Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Oil sector drives sharp Q2 slowdown in Saudi Arabia The Saudi Arabian economy slowed sharply between Q1 and Q2, largely due to weakness in the oil sector. The data also provided further signs that Saudi consumers may be struggling. Looking ahead, it’s... 24th September 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update What next for platinum prices? Disappointing growth in demand at a time of high stocks is weighing on the price of platinum. Weexpect lower prices to encourage some buying, notably of jewellery, but a sustained recovery is... 24th September 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update How to interpret the weakness in commodity prices The recent slide in the Bloomberg index of spot commodity prices to its lowest level since 2010 has caught the attention of many commentators. But the underlying picture is far more nuanced than the... 23rd September 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Falling commodity prices to help keep EM inflation subdued Recent falls in the prices of oil and a number of agricultural commodities add to the reasons to expect EM inflation to stay muted over the coming months. But while in aggregate we think that... 23rd September 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Focus Colombia: towards a period of softer growth Colombia’s economy has been a rare bright spot in Latin America so far this year but, while we don’t expect growth to collapse, we do expect it to slow over 2015-16. This in turn is likely to mean... 23rd September 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Commodities demand unlikely to get a boost anytime soon The increase in the flash PMI for China has helped to assuage fears about a hard landing. However, the index is still low by historical standards and the fall in the euro-zone’s flash PMI highlights... 23rd September 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Energy subsidy reform in the Gulf is likely to be slow-going Large energy subsidies in the GCC lead to a number of distortions in their economies, including smaller current account and fiscal surpluses as well as weaker investment in the non-hydrocarbon sector... 23rd September 2014 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria's export sector to continue dragging on growth The weakness of Nigeria’s export sector is down to a variety of factors, including a lack of competitiveness, falling oil prices and the expansion of shale oil extraction in the US. These factors... 22nd September 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Lower oil prices are a problem for Lat Am, not the Gulf Major oil producers in the Gulf stand to lose the most in absolute terms from the recent fall in prices, but conservative management of the oil sector means that the region will simply save less. By... 22nd September 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Can Indonesia dictate global tin prices? Indonesia appears to be exercising its power as the world’s largest tin exporter, withholding shipments when prices are low. However, with only subdued growth in demand, there is a risk that other... 19th September 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Zinc losing its zing? Zinc prices have started to fall in recent weeks. Whilst acknowledging that the market was set to tighten in 2015, we had felt the recent rally was premature. However, the scale of mine closures... 18th September 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Climate change not all bad news for agricultural commodities Rising global temperatures are often assumed to be unambiguously negative for the output of agricultural commodities. However, while there is plenty of debate about the causes and impacts of climate... 17th September 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update What would a “yes” vote mean for UK oil & gas production? The general economic uncertainty created by a “yes” vote in Scotland’s independence referendum could hamper investment in the oil and gas sector too. Nonetheless, an independent Scottish government... 16th September 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Assessing the impact of lower oil prices on the MENA region The recent sharp drop in oil prices is unlikely to be a major headache for the Gulf economies although, if sustained, it will mean that there will be less room for fiscal policy to provide the same... 16th September 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Expectations for global soybean output get another boost The price of major grains and soybeans are at near five-year lows thanks in part to another large upward revision in the USDA’s expectations for global crop output. However, assuming there is no... 15th September 2014 · 1 min read
Commodities Update The dollar is not the only driver of metals’ prices Unusually, both base and precious metals prices have fallen this week. The common factor appears tobe the strength of the dollar and the prospect of imminent US monetary tightening. In our view, this... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
