Latin America Chart Pack Growth slows in the “big two” Growth has slowed sharply in Brazil and Mexico – Latin America’s two largest economies – over the past quarter. In Brazil, there are tentative signs that a two-year boom in domestic demand has started... 29th October 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update More to follow Brazil’s lead Brazil’s decision to continue cutting interest rates despite the fact that inflation is running at a five-year high remains as controversial as ever. Nonetheless, on balance we think that the central... 22nd October 2011 · 1 min read
Global Economics Focus Sovereign Debt: are the emerging markets immune? Emerging markets are not immune from the deepening debt crisis in the developed world, but most are well-placed to deal with the fallout. China faces a difficult structural transition of its own but... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Chart Pack Markets take another pounding The Central Bank of Uruguay (BCU) left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 8.0% last night as the board weighed downside risks to growth against stubbornly high inflation. We believe that the BCU... 30th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Rate cuts back on the agenda for 2012 The rapid deterioration in the growth outlook for the developed world, and the deepening crisis in Europe in particular, should in time vindicate last month’s surprise (and controversial) decision by... 29th September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Pillars to Colombian growth set to weaken While the Colombian economy performed well in the first half of this year, the current global market mayhem underlines our belief that the economy will slow next year. But growth is unlikely to... 23rd September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economic Outlook Heading into choppy waters The economies of Latin America are likely to slow by more than most expect over the next year. We do not anticipate a prolonged downturn, but the marked deterioration in the external environment means... 21st September 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Chart Pack Market rout focuses attention on risks to growth Financial markets in Latin America suffered heavy losses during the recent global market turmoil, extending their poor performance so far this year. Equity markets fell by around 15% amid a widespread... 25th August 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Colombia: Global uncertainty prompts pause in rate hikes The Central Bank of Colombia’s (BANREP) decision to hold interest rates at 4.5% was prompted by the recent uncertainty in the global economy. Rate hikes may resume once the current market turmoil has... 23rd August 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexican rates on hold until 2013 The recent turmoil in the financial markets has re-shaped the debate on how far interest rates may need to rise in Latin America. We still expect one or two more hikes in Peru, Colombia and perhaps... 18th August 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Colombian interest rates close to peaking The Central Bank of Colombia (BANREP) raised interest rates by 25bps to 4.5% late on Friday night. Strong activity data and rising inflation may prompt some further hikes in the very near term. But... 2nd August 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Chart Pack Interest rates close to peaking Policymakers in most of Latin America’s inflation-targeting countries have begun to signal an end to the current cycle of monetary tightening. In the very near term, we still expect the combination of... 28th July 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Colombian rebalancing has further to run On the face of it, there is early hope that the Colombian economy has begun to rebalance away from domestic demand-led and towards export-led manufacturing growth. But with the exchange rate still... 21st July 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Rates should peak this year The recent spike in food inflation has a little further to run and, in most economies, core inflation pressures are building. But even so we still expect headline inflation to start to fall in pretty... 19th July 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Chart Pack Markets continue to struggle Financial markets across Latin America have had a fairly torrid time over the past month or so. Fears of a renewed global slowdown and a subsequent drop in commodity prices, along with worries about... 30th June 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Q1 GDP leaves Colombian policymakers with more work to do Data showing that the Colombian GDP grew at close to 8% annualised in the first quarter of this year, despite the impact of the heaviest rains in three decades, adds to recent evidence that the... 24th June 2011 · 1 min read