Global Markets Update Are we seeing a re-run of the summer sell-off? The sell-off in emerging market (EM) assets following the Fed’s decision to taper its asset purchases in December has prompted comparisons with last summer’s turmoil. But while the latest data from... 27th January 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economic Outlook Non-oil economies to see growth converge with the Gulf Following a tumultuous three years since the Arab Spring uprisings, we expect a recovery to finally get underway in the MENA region’s non-oil producers over the next year or so. Growth should be... 23rd January 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update The implications of Egypt's new constitution The approval of Egypt’s new constitution marks a key political milestone, paving the way for fresh elections to take place in the coming months. However, these could lead to a renewed flare-up in... 20th January 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Emerging Market Consumer Snapshot (Q1 2014) EM consumer spending grew at its slowest pace since 2009 last year. However, the latest data suggest that spending has started to pick up in recent months and, while a significant upturn seems... 16th January 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Should we worry about rising levels of external debt? Most analysis of EM vulnerabilities to Fed tapering and the likelihood of tougher external financing conditions over the coming years has focussed on the size of a country’s current account deficit... 15th January 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Lebanon's fiscal position could go from bad to worse Recent reports that Lebanon could have a new cabinet in a matter of weeks (having not had one for nine months) have raised hopes that the deteriorating public finances may finally be brought under... 15th January 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi economy appears to have had a weaker Q4 The latest Saudi activity data add to the evidence that, having rebounded over most of 2013, the economy ended last year on a slightly weaker note. Looking ahead, faster growth in the oil sector means... 13th January 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economic Outlook The elusive recovery Fears about the impact of Fed tapering on Ems have eased in recent months, but the economic data have remained weak. Indeed, our GDP Tracker suggests that growth remains stuck at a four-year low... 10th January 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Four wildcards for 2014 Our central forecast is for another year of lacklustre growth in the emerging world in 2014. But, as always, there are risks to our forecast - both on the upside and downside. Most attention has... 8th January 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Fallout from Egypt’s “second revolution” not as bad as feared Recently released third quarter GDP data show that the impact on Egypt's economy from July's "second revolution" was not as bad as some, ourselves included, had expected. Elsewhere, Qatar remains the... 8th January 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor "Fragile five" trade balances improving EM export growth continued to gather pace in November and forward-looking indicators suggest that the recovery has further to run. There are signs that the trade balances of the “fragile five” EMs... 7th January 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Public spending set to provide less support to Saudi economy This year’s Saudi government budget envisages the slowest rise in public spending in over a decade. This is welcome from the viewpoint of longer-term fiscal sustainability, but it does mean that... 7th January 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update PMIs suggest region ended 2013 on a strong note December's 'whole economy' PMIs for the Middle East and North Africa point towards faster growth in Q4 of last year than in Q3. Encouragingly, Egypt's PMI suggests that the economy is continuing to... 6th January 2014 · 1 min read
EM Valuations Monitor Turkish lira comes under fire A high-level corruption scandal has taken its toll on Turkey’s financial markets over the past month. The stock market has been the second worst performer among those of the emerging economies that we... 3rd January 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Manufacturing outperforming in more open EMs Our EM-wide manufacturing PMI edged down last month, but industry still appears to have ended 2013 stronger than it was in the third quarter of last year. At a regional level, activity accelerated in... 3rd January 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egyptian stocks soar to post-Arab Spring high The Egyptian stock market has hit a post-"Arab Spring" high. This comes on the back of signs that the economy may finally be finding its feet as well as recent progress towards fresh elections. 23rd December 2013 · 1 min read
