Emerging Markets Trade Monitor Exporters starting to struggle The latest trade data provide further evidence that Emerging Market exporters are starting to struggle. But while exports from Emerging Asia have continued to grow (albeit at a slower rate), exports... 10th May 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Zambia to remain a regional outperformer The tailwind of high and rising copper prices is unlikely to continue supporting growth in Zambia over the next few years. But improving governance levels and increasing infrastructure spending... 10th May 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update EM debt: where do the risks lie? Total debt in emerging markets (EMs) is relatively low by international standards. But the history of EMs suggests that crises often occur when credit grows rapidly for several years rather than... 9th May 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Kenyan rates unlikely to fall further The Central Bank of Kenya cut its benchmark interest rate by a larger-than-expected 100bp to 8.50% today but, with inflation having bottomed out and the current account deficit still a cause for... 7th May 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update What next for inflation across the region? Inflation is likely to slow across West Africa in the near term, meaning that interest rate cuts are still a possibility. By contrast, inflation is likely to accelerate in East and South Africa. In... 3rd May 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update EM manufacturing recovery fades as BRICs lose steam The April manufacturing PMIs add to evidence that the emerging market (EM) recovery has lost pace in recent months. The slowdown has affected most EM regions, but the BRIC economies seem to have been... 3rd May 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South African manufacturing makes a better start to Q2 South Africa’s manufacturing PMI for April suggests the sector may have rebounded a little at the start of Q2 having stagnated in Q1. But a combination of sluggish external demand and domestic... 2nd May 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update EM industrial boom a mostly Asian story Industrial output in the emerging world has increased by a remarkable 30% in the past five years. Yet impressive growth at an aggregate level masks a wide variation in the performance of individual... 1st May 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update More countries joining the eurobond rush Sub-Saharan Africa’s eurobond markets hit the headlines again in April when Rwanda became the latest country to issue foreign currency debt. And with much of the region continuing to enjoy low yields... 30th April 2013 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Mounting risks for Egypt's banks Egyptian banks have been remarkably stable throughout the political upheaval of the past few years. If we’re right in thinking that Egypt’s economy will continue to muddle through without falling into... 30th April 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Chart Pack Still a region of "two-speed" growth The latest data for South Africa suggest that the economy picked up pace in Q1, supported in large part by a rebound in mining production after last year’s strikes. Elsewhere in the region, although... 26th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Inflation outlook remains subdued Emerging Market (EM) inflation fell back in March as temporary distortions related to the Chinese New Year dropped out of the annual comparison. Looking ahead, with underlying price pressures... 25th April 2013 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Egypt and the IMF: still no breakthrough Political deadlock in Egypt has placed another obstacle in the way of negotiations with the IMF. A team from the Fund left Cairo earlier this month without an agreement in place, apparently as a... 25th April 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Weak rand to provide limited relief for South African manufacturers Growth in South Africa’s manufacturing sector appears to have stagnated in the first quarter of 2013, but some policymakers have suggested that production could soon pick up as a weaker rand helps to... 24th April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update China slowdown opens the door for new EM growth stars Recent evidence of weaker economic activity in China and falling global commodity prices supports our view that overall emerging market (EM) growth will disappoint in the years ahead. But while... 24th April 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Effects of a Chinese slowdown to vary across the region An economic slowdown in China is likely to drag on growth in sub-Saharan Africa, but the more important point is that the effects will vary from country-to-country. Zambia is probably the most... 22nd April 2013 · 1 min read
