GlobalSource Partners | Country Insights

According to the Bureau of Economic Statistics, Kazakhstan’s economic growth slowed this year, with GDP rising 4.1% y-o-y in 1H26 and the short-term indicator of monthly economic activity up 4.8% y-o-y in 9M26 — both weaker than in 2025. However, given that economic statistics are neither fully a...

MPC cuts the policy rate by 100 bps, signals more to come

TURKEY · Report · 22 Oct 2026

The CBRT/MPC lowered the policy rate (one-week repo rate) 100 bps to 36% today, while also adjusting the O/N lending and borrowing rates by equal amounts, in line with the consensus. In the descriptive part of the statement, the Bank now comes across more confident regarding underlying inflati...

The latest polls continue to show Flávio Bolsonaro with a slight advantage, Lula invited Flávio to join him at the TSE today to disclose their confidential records, and Lula is using the presidency in his favor

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 22 Oct 2026

A Quaest poll released yesterday (Oct. 21) shows a statistical tie with four days to go before the runoff. Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) has 45% of voting intentions, compared with 44% for Lula (PT). Two other polls released yesterday also show Flávio ahead. In the Gerp poll, he has 53% of valid votes, c...

Medium Term Budget Policy Statement showcases fiscal consolidation gaining traction

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 22 Oct 2026

Beyond the infrastructure agenda, the 2026 MTBPS reinforces government's commitment to fiscal consolidation and debt sustainability. The National Treasury confirmed that gross government debt stabilized at 78.4% of GDP in FY2025/26, compared with the 78.9% projected in the February Budget. This r...

Bi-Weekly Economic News Summary

KAZAKHSTAN · In Brief · 22 Oct 2026

Oct 8 Finance Ministry: Kazakhstan has earned an Index Watch Positive status after JPMorgan’s 2026 review of its index classification, potentially paving the way for the country’s sovereign bonds to be included in the GBI‑EM index. National nuclear company: The shareholders of Kazatomprom approve...

Panama's earthquake: economic implications and recovery outlook

PANAMA · Report · 22 Oct 2026

Panama’s October 9 earthquake caused significant localized damage, particularly in Los Santos, Herrera and Veraguas. As of October 18, approximately 27,516 people had been reported affected nationwide, with 8,403 homes damaged, including 2,081 classified as total losses. Although aftershocks cont...

Budget blunder

COLOMBIA · In Brief · 21 Oct 2026

Even though Congress approved the 2027 budget before the constitutional deadline (October 20th), a serious procedural mistake was made. The floor of the House approved a proposition that was not considered by the floor of the Senate, a situation that would have required an additional step: delega...

Lula calls on Flávio Bolsonaro to disclose his confidential records, the Federal Police requested more time to investigate Lula’s son, and Lula is expected to sign into the law a bill forgiving debts of MEIs

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 21 Oct 2026

President Lula sharpened his rhetoric in the final stretch of the campaign. Yesterday, Lula said that Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) should only be allowed to take part in the TV Globo debate if he presents a document authorizing the disclosure of his confidential records. The Federal Police (PF) asked th...

An uncertain electoral outlook given Noboa’s hits and misses

ECUADOR · Forecast · 21 Oct 2026

We recognize that President Noboa inherited a complex situation when he assumed his office in 2023. This included an unstable and vulnerable fiscal situation that endangered dollarization and an escalation in violence and organized crime that Ecuador had never before witnessed in its history. ...

No base rate change yesterday, new details revealed on the draft budget

HUNGARY · In Brief · 21 Oct 2026

Yesterday's Monetary Council meeting and Mr. Varga's post-meeting presentation almost became non-events, against the backdrop of the government's simultaneous presentation of the 2027 budget, consisting of an unusually long and detailed parliamentary speech by the Prime Minister two days ago, and...

Exchange rate management near the nominal centenary threshold

INDIA · Report · 21 Oct 2026

Across the summer and autumn of 2026, Indian macroeconomic management has oriented itself around a nominal exchange rate focal point of Rs 100 to the US dollar. The policy response transitioned from balance-sheet liability engineering to micro-level market impediments and tighter domestic liquid...

Disinflation put to the test

VENEZUELA · Report · 20 Oct 2026

September showed that monetary restraint can contain exchange rate pressures even as the official supply of foreign currency declines. Monthly inflation slid to 8.4 percent from 8.9 percent in August, as slower public spending growth and tighter monetary conditions curbed demand for dollars and n...

The limits of disinflation and the challenge of growth with one year to the 2027 presidential election

ARGENTINA · Report · 20 Oct 2026

With one year remaining until the presidential election on October 24, 2027, and roughly ten months until the mandatory primary elections (PASO) that will define party candidates, the window to reverse the modest results of the economic program—in terms of activity and inflation—is narrow. The go...

Another rate hike? The case for 50 basis points

PHILIPPINES · Report · 20 Oct 2026

The Philippine economy faces a difficult policy dilemma as inflationary pressures intensify even as economic activity remains weak. Headline inflation has accelerated, while core inflation has risen from 2.4% in the first nine months of 2025 to 3.8% in the same period of 2026, suggesting that pri...

Polls show Flávio Bolsonaro has a slight advantage ahead of the runoff, activities in Congress will be limited this week, and the government will rely on executive action

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 20 Oct 2026

Six days before the runoff, polls released yesterday (Oct. 19) show Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) ahead, although the race has tightened compared with the immediate aftermath of the first round. Flávio continues to hold a slight edge, but the election remains open. Rejection rates for both candidates are...