Latin America Economics Update Brazil Central Bank signals Selic on hold for time being The Central Bank of Brazil kept interest rates on hold at 11% last night and the accompanying statement gave a strong signal that rates are likely to be left unchanged over the coming months. We don’t... 4th September 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil manufacturing may stagnate in Q3, but no rapid rebound August’s manufacturing PMI suggests that while conditions in Brazilian industry may have stopped getting worse, there is little evidence to suggest that manufacturers will lead a rapid rebound from... 1st September 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Colombian tightening cycle nearing the end Colombian policymakers increased interest rates by 25bp to 4.50% on Friday but we think that the current tightening cycle is drawing to a close. The pace of economic growth is likely to slow over the... 1st September 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Drop back into recession ups the pressure on Brazil policymakers Second quarter GDP data showing that Brazil has fallen back into recession will add to pressure on the central bank to loosen policy in order to support the ailing economy. But we suspect that policy... 29th August 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update No signs of contagion from Argentine debt saga The ongoing Argentine debt dispute continues to disrupt local markets, but so far there has been no contagion to the rest of the region. Equities have performed well so far in August, while it has... 26th August 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Economic damage of Argentine default growing With hopes of a swift resolution to the Argentine debt dispute fading, capital flight appears to be picking up. As a result, the damage to the real economy is likely to be greater than we had... 22nd August 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexican economy gaining momentum The fact that the annual rate of Mexican GDP growth slowed to just 1.6% in the second quarter (from 1.9% in Q1) will probably grab the headlines, but the bigger picture is that q/q growth accelerated... 21st August 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentine bond swap dashes hopes of a quick end to debt dispute The Argentine government’s plan to swap exchange bonds into local law, if successful, may enable the authorities to exit the current default and limit any damage to the real economy from the debt... 20th August 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Chile stuck in the slow lane The further slowdown in Chilean GDP growth in Q2 adds to the evidence that the economy is set for a prolonged period of weaker growth. We continue to expect GDP growth of just 2.8% this year. 18th August 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil Election Watch: First thoughts on Silva’s entry The death last week of Socialist Party presidential candidate Eduardo Campos and the likelihood that he will be replaced at the top of the party’s ticket by Marina Silva, a former Environment Minister... 18th August 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil set to post sharp drop in Q2 GDP The release of June’s activity data allows us to firm up our estimate of Q2 GDP in Brazil – and the news isn’t good. We think that GDP may have contracted by 0.5% q/q in the second quarter. And with... 15th August 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Chile: more interest rate cuts to come Policymakers in Chile cut interest rates by 25bp to 3.50% last night and gave a clear indication that there is more monetary easing to come. If economic growth does not pick up as we expect ,the risks... 15th August 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentina: Stimulus may backfire as bank deal falls through Negative comments from holdout creditors suggest that a solution to the Argentine debt dispute involving private banks has fallen through. That, along with interest rate cuts and monetisation of the... 14th August 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update A fork in the road Data on vehicle production released over the past month suggest contrasting fortunes for Latin America’s two largest economies. While Mexico seems to be turning a corner and growth over the second... 13th August 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Peruvian policymakers to tread carefully Interest rates in Peru were left on hold at 3.75% last night and we think that above-target inflation and a large current account deficit mean that policymakers are likely to resist aggressive... 8th August 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentine default adds to the economy’s problems Last week’s default by the Argentine government is yet another unwanted headwind for the beleaguered economy. Fears of a re-run of 2002’s economic meltdown are overblown. But the messier that the... 7th August 2014 · 1 min read
