Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia to cut rates again before year-end Given the economy’s poor growth prospects and the subdued outlook for inflation, today’s rate cut by Bank Indonesia (BI) is unlikely to be the last in the current cycle. However, as the central bank... 22nd September 2017 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Mexico Bi-Weekly CPI (Sep.) Data to the middle of September showed that Mexican inflation fell for the first time in almost eighteen months, suggesting that the headline rate may now have peaked. We expect inflation to fall... 22nd September 2017 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Consumer Price Index (Aug.) Although the headline inflation rate rose to a moderate 1.4% in August, from 1.2%, the further increases in core inflation are broadly consistent with the reduced slack in the economy. This suggests... 22nd September 2017 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentina’s economic recovery looking unbalanced Recently-released GDP data confirmed that Argentina’s economic recovery continued in Q2, with economy growing at its fastest pace in two years. However, the drivers of growth are looking unbalanced. 22nd September 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Bank of Thailand to resist pressure to cut interest rates The government is putting pressure on the Bank of Thailand (BoT) to cut interest rates in order to weaken the baht, which has been the best performing currency in Asia so far this year. The central... 22nd September 2017 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly A solid first year from Governor Lowe Philip Lowe has notched up an impressive scorecard in his first year as Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, but greater challenges lie ahead. There are reasons to believe that economic growth... 22nd September 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South African loosening cycle put on hold The South African Reserve Bank has paused its loosening cycle, but we expect that it will cut rates at its November meeting, by which time inflation will have eased further. 21st September 2017 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil IPCA-15 (Sep.) The slight increase in Brazilian inflation in the first half of this month, to 2.6% y/y from 2.5% y/y in August, is the first real sign that the headline rate may have now bottomed out, and reinforces... 21st September 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rates to stay on hold in Taiwan With economic growth fairly strong and inflationary pressures subdued, Taiwan’s central bank (CBC) decided to keep its policy rate on hold today at 1.375%. The dovish tone of the Bank’s accompanying... 21st September 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update BSP unlikely to change policy stance soon Despite the recent rebound in inflation, it was no surprise that the Philippines central bank (BSP) kept its policy rate unchanged at 3.0% today. There was nothing in its statement to suggest BSP is... 21st September 2017 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Core price pressures are building Some have argued that the recent jump in inflation is all about a surge in volatile food prices, with the implication that it shouldn’t have a significant bearing on monetary policy. But this ignores... 21st September 2017 · 1 min read
RBNZ Watch New Zealand - New Governor, new government (?), same dovish story While Grant Spencer will almost certainly decide to keep interest rates on hold at 1.75% at his first meeting as Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) on Thursday 28 th September, the... 21st September 2017 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Chart Pack Early signs of a Q3 pick-up The latest data suggest that, following a strong Q2, growth in Emerging Europe as a whole picked up further in Q3. Activity figures from Poland improved in July and August and the early signs are that... 20th September 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa CPI (Aug.) Inflation in South Africa was weaker than expected in August, which supports our view that the South African Reserve Bank will cut its key policy rate from 6.75% to 6.50% at its meeting tomorrow. 20th September 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia Consumer Prices (Aug.) Saudi inflation remained in negative territory in August but with the government gearing up for a fresh round of subsidy cuts as well as the introduction of a new value-added tax, inflation is likely... 20th September 2017 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Hungarian MPC underestimating inflation risks The decision by the Hungarian MPC to ease monetary conditions further today looks like a policy misstep. Mounting capacity constraints and rapid wage growth mean that we think inflation will turn out... 19th September 2017 · 1 min read
