Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Fresh devaluation of the Egyptian pound just a matter of time The Egyptian pound has been held steady since March’s devaluation, but persistent strains in the balance of payments mean that it needs to fall further. Recent shifts towards more orthodox... 19th July 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: Rise in inflation has further to go Despite the sharp rise in Nigerian inflation last month, we think it will still be some time before the headline rate peaks. This will force the central bank to tighten monetary policy even in the... 18th July 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor EM export slump gradually easing The decline of EM values slowed, in US$ terms, again in May. The volume of EM exports, which is more important from an economic standpoint, actually rose. 18th July 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Economy probably dodged recession in Q2 Activity data for May suggest that South Africa’s economy has improved after contracting in Q1. We expect that the economy returned to growth in Q2, narrowly missing a technical recession. 14th July 2016 · 1 min read
Energy Update Fewer disruptions to oil supplies should limit price gains The return of production from Canada and Nigeria along with a potential increase in output from Libya over the next few months should put some downward pressure on prices. 13th July 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing Output (May) Strong May manufacturing figures add to the evidence that South Africa’s economy avoided a recession in Q2. The sector seems to be benefiting from the weak rand. 12th July 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economic Outlook EM pick-up to prove short-lived EM growth is likely to accelerate over the second half of this year, but a downward shift in potential growth means the recovery could hit the buffers in 2017-18. 7th July 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Business Confidence (June) South Africa’s business confidence index remained weak in June, though it rose from the all-time low in May. Other surveys – and timely activity data – suggest that the economy probably avoided a... 6th July 2016 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Will Egypt turn to the IMF? Rumours have circulated again that Egypt is seeking a deal with the IMF and, as we argue in this Watch, an agreement is now looking more likely than at any point in the past five years. A financing... 5th July 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update EM PMI weakens in June, but some good news The fall in the aggregate EM manufacturing PMI in June suggests that growth probably weakened at the end of Q2. But there was some rare positive news from a handful of EM economies that have been... 1st July 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing PMI (Jun.) June’s surprisingly positive PMI reading provides another sign that South Africa’s economy narrowly avoided a recession in Q2. 1st July 2016 · 1 min read
Frontier Markets Wrap Easing cycles have further to run in several frontier markets The past month has brought aggressive monetary easing in a handful of frontier markets, and we think others will follow suit over the rest of this year. Cuts in policy interest rates this month in... 30th June 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Africa: Naira float, Brexit rattle local markets The key decision affecting African markets this month was Nigeria’s long-awaited currency reforms, which sent the naira tumbling. The effect of Britain’s vote to leave the EU was relatively limited... 30th June 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Post-Brexit sell-off unlikely to push up inflation in the EM world The sell-off in the majority of EM currencies in the wake of the Brexit vote is unlikely to have a significant impact on inflation in most of the emerging world. That said, it is likely to cause... 29th June 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Post-Brexit EM market moves likely to be driven by Fed & China EM financial markets are often hit hard during bouts of investor risk aversion, but most have come through the past few days in reasonable shape. Looking ahead, EMs are more likely to face acute sell... 29th June 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Activity Monitor EM recovery continues Our GDP Tracker suggests that EM growth picked up for the third consecutive month in April, helped by an improvement in activity in Latin America and Emerging Europe. 28th June 2016 · 1 min read
