Emerging Markets Economics Update EM bank funding carrying more risks We’ve voiced concern about the pace of credit growth in a number of EMs. Worryingly, the composition of banks’ funding appears to have deteriorated at the same time, most notably in Turkey, but also... 8th November 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa GDP Tracker suggests slowdown in Q3 Our GDP Tracker suggests that the South African economy lost a bit of steam in Q3, with annualised GDP growth slowing to around 2.2% q/q, from 3.0% q/q in Q2. 7th November 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Easing food inflation to keep EM inflation pressures subdued Falling global food prices should keep food inflation subdued across much of the emerging world over the coming months. Emerging Europe and Latin America in particular are likely to see significant... 6th November 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Kenyan rate hikes possible next year The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) kept interest rates on hold today and, with inflation having peaked, pressure to raise rates in the near term has eased. But a large current account deficit that is... 5th November 2013 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Tentative signs that the worst may be over for Egypt October’s PMI data provide the first signs that the Egyptian economy may be emerging from the worst of the fallout from the “second revolution”. Meanwhile, the Gulf economies are growing at a healthy... 5th November 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Further signs of improvement in EM manufacturing Manufacturing across the emerging world appears to have made a strong start to Q4. Our EM-wide PMI estimate, based on data produced by Markit, is consistent with a pick-up in industrial production... 4th November 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa PMI points to growth of 3% annualised The South African manufacturing PMI rose in October, suggesting that growth in the sector has picked up at the start of Q4. However, the series has been volatile in recent months. Cutting through some... 1st November 2013 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Rising inflation behind decision to keep Egypt rates on hold The accompanying press release provided little justification as to why, having eased policy at its previoustwo meetings, the Egyptian central bank left interest rates on hold today. We suspect that... 31st October 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Activity Monitor Little sign of recovery in EM growth Our GDP Tracker suggests that EM growth was probably unchanged from Q2 in the third quarter. Although there is evidence of a recovery in Emerging Asia, growth in Latin America probably slowed in Q3... 31st October 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Chart Pack Rand respite unlikely to last Like most other major emerging market currencies, the South African rand has rebounded over the past month as markets have adjusted to the prospect of US monetary policy staying looser for longer than... 30th October 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Fall in South African unemployment needs context South Africa’s unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since 2011 in Q3 but, while this is encouraging, it needs to be seen in a wider context. Unemployment remains above its natural rate, which... 29th October 2013 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Bond markets buoyed by delay to Fed “taper” Bond markets across the MENA region have rallied over the past month as it looks increasingly likely that the US Fed will delay tapering its asset purchases under QE3 until early next year. Elsewhere... 29th October 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Natural resource boom will bring its own challenges The production of natural resources will be a key driver of growth in Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania over the coming years, but it is also likely to bring a number of challenges. In Ghana, oil... 25th October 2013 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Inflation set to stay subdued across most of the region Easing food inflation and a modest dip in core price pressures have caused headline inflation to fall across much of the MENA region over the past few months. We expect inflation to remain benign in... 24th October 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update EM inflation likely to remain in check Emerging market (EM) inflation has been fairly stable in recent months. It edged up in September but there is little reason to think that a sharp acceleration is in the offing. 24th October 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: slower pace of fiscal consolidation The South African Finance Ministry chose to revise up its forecasts for the fiscal deficit in 2014/15 and 2015/16 rather than unveil new tightening measures in today’s medium-term budget statement... 23rd October 2013 · 1 min read