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UPCOMING WEBINAR - PANAMA IN FOCUS: US RELATIONS, CANAL STRATEGY AND FI...

GDP growth for Q1 2015 reported at 6.5%
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · In Brief · 21 May 2015 · 3 responses

The Central Bank reported that the Dominican economy recorded an outstanding 6.5% GDP growth in Q1 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. This is the highest rate of economic growth in the region when compared to forecasts. Panama is the second highest with 5.1% followed by Guatemala (4.4%), H...

Continuity versus Change
ARGENTINA · Forecast · 21 May 2015

Executive Summary Recent opinion polls do not dismiss the possibility that Daniel Scioli could be elected President in the first round of the October election. Mauricio Macri and Sergio Massa, and some other less relevant candidates, are still competing for the non-Kirchnerist vote, which accordi...

Economics: Remittance Recovery Continues
MEXICO · Report · 20 May 2015

Executive Summary In 2014 Mexico set a new post 2008-2009 record for the volume of remittances it received. In dollars, such inflows grew by 8% compared to the previous year, to total US$23.65 billion. This growth trend extended through the first quarter of 2015, with remittances rising by anothe...

Politics: How the Race is Shaping Up
MEXICO · Report · 20 May 2015

Executive Summary In just under three weeks voters in all 31 states and the Federal District will head to the polls to elect their congressional representatives. Simultaneously there will be state legislative and/or municipal contests in roughly half of those states, including nine that will elec...

Lira Is All That Matters, Redux
TURKEY · Report · 20 May 2015

Today, as expected, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept all short term-interest rates unchanged (see graph). The only difference from the previous MPC statement concerns the belated inclusion of a sentence on the adverse impact of lira weakness on core inflation dynamics (“…recently elevated...

Cabinet requests Parliament to allow imposing moratorium on external debt repayments
UKRAINE · In Brief · 19 May 2015 · 1 response

The Cabinet intends to submit to the parliament a draft law which should allow the Cabinet to impose moratorium on external debt repayments, media reported today. This move followed a series of messages from Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko about complicated process of negotiations. Does it mean ...

Amid Struggle Between Titans, Opposition PRM Rises
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · Forecast · 19 May 2015

Executive Summary The economy grew by a robust 6% in Q1, with accumulated inflation only 0.64%, the Central Bank reported. Currency pressures declined in March, pushing net international reserves up slightly, while tax revenues rose in line with nominal GDP growth rates. Spending also accelerated...

Is Beijing backsliding on rebalancing?
CHINA FINANCIAL · In Brief · 18 May 2015

Yes and no. The PBoC cut lending and deposit rates May 10, but raised the deposit ceiling and pressured banks to maintain deposit rates. They’re trying to rebalance but it's tough. Growth was probably unexpectedly low, but for the past 3-4 years I've said growth must grind lower because Beijing c...

How Far Will the Current Monetary Tightening Go?
BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 18 May 2015

The market is reacting to the signals sent by the Central Bank and expects a continuing increase in the interest rate. Last week the yield curve indicated that the market expects the SELIC rate to be raised by 50 basis points at the next COPOM meeting, and that this would not be the last hike. Af...

Week of May 18
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 18 May 2015

The fiscal austerity measures remain on the political agenda. The House may vote on the bill on payroll tax exemptions and on MP 668/15 (PIS and Cofins for imports). In the Senate, analysis of MP 665/14, on unemployment insurance and salary bonuses, is on the agenda. By Friday, the government wil...

Without an External Impulse, the Recession Will be Longer
BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 18 May 2015

Executive Summary Brazil has entered a recession in which, because of the high inflation and the need for fiscal adjustment, the authorities cannot use counter-cyclical measures. And unlike the recession of 2008-2009, the country cannot count on an impulse from abroad either. With the apprecia...

Weekly Tracker: May 17-23
TURKEY · Report · 17 May 2015

Executive Summary With three weeks left to the ballot date, opinion polls mostly reflect the political bias of the polling company, rather than the reality. We stick to our forecast of a weak AKP victory, with HDP making it to the parliament. Yet, it is quite possible that voters are lying to pol...

Heading for the Homestretch
PHILIPPINES · Forecast · 14 May 2015

Executive Summary The government of Benigno Aquino is heading towards its last year in office basking in glowing reviews about the resilience and growth potential of the economy.As the din characteristic of pre-election Philippines grows louder, many wonder whether they will see a more active Pre...

Economics: Credit Still Flowing to Businesses
MEXICO · Report · 13 May 2015

Executive Summary In keeping with the recovery seen in internal consumption of recent months, bank credit for durable goods purchases increased in each of the first three months of 2015 and in the process capped a 14-month long contraction in the availability of such loans. However, credit issued...

Growth & Fiscal Policy Remain Largely Intact
HUNGARY · Report · 13 May 2015

Executive Summary Preliminary Q1 2015 GDP (+0.6% qoq, +3.1% yoy sda) was slightly down from last year but growth is still running at relatively high pace, due to strong consumer demand and impressive export data. The government’s 2015 GDP forecast has been raised to 3.1%, suggesting that the econ...