Emerging Markets Activity Monitor EM slowdown continues Our GDP Tracker suggests that aggregate EM GDP growth has dropped to just 4.0% y/y – a low not seen since the aftermath of the global financial crisis in 2009. Much of the latest slowdown appears to... 26th February 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa Budget: Tighter policy, more realistic assumptions Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene today presented an annual budget that raised consumption taxes in an effort to limit South Africa’s fiscal deficit, a move that will add to the headwinds facing economic... 25th February 2015 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Investors shrug off risks from Greece Despite the resurgent risk of a Greek exit from the euro-zone, investors have so far remained relatively relaxed about the possible effect on emerging markets. Admittedly, there were further net... 25th February 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Election worries hit Nigeria Sentiment towards Nigeria has soured following news that presidential elections scheduled for earlier this month will be postponed until 28th March due to security concerns. We expect that the naira... 24th February 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa GDP (Q4) South Africa’s economy grew at its strongest pace in a year Q4, but this was largely a result of a temporary rebound following weakness in previous quarters, and so is unlikely to be sustained... 24th February 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update “Grexit” and what it might mean for EMs The impact on EMs of a Greek exit from the euro-zone would depend on the extent to which policymakers in Europe were able to limit the wider financial fallout. A “managed” exit would create... 20th February 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack Regional inflation heading in opposite directions Inflation across the emerging world has been heading in different directions in recent months. In Latin America and Emerging Europe it has risen, led by increases in regulated prices in Brazil and the... 19th February 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa GDP Tracker points to strong Q4 The latest official activity data suggest that South Africa’s economy ended 2014 on a high. While the strong quarterly expansion in Q4 is unlikely to be sustained, the economy still looks set to... 19th February 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Private debt in EMs: big risk or damp squib? Concerns about the rapid growth of private sector debt in EMs have resurfaced in recent days. Our view remains unchanged: fears that a debt crisis will engulf the entire emerging world are overdone... 17th February 2015 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Has investors’ appetite for EM government bonds waned? The credit spread of the JP Morgan EMBI Global Index of emerging market dollar-denominated government bonds has increased sharply since the middle of 2014. However, this reflects specific concerns... 16th February 2015 · 1 min read
EM Markets Chart Pack What’s behind the EMBI Global spread? The “stripped” spread of the JP Morgan EMBI Global Index, which includes the dollar denominated debt of 61 emerging market governments, is still around 430bp despite falling slightly in recent weeks... 12th February 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor Split in EM export performance is widening The value of EM exports continued to fall in annual terms in December, with oil producers faring especially poorly. The early signs are that Asia's manufacturing-oriented economies will report weak... 12th February 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Weak naira unlikely to revive Nigeria’s export sector The prospects for Nigeria’s exports are bleak. The country’s oil exports are suffering not just from lower prices but also from an apparent structural decline in demand. What’s more, despite the... 12th February 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Which EMs are most at risk from dollar strength? The US dollar’s recent strong run has raised concerns that EMs with large holdings of dollar-denominated debt will come under pressure. Indeed, India’s central bank governor, Raghuram Rajan, has gone... 11th February 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing Production (Dec.) December’s rise in South African manufacturing production showed that the sector ended the year on a high. There are also signs that manufacturers started this year fairly strongly. Although growth is... 10th February 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Delayed elections highlight weak institutions in Nigeria The decision to delay Nigeria’s general election by six weeks has cast the spotlight back onto Nigeria’s weak institutions. While there have been some improvements over the past few years, much more... 9th February 2015 · 1 min read
