US Data Response International Trade (June) The widening in the trade deficit to $43.8bn in June, from an upwardly revised $40.9bn in May, is more or less as the BEA assumed in its GDP estimate and therefore doesn’t point to a revision to the 2... 5th August 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Focus Why have Turkish exports performed so badly? The weakness of Turkish exports over the first half of this year can in part be pinned on temporary factors including bad weather, strikes in the automobile sector and problems in major trading... 3rd August 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update How big a deal is the new Suez Canal for Egypt? The new Suez Canal, due to be inaugurated this week, could in theory bring major economic benefits to the Egyptian economy. However, the government’s projections appear to be based on implausibly... 3rd August 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Trade Balance (Jun.) & Kenya Inflation (Jul.) The surprisingly large improvement in South Africa’s trade balance in June was the result of rising exports, rather than just weak import demand. This is a positive sign for the economy, which has... 31st July 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Another milestone for the economic recovery Last week’s GDP figures indicated that the economic recovery has passed another milestone, namely that GDP per capita is now back to its pre-crisis levels. Admittedly, it has taken an extremely long... 31st July 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Time to worry about currency weakness? Asian currencies have fallen again over the past week, with a number now at multi-year low sagainst the US dollar. With the exception of Malaysia, where US dollar debt is high, currency weakness is... 31st July 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Bleak outlook for exports The slump in India’s exports over the past few months has been caused in part by the sharp fall in global oil prices and the relative strength of the US dollar, two trends that are unlikely to be... 31st July 2015 · 1 min read
US Data Response GDP (Q2, 1st Estimate) The second-quarter GDP data support the Fed’s more upbeat tone on economic conditions and suggests that the economy could cope with higher interest rates. 30th July 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Three reasons why growth should hold up in coming quarters Sentiment about the economic outlook for China has darkened again, with the equity market debacle casting a shadow. But we see three reasons to be relatively positive about prospects for growth in the... 30th July 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Bigger risks to growth in Malaysia than 1MDB scandal The controversy surrounding the state investment company, 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), has intensified in recent days after Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has been accused of taking money from... 29th July 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Chart Pack African interest rates begin rise The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) finally began its long-awaited tightening cycle by raising the repo rate from 5.75% to 6.00% this month. We had anticipated the move, and expect that the SARB... 29th July 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Are imbalances still a problem in the euro-zone? Euro-zone current account imbalances have narrowed since the financial crisis, and there are good reasons to think that they will not return to pre-crisis levels for some time. But policymakers’... 29th July 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Export success masks Portugal’s external weakness Portugal’s exports have been amongst the euro-zone’s fastest growing over the last few years. But the country’s external position remains very fragile, leaving it vulnerable to renewed market... 28th July 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update No need to fret about recent currency declines Most EM currencies have fallen over the past month, with many now at or close to multi-year lows against the US dollar. For the majority of countries the economic impact of recent currency weakness is... 27th July 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Renewed focus on Gulf’s fiscal positions The fresh fall in oil prices has turned attention back to fiscal positions in the Gulf, with the UAE’s government the latest to announce measures to rein in spending. The UAE plans to deregulate fuel... 27th July 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Flash PMIs (Jul.) Preliminary business surveys suggest that global growth weakened further in July, butwe do not think that the world economy is heading for another major downturn. 24th July 2015 · 1 min read
