, the current global market mayhem underlines our belief that the economy will slow next year. But growth is unlikely to... 23rd September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update How vulnerable is Chile to a global slowdown? Chile’s open economy is more susceptible than most in the region to a deterioration of external demand. Policy stimulus will provide some relief, however we anticipate a below-consensus 3% growth in... 23rd September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update What should we make of the real’s fall from grace? Fears that the slump in the Brazilian real will lead to a further rise in inflation look greatly exaggerated. There is almost no relationship between fluctuations in the currency and inflation, while... 23rd September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economic Outlook Heading into choppy waters The economies of Latin America are likely to slow by more than most expect over the next year. We do not anticipate a prolonged downturn, but the marked deterioration in the external environment means... 21st September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentina: threat of overheating still looms large Argentina’s Q2 GDP figures reinforce our belief that the economy is overheating and poised for a sharp correction in the coming years. Official statistics continue to overstate the economy’s growth... 20th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Uruguay’s slowing growth to continue for a while yet Uruguay’s economy slowed in Q2 as a deteriorating trade balance weighed on growth. While weaker external conditions mean that growth will cool further over the next year, relatively solid fundamentals... 16th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentina’s inflation inaccuracies underlie deeper economic ills Official statistics continue to drastically underreport inflation in Argentina, resulting in a number of serious economic distortions. Building pressures on the regime make a recession probable... 16th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexico: Weak wage growth to underpin fragile domestic demand Mexico’s status as a low productivity economy means that jobs are created even at low rates of GDP growth. The problem, however, is that a surplus pool of labour, coupled with a growing population and... 14th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Peru: in no rush to follow Brazil’s lead on rates Peru’s central bank (BCRP) kept its benchmark lending rate at 4.25% last night. While it appears to have dropped its tightening bias, we believe that it is premature to forecast any policy easing over... 10th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexico: IMEF manufacturing survey not as promising as it seems While the Mexican IMEF manufacturing index bucked the global trend and increased in August, there is no hiding from the weak outlook for the economy. With GDP growth set to disappoint, we expect... 7th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazilian inflation edges further above target Data released this afternoon confirm that Brazilian inflation rose further above the central bank’s target in August. The news will do little to calm fears that, following last week’s surprise... 7th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Focus How sustainable is Argentina's economic model? Argentina’s recent economic performance masks a series of debilitating distortions which threaten to undermine the nation’s future growth prospects. With regime change seemingly unlikely, we believe... 6th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil: Q2 GDP data solid, Q3 looking dire Brazil’s economy grew by a solid if not spectacular 0.8% q/q in Q2, but leading indicators suggest that it will struggle to expand at half that pace in Q3. 3rd September 2011 · 1 min read
