NEWS FLASH

UPCOMING WEBINAR - CENTRAL AMERICA OUTLOOK: COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, GU...

Monetary caution due to elevated uncertainty
ISRAEL · Report · 04 Mar 2024

1. Rates remained stable last week due to elevated uncertainty, both geo-political and fiscal. 2. Private consumption has rebounded since the initial impact of the war and is currently above pre-war levels. 3. The shekel continued to appreciate in expectation of an imminent cease-fire, se...

When the music's over
CHILE · Report · 04 Mar 2024 · 1 response

The Central Bank took a significant step in January, by reducing the Monetary Policy Rate (TPM) by 100bp and adjusting its baseline scenario to a more accelerated convergence towards the neutral level. The new timeline for the TPM's convergence to its neutral level is set for the second half of 2...

Cha-Cha as an economic risk
PHILIPPINES · In Brief · 04 Mar 2024

In our previous report dated February 12, 2024, we raised the brewing issue of a possible break up in the UniTeam of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Vice-President Sara Duterte. The cracks were beginning to be more apparent first in the International Criminal Court (ICC) involving the Vice-Pres...

March spells survival of the fittest
TURKEY · Report · 03 Mar 2024

The politics author hereby presents his preliminary predictions for local elections. In a nutshell, things are not looking good for President Erdogan at the moment. Ankara may have already slipped out of his grasp, while AKP candidate Kurum’s chances in Istanbul are no more than 50% in his view. ...

Monetary caution due to elevated uncertainty
ISRAEL · In Brief · 03 Mar 2024

The BoI preferred to err on the side of caution: The rate hold decision last week was not a major surprise as expectations were split. We think the major factors contributing to this decision were: the postponement of fiscal approval, shekel volatility following the Moody’s downgrade, and the pos...

Bulgaria ends Russian oil imports
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 02 Mar 2024

On March 1 Bulgaria made the announcement that it has finally brought itself fully into line with EU sanctions on Russia. The sanctions on Russian oil adopted in 2022 granted exemptions to Hungary and Bulgaria because they were heavily reliant on Russian oil. Bulgaria's exemption was due to be ph...

Netherlands signs security guarantee with Ukraine
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 01 Mar 2024

On March 1 the Dutch Prime Minister signed the agreement in Kharkiv, Ukraine. It is surprising that Mark Rutte traveled to the city, which is so close to the front line. The Netherlands pledged EUR 2 billion in military aid and more assistance until 2034. The Dutch reaffirmed that they want Ukrai...

GULF WEEKLY: PIF and Sharjah issue debt, UAE invests $35bn in Egypt, Qatar expands LNG, UAE delisted by FATF
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 01 Mar 2024 · 1 response

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * OPEC+ sources indicated that the current cuts could next week be extended into Q2. * A new Gaza ceasefire proposal is under review as the death toll crosses 30k, including 112 in a single incident this week. * Abu Dhabi i...

Russian macro: Early 2024 economic trends remain generally unchanged but hint at deceleration
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · Report · 01 Mar 2024

Rosstat recently published the economic statistics for January, and the numbers confirmed that trends remain unchanged in general. For instance, the aggregate output in the basic sectors of the economy (industry, agriculture, construction, transportation, trade) grew by 5.4% y-o-y last month, whi...

Essential CIS Politics: March 2024
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 01 Mar 2024

* Russia took Avdiivka: Russia’s greatest victory for almost a year. * Russian anti-corruption campaigner Alexey Navalny died suddenly in jail. * President of Azerbaijan re-elected in an election that was described by some as unfair. * Ukraine is to receive another EUR 50 billion from the ...

The local election result is a warning to the ruling JLP despite what appears to be a narrow win
JAMAICA / BAHAMAS · Report · 01 Mar 2024

While the final count is not quite yet finished for Jamaica’s local government, on Monday, February 26, the ruling JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) appears to have eked a very narrow victory in terms of the number of municipalities it controlled, although a number were effectively tied. Confusingly, bo...

The IBGE published the GDP at 2.9% for 2023, city halls will hold a demonstration in Brasilia next week in support of the payroll tax exemption, and the Senate discusses changes to electoral legislation
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 01 Mar 2024

Today’s highlight is the publication of the GDP result, which was reported by the IBGE at 2.9% for 2023. The result strengthens Minister Fernando Haddad in the government and increases his prestige within the National Congress. The National Confederation of Municipalities is organizing a demonstr...

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: What is Armenia's Pashinyan strategy to stay in power?
CAUCASUS / CENTRAL ASIA · Report · 01 Mar 2024

PM Pashinyan’s geopolitical equilibristics have left Armenia uncomfortably exposed in the ever-changing regional dynamics in the aftermath of the 3rd Karabakh War. The series of Russia-unfriendly steps undertaken by Pashinyan, including joining the International Criminal Court and suspending part...

Sharpening talk between the MNB and the government has a negative impact on the forint
HUNGARY · In Brief · 01 Mar 2024

The forint has weakened by 1-2% in EURHUF terms from its level held immediately before the Monetary Council's latest rate-setting meeting on February 27. This could be traced back to mainly to the acceleration of the monthly pace of rate-cutting, of course. But the MNB made an attempt to counter ...

The complex awakening from the Kirchnerist "Matrix"
ARGENTINA · Report · 29 Feb 2024

Leaving aside Mauricio Macri’s four-year mandate, Argentina has been immersed over the last 23 years in an economic environment defined by taxing state interventions into basic individual economic decisions. Repeatedly, the “Kirchnerist” governments tackled macroeconomic imbalances by applying mi...