GlobalSource Partners | Country Insights

With Israel's October 27 election just eight days away, polls continue to point to a political deadlock, with neither bloc securing a majority. Opposition parties are preparing to advance legislation through the Knesset after the vote, hoping to attract another party to a new coalition or trigger...

Good news for today: fiscal deficit target set at 4.9% GDP, retail margin caps will be lifted

HUNGARY · In Brief · 19 Oct 2026

PM Magyar presented the Tisza's 2027 government budget in a two-hour parliamentary speech this afternoon, which he himself previewed the other day as one of his most important public appearances so far.Starting with the main point, the deficit target has been set at 4.9% of GDP, following the ame...

The final stretch and other weekly topics

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 19 Oct 2026

This is the final week of campaigning ahead of the runoff election on October 25. On Friday, October 23, TV Globo will host a debate featuring Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro. A series of voting intention polls are expected to be released throughout the week. The Senate may vote on the constitutional a...

The political cycle inversion exacts its (steep) price

BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 19 Oct 2026

Lula faces an unfavorable scenario in his bid for re-election. The economy is slowing down, despite the enormous stimuli, and inflation remains high, while billions are spent by the government to artificially contain fuel prices. Polls show Flávio Bolsonaro in a narrow lead, which could be larger...

Flávio Bolsonaro performed slightly better than Lula in yesterday’s debate, this is the final week of campaigning before the runoff on Sunday, and the Senate may vote on the Public Security PEC

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 19 Oct 2026

In yesterday’s debate (Oct. 18) on TV Bandeirantes, the first of the runoff, Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) performed slightly better than Lula (PT). He successfully steered the confrontation toward public security, corruption, and food prices—issues that are priorities for voters and areas of vulnerabili...

Chinese GDP grew 4.5% in Q3

CHINA FINANCIAL · Report · 19 Oct 2026

Special points to highlight in this report: * China’s record-breaking trade surplus reflects weak domestic demand, not export strength. While many analysts are describing China as having a two-track economy, with a strong export sector and weak domestic demand, this is not the right way to de...

State capability, crisis fire-fighting and judicial checks in Indian finance

INDIA · Report · 19 Oct 2026

India enacted a formal bankruptcy process for non-financial firms on May 28, 2016. Resolution of financial firms was not solved after the withdrawal of the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill on August 7, 2018. Without codified rules, financial distress is managed through administrati...

Politics: Rebellion in the health system confirms a crisis in public health services

MEXICO · Report · 19 Oct 2026

The health system’s crisis has erupted through union mobilization. On October 13, IMSS workers protested in 37 cities across 25 states over low wages, long shifts, unstable contracts, run-down facilities, and shortages of equipment and medicines. Two days later, the more than 400,000 unionized wo...

Economics: The progress and outlook for the Infrastructure Investment Plan for Development with Well-being

MEXICO · Report · 19 Oct 2026

The Infrastructure Investment Plan for Development with Well-being projects spending of 5.6 trillion pesos between 2026 and 2030, including an additional 722 billion pesos this year. That is close to 2% of GDP and is directed mainly at energy. However, its financing is in doubt: public revenue in...

A most critical MPC on deck

TURKEY · Report · 18 Oct 2026

President Erdogan proclaimed an end to the fund crisis, as judicial operations against CHP-run municipalities and MPs stepped up. Also, Turkey’s leading pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV was taken over by the SDIF. Is this the rallying call of Erdogan’s final assault against the opposition nexu...

GULF WEEKLY: Houthis strike Riyadh, Iran hits a record 12 ships, IMF forecasts -5% contraction

GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 16 Oct 2026

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * A Houthi strike on Riyadh airport killed 13, and they also hit Aramco’s HQ in Dhahran. * The Houthis tightened their encirclement of Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, and held on to most of the coast. * 12 ships were stru...

The moment of truth is coming

HUNGARY · Forecast · 16 Oct 2026

At present, all eyes seem to be focused on the upcoming budget plan for 2027 and the macro roadmap for 2027-2030, all set to become publicly known next week. Investors will likely see a substantial reduction of the deficit target for next year, but they should not expect a miracle in that regard....

The latest poll shows the race is statistically tied, Lula was interviewed on Jornal Nacional last night, and today Congress will enact the 6x1 proposal

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 16 Oct 2026

Ten days before the runoff, the Datafolha poll released last night (Oct. 15) shows Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) with 51% of valid votes, compared with 49% for Lula (PT). With a two-point margin of error, the race is statistically tied. A week ago, the gap was four points: 52% to 48%. In his interview wi...

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: From tech boom to lasting wealth—Armenia vs Georgia

CAUCASUS / CENTRAL ASIA · Report · 16 Oct 2026

The Georgian press enthusiastically reported last week almost US$850mn in ICT export revenues in the first half of the year. This has prompted me to evaluate whether the post-2022 ICT boom has generated lasting gains in GDP, jobs, income and FX earnings, and whether Georgia or Armenia is better p...

Tax revenues behind the overly ambitious plan as economic growth moderated

KAZAKHSTAN · In Brief · 16 Oct 2026

Recently released economic and budget execution data show that growth remains steady, though slower than in 2025. The Bureau of National Statistics reports that the short-term indicator - a monthly measure of activity across industry, agriculture, construction, transportation, trade, and communic...