Global Economics Focus What can emerging economies do to help the rest of the world? Emerging economies will continue growing rapidly this year and next while, despite a strong start to the year, we expect advanced economies to manage sub-trend growth, at best. But rapid growth in... 13th February 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Egypt Consumer Prices (Jan.) Even though Egyptian inflation fell in January, the recent slump in foreign currency reserves to dangerously low levels may leave the central bank with no choice but to hike rates next month. 9th February 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update The 'Arab Spring' one year on This Saturday marks a year since the end of Hosni Mubarak’s three-decade reign over Egypt. Only a few weeks before that, Tunisia’s revolution ended with the toppling of the Ben Ali regime. Since then... 8th February 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Middle East Markets Monitor (Feb.) The Arab world’s markets have underperformed in January. The exception is Egyptian stocks, which are up by 25% since the beginning of the year. However, we think that Egypt’s recovery is unlikely to... 7th February 2012 · 1 min read
Global Economics Focus Euro-crisis: how big is the threat of financial contagion for EMs? The economies of Asia and Latin America should be able to weather any financial contagion stemming from Europe’s debt crisis. But the economies of emerging Europe – notably Hungary, Turkey and the... 6th February 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response UAE HSBC/Markit PMI (Jan.) January’s PMI data show that activity in the UAE’s non-oil private sector accelerated modestly. But the bigger picture is that the slowdown in the pace of growth seen in the second half of last year... 6th February 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia HSBC/Markit PMI (Jan.) January’s PMI data show that, on the back of fiscal stimulus boosting domestic demand, Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector made a strong start to the year. However, a surge in input prices is... 6th February 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt: interest rate unchanged, but further hikes seem likely Today’s decision to keep the benchmark rate unchanged at 9.25% in a sign that Egypt’s central bank is increasingly confident that loans from the IMF and elsewhere will materialise soon. Indeed, the... 2nd February 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Taxation plans in the Gulf are good news, but will take time Given that public finances are vulnerable to swings in oil prices, rumours that Qatar and other Gulf countries are considering Value-Added Tax (VAT) to diversify revenue sources are welcome. Indeed... 31st January 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Syria: A prolonged crisis is on the cards The Arab League’s uncharacteristically unified position on Syria last year has quickly reversed. While some countries, led by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), favour a tough stance, others... 25th January 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt’s markets: strong start to 2012 may not be sustained On the back of a smooth start to the new parliament, Egyptian equities have jumped by 5.4% so far this week, and CDS premia have fallen by around 70 basis points. However, since last year’s revolution... 24th January 2012 · 1 min read
Global Markets Outlook Market implications of an EMU break-up Risky asset markets have generally made a bright start to 2012. But our central scenario envisages a break-up of EMU this year initially involving Greece’s departure, an outcome that would presumably... 24th January 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Gulf markets hit by Iran tensions The escalation of tensions with Iran has meant that financial markets in the Gulf have underperformed those in the rest of the emerging world so far this year. While the MSCI emerging market equity... 23rd January 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Lebanon and Jordan will manage their external funding needs At first glance, given their large external funding requirements, Lebanon and Jordan appear vulnerable to turmoil in international financial markets this year. However, we think that, in contrast to... 20th January 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi Oil Minister’s comments point to higher spending in 2012 Comments earlier this week from Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi indicating that the government is comfortable with a crude oil price of $100pb (up from $70-80 previously) suggests that public... 18th January 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt’s request from the IMF will not be enough Egypt’s decision to request a $3.2 billion stand-by facility from the IMF will not be enough to cover its external funding needs in 2012. Instead, it will need at least double that amount to avoid a... 17th January 2012 · 1 min read
