ISRAEL - In Brief 13 Jun 2021

Politics: The new “change” government was sworn in yesterday. We think this government is a positive development for fiscal policy and stimulating growth. The new Minister of Finance is moving rapidly to cancel all emergency furlough supports for those under age 45. This will support labor partic...

TURKEY - Report 13 Jun 2021

The main story in the politics section is Mr. Erdogan’s visit to Brussels, where he will likely be grilled by EU and NATO leaders, while he finally says hello to old buddy Joe. He is until immense pressure at home at the eve of this historic visit. He and his AKP+MHP alliance are slipping in t...

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 12 Jun 2021

By September 11 2021 there will be no more US troops in Afghanistan besides Marines at the embassy. That is Joe Biden's vow. Afghan troops will be trained by the US but not in Afghanistan. The United States has also promised not to abandon its Afghan allies as it did in 1989. How is the US to sup...

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 12 Jun 2021

On June 11 the Central Bank of Russia hiked the interest rate as we predicted. The country is grappling with inflation. This has risen faster than CBR foresaw. It was 6% in May 2021: the highest since 2015. CBR said this could ruin the recovery.RUB has not moved when the interest rate did. CBR sa...

GULF COUNTRIES - Report 11 Jun 2021

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * Coronavirus is surging in Oman and Kuwait and, although cases are falling in Bahrain, deaths are extremely high. * US-Iran talks will move to a sixth round, with growing expectations for a deal but probably not before next...

BRAZIL POLITICS - Report 11 Jun 2021

Microbiologist Natália Pasternak and former President of Anvisa Dr. Cláudio Maierovitch meet with the COVID CPI today. President Bolsonaro requests that vaccinated individuals be allowed to forego masks. Paulo Guedes extends the emergency aid program. The Special Committee on Administrative Refor...

CHINA ADVISORY - Report 11 Jun 2021

Biden’s new infrastructure plan is a counter-strike against China’s economic growth and investment in technology. As The Wall Street Journal noted in April, “When President Biden unveiled the plan, he mentioned China six times, including this reference: 'That’s what competition between America an...

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 11 Jun 2021

Sirius Aero is a private jet charter company that is thriving. The company flies people from Moscow to Courchevel, Milan, Majorca, Malaga and Nice in particular. Tickets are USD 2 000 - 10 000. This is the Shuttle Up Service.The number of private flights is 32% up from before the pandemic. Privat...

SOUTH AFRICA - Report 10 Jun 2021

Today’s current account data release by the South African Reserve Bank shows that during the first quarter of 2021, South Africa’s current account recorded its fourth surplus since the first quarter of 2020 (with a deficit having been recorded only during Q2 2020). The latest surplus, which is al...

RUSSIA ECONOMICS - In Brief 10 Jun 2021

The Finance Ministry reported that in 5m21, the federal government spent 41.9% of the annual plan (R21.5 trln). It means that the federal budget expenditures were allocated evenly so far – spending reached R9.0 trln. Federal budget revenues exceeded R9.3 trln (49.7% of the official plan) over the...

BRAZIL POLITICS - Report 10 Jun 2021

The rapporteur for the Administrative Reform proposal is against increasing the number of vacation days for judges. The report on the privatization of Eletrobras should be submitted next Tuesday. There are three possible edits to the text. If the text is edited, it must go to the House for analy...

HUNGARY - In Brief 10 Jun 2021

Yesterday, PM Orbán announced that the government is proposing to return one-year's income tax to taxpayers raising children in early 2022, provided that the economy proves to be going well this year. Later in the day, Márton Nagy, formerly MNB vice governor and currently an advisor to the prime ...

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 10 Jun 2021

It seems like the Russian Central Bank will raise interest rates out of concern over rapidly rising inflation. Interest rates might rise to 5.5% on June 11. Inflation was 6% in May 2021. RUB was 72 to the USD on June 9. RUB is 87 to the EUR.It looks likethe Russian economy has almost recovered fr...

UKRAINE - In Brief 10 Jun 2021

In May inflation sped up to +1.3% m/m or +9.5% y/y from +0.7% m/m or +8.4% y/y in April. Stronger food prices (+1.7% m/m from +1.2% m/m in April) as well as jump in utilities’ tariffs (+3.9% m/m from +0.4% m/m in April) are the main drivers of consumer inflation with foods adding 0.74 ppt (out of...

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - In Brief 09 Jun 2021

The Ministry of Finance announced the reduction of the public debt service by DOP74,908 m (USD1,310 m) for the period 2022-2027, through a liability management operation in the local market. The operation consisted of swapping bonds with a face value of DOP92,427 m (USD1,617.44 m) and interest ra...