TURKEY - Report 18 Jan 2015

Executive Summary As ISIS and Yemeni al-Qaeda urge their followers to attack Europe, authorities in large EU countries remain on high alert, leading us to think that Charlie Hebdo-like incidents may occur more frequently. Ankara, too, remains deeply concerned about contagion from fundamentalist t...

PERU - Report 16 Jan 2015

Executive Summary Congress approved most of the Finance Ministry’s proposed economic stimulus measures, as expected. A few are still pending, including measures that soften conditions for job cuts, especially prized by businesses. But a law that allows new workers under age 24 to be treated less ...

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Report 16 Jan 2015

Executive Summary Preliminary figures from the Central Bank indicate that GDP growth for 2014 exceeded expectations.It recorded an increase of 7.1% compared to 2013, the highest in Latin America. All economic sectors registered growth. The leading activities were mining (20.9%), construction (11....

HUNGARY - In Brief 16 Jan 2015

In our Quarterly Report, out early this week, we expected a weaker forint for 2015, but we did not think it would come about as quickly as it did. In the wake of the Swiss National Bank's decision yesterday, EURHUF has strengthened by 1%, to 323, and CHFHUF has jumped by no less than 52 units, to...

RUSSIA ENERGY / FINANCE - In Brief 14 Jan 2015

Changes in CBR’s management were announced today at Gaidar Forum. There will be new Deputy Governor responsible for monetary policy. Dmitry Tulin will change Ksenia Yudaeva in that position. Mr Tulin worked in CBR in 1991-1994 and 2004-2006 (as Deputy Governor for banking supervision; he was one ...

CHINA FINANCIAL - Report 14 Jan 2015

Special Points To Highlight In This Issue:In spite of overwhelming historical evidence, and a sophisticated understanding of the mechanics of financial distress in finance theory, one of the most consistent mistakes macroeconomists make is their failure to recognize the growth constraints that em...

HUNGARY - In Brief 14 Jan 2015

CPI-inflation for December 2014 is out this morning: -0.7% mom / -0.9% yoy (-0.7% yoy in November). The consensus expectation was -0.4-(-0.5%) yoy in various polls. Core inflation is down to 0.8% yoy from 1.2% in November, and our estimate of the underlying inflation rate is down very sharply, to...

MEXICO - Report 13 Jan 2015

Executive Summary Aggregate supply and demand data at the third quarter of 2014 describe a scenario in which Mexico’s non petroleum exports remain strong, private investment and consumption are recovering at a slightly more solid pace, and public spending remains stalled as continuing growth in p...

MEXICO - Report 13 Jan 2015

Executive Summary The two events that will dominate political life in Mexico during the first half of the year are this June’s midterm congressional elections and simultaneous local races in 17 states, and the spring session of Congress with its huge backlog of crucial legislation. At a time when...

UKRAINE - Forecast 13 Jan 2015

Executive Summary Though the year has begun, it’s still hard to envision how the next 12 months will unfold. Russian aggression is still on the agenda, but the core troublemaker right now is Ukraine’s 2015 budget. Disregarding the need to comply with the IMF austerity measures, the Ukrainian auth...

RUSSIA ENERGY / FINANCE - In Brief 12 Jan 2015

Rosstat released today CPI data for December which matched preliminary estimates published at year-end. In December consumer prices rose 2.6% m-o-m, highest growth rates since January, 2005. In annual terms CPI reached 11.4% y-o-y, maximum since August, 2009. Rise in inflation was broad-based. Fo...

BRAZIL POLITICS - Report 12 Jan 2015

The government’s help for electric energy distributors and the possible ministerial meeting are the two most important events for the week.Decisions on second and third-tier posts are also on the agenda. In the economy, we highlight the release of the GDP preview for November by the Central Bank....

HUNGARY - Forecast 12 Jan 2015

Executive SummarySince our previous Quarterly Report in October 2014, Hungary’s outlook has not changed dramatically, though it has been significantly modified by external factors like sharply falling crude oil prices, the weakening of the European business cycle, and the most recent deterioratio...

BRAZIL ECONOMICS - Report 12 Jan 2015

In its most recent pronouncement, the Central Bank promised it would do “what is necessary to reduce inflation”. This is not the first time this promise has been made, and the fear that it will again not be kept justifies caution in making any projections. Although the presence of Joaquim Levy at...

TURKEY - Report 11 Jan 2015

Executive Summary As a terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo shocked the world, smaller scale incidents in Istanbul were causing deep concern for us. Experts warn that a spate of bombings and sabotages may be in the cards for Turkey. AKP successfully hushed up the graft probe against four ex-minister...