NEWS FLASH

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

Economics: The economy continues to sputter along
MEXICO · Report · 04 Feb 2019

Economic indicators published in January tended to point to an extension of the trend toward a moderate slowing of the Mexican economy. Trade performance actually improved significantly in December, much to the surprise of analysts as the country posted its first trade surplus of any month since ...

Who is running amok? Hungary is blocking EU foreign policy again
HUNGARY · In Brief · 04 Feb 2019

It seems that PM Orbán's government keeps hammering nails into the coffin of good relations between Hungary and the EU. This time, the theme is a forthcoming summit between the EU and the League of Arab States, scheduled for February 24-25. The EU's foreign ministers were set to discuss their joi...

The government’s victories in Congress and other weekly topics
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 04 Feb 2019

Congress resumes activity this week. Chief of Staff Onyx Lorenzoni takes a message to Congress from the Executive, defining priorities. On Wednesday, the Central Bank sets the benchmark interest rate. On Thursday, President Bolsonaro is expected to be released from Albert Einstein hospital, where...

Asset Prices and Cyclical Recovery
BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 04 Feb 2019

The behavior of asset prices reveals great optimism about the new government’s economic program. However, the latest numbers on the labor market, industrial output and fixed capital investments indicate that the recovery is still very sluggish. The Brazilian economy this year will not be able to ...

A year of definition
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · Report · 04 Feb 2019

For obvious reasons, 2019 is a year of political definition towards the general elections of May 2020. The political parties must choose their candidates for President and Vice-President, the Senate (32 positions), the Chamber of Representatives (190 positions), and also for more than 350 local g...

Schlumberger has lost priority to buy EDC shares
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 04 Feb 2019

Schlumberger had priority on buying shares in Eurasia Drilling Company (EDC). This expired on 1 February and will not be renewed. Moscow has decided on this. Apparently it is not linked to US sanctions. It is thought that Russian competitors lobbied the government not to extend Schlumberger's pri...

EFF launches its 2019 election manifesto – largely a populist agenda
SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 04 Feb 2019

With the 2019 general elections fast approaching, political parties are beginning to intensify their campaigns. The ruling party, the National African Congress (ANC), has centered its promises around reviving South Africa’s economy, while the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) ha...

Food up, core down, service sticky
TURKEY · In Brief · 04 Feb 2019

January consumer price inflation, at 1.06%, m/m, came in broadly in line with expectations, taking the 12-month rate marginally higher to 20.4%, from 20.3% a month earlier. Twelve-month domestic-PPI inflation continued to decline, though at a much slower pace than in recent months, to 32.9% from ...

Rate hike unlikely before 2020
ISRAEL · Report · 04 Feb 2019

Recent data point to some increasing slack in the labor market. In addition, private consumption demand appears to be slowing. Lastly, the shekel continues to appreciate against both the dollar and the Euro. These are all factors supporting low inflation and therefore, rate stability as well, thr...

Russia trying to switch to domestic software - unsuccessfully
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 04 Feb 2019

The Russian Audit Chamber published statistics showing that in 2017-18 government agencies purchased USD 130 million of domestically produced software and USD 263 million of foreign created software. This is disappointing because the government would like to see its agencies buying more Russian m...

Can the Fed save us again?
TURKEY · Forecast · 03 Feb 2019

Last year ended better than feared by some measures, markets have been constructive on Turkey so far this year and now the Fed, recoiling from recent market turbulence, has signaled that it is probably finished with rate hikes for now, and moreover, that the balance sheet runoff may end sooner th...

Senate elects Davi Alcolumbre
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 02 Feb 2019 · 1 response

After a turbulent electoral process, the Senate has elected Davi Alcolumbre (DEM-AP) as the president of the Senate. He obtained 42 votes.Alcolumbre is close to Bolsonaro’s Chief of Staff, Onyx Lorenzoni.

House of Representatives: Maia wins and says at least two months of debates ahead for Pension Reform
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 02 Feb 2019

Rodrigo Maia’s (DEM-RJ) third successful bid for the speakership of the Lower House, with 334 votes, reveals his ability to build support. His election is also a win for the Bolsonaro administration, which further reinforces the favorable environment for the agenda of economic reforms, especially...

Russia planning to increase hydropower
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 01 Feb 2019

The Russian Army is planning to blow up a channel blocking the waterflow to Bureya Reservoir in the Russian Far East. The low production of hydroelectricity in the region has driven up electricity prices. Coal is being used to make up the shortfall. Russia wants to have as much coal as possible f...

Land expropriation without compensation in South Africa: A chronological update
SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 01 Feb 2019

It was during its 54th National Elective Conference in December 2017 (ANC 54) at Nasrec, the same conference that resulted in the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as the new President of the organization, that the ruling African National Conference (ANC) also elected to pursue land expropriation witho...