Emerging Markets Economics Update Emerging Market Consumer Snapshot (Q4 2015) Lower commodity prices have continued to weigh on consumption in commodity-exporting EMs. Indeed, there are signs that even in those economies where spending had previously held up reasonably well... 17th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Bank of Ghana doubles down on policy tightening The Bank of Ghana’s surprise interest rate hike reflects fears that above-target inflation is becoming entrenched. Tight monetary policy will be painful, but the Bank provided the first hint that... 16th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Ghana: 2016 budget targets will prove difficult to meet The pledge to cut Ghana’s fiscal deficit by 2.0%-pts of GDP next year will be welcomed by investors, but may prove difficult to achieve in the context of slow growth in the commodity-dependent economy... 13th November 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Emerging Markets Capital Flows Monitor Our Capital Flows Tracker shows that EM capital outflows remained large in October, but they did at least decline from September. This should help to soothe concerns (overstated in our view) about an... 13th November 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response South Africa’s Mine Production (Sep.) South Africa’s PGM production continued to fall in September as low prices are threatening miners’ profitability. Lonmin is just the latest example of an industry struggling to keep up with labour... 12th November 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor Drag on EM exports from commodity collapse should ease soon EM exports remained weak in September as the drag from lower commodity prices continued to take its toll, even in countries which are not major commodity exporters. However, as this drag fades and... 12th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: New cabinet faces daunting economic challenges Investors are likely to welcome the long-delayed appointment of a federal cabinet in Nigeria. But the newly-appointed ministers face an up-hill battle to revive the economy, and it isn’t clear how... 11th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing Output (Sep.) Today’s manufacturing output figures were sharply above consensus, and show that the economically crucial sector returned to growth in September. This is a welcome sign, and supports our view that the... 10th November 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Egypt Consumer Prices (Oct.) The further rise in Egyptian inflation to 9.7% y/y in October was driven almost entirely by an increase in the food component, which is highly volatile. Stripping out food prices, inflation actually... 10th November 2015 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update Will Lonmin’s call for cash impact PGM prices? Under pressure from labour unrest, rising costs and weak platinum prices, Lonmin said this week that it will cease trading if its plan to raise capital in a rights issue of new shares is unsuccessful... 5th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Zambia: Currency crisis prompts sharp rate hike The Bank of Zambia’s decision to hike rates by 300bps was a predictable response to last month’s inflation surge. And with the currency likely to remain under pressure, further hikes remain possible. 3rd November 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Signs of stabilisation in EM manufacturing October’s manufacturing PMIs, published today, contain early signs that the worst may finally be over for manufacturers across the EM world. The headline index improved both in key large EMs, such as... 2nd November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing PMI (Oct.) The sharp fall in South Africa’s October manufacturing PMI supports our view that the country’s manufacturing sector will struggle over the coming months. 2nd November 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update EM inflation to rebound soon Although aggregate EM inflation slowed slightly in September, it is set to rise in the months ahead as the drag from last year’s slump in oil prices fades. 30th October 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update EM rates to follow divergent paths The shift towards looser monetary policy in the emerging world earlier this year is over and, with the first rate hike in the US inching nearer, we think that many EMs are likely to tighten policy... 29th October 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria’s fiscal woes: Looking beyond the deficit Despite the steep fall in oil prices and a very weak economic growth, we expect that Nigeria’s budget deficit will remain relatively contained in 2015 and 2016. As we explain in this Watch, however... 29th October 2015 · 1 min read
