NEWS FLASH

UPCOMING WEBINAR - PERU IN 2026: POLITICAL RISKS, ELECTIONS, AND ECONOM...

GULF WEEKLY: Oman mediates US-Iran talks, Qatar signs major LNG deals, Kuwait reshuffles cabinet
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 06 Feb 2026

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * Oman mediated US-Iran talks, and the market-implied risk of US strikes this month halved to 30%. * The Saudi flash GDP reading showed non-oil growth slowing to a two-year low of 3.2% in Q4. * The UAE’s PMI rose to 55.9, t...

In an interview Lula said that both Haddad and Alckmin have a role to play in São Paulo, Justice Dino ordered the suspension of “extra perks” in the public sector, and next week should be quiet as it precedes Carnaval
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 06 Feb 2026

Yesterday, in an interview with UOL, President Lula said that both Finance Minister Fernando Haddad and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin have a role to play in São Paulo. Both have so far resisted running for elective office in October, but pressure is mounting. Yesterday, Supreme Court Justice Flá...

Swallowing frogs, kissing the ring, and doing the responsible thing
COLOMBIA · Report · 06 Feb 2026 · 1 response

Why did Donald Trump want to meet with Gustavo Petro in Washington? Probably because it was cheaper to scold Petro face to face; to ask for real commitment and actions that comply with the U.S. agenda; and to bring him to the White House to kiss the ring, instead of intimidating him with the U.S....

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: Uzbekistan is gingerly breaking away from the twin-deficit curse
CAUCASUS / CENTRAL ASIA · Report · 06 Feb 2026

Probably the most cited economic risks for Uzbekistan over the years have been its persistent CA and fiscal gaps. Indeed, the twin deficits ballooned from a virtual balance in 2017 to a hefty 12.6% of GDP in 2023. The surge in fiscal spending in the post-COVID years and political cycle-related lo...

Two presidential voting polls were released yesterday, Lula attended a dinner last night with congressional leaders, and the CPMI on the INSS may hear from the INSS president
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 05 Feb 2026

Yesterday, two presidential voting polls were released, both showing similar results. A poll conducted by Meio/Ideia Big Data indicates that President Lula (PT) leads in all five tested first-round scenarios. The Gerp Institute also confirmed the polarized landscape between President Lula (PT) an...

Russia: a brief market watch
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 05 Feb 2026

The FX market has stayed steady despite various external pressures. Interestingly, investors seem to overlook the drop in oil revenues for the budget. Reports say the discount on Russian oil to Brent hit $27/bbl in early February. Considering US pressure on India, a fall in oil-related export rev...

Inflation remained elevated in January, the NBK held the base rate steady amid mounting uncertainty
KAZAKHSTAN · In Brief · 04 Feb 2026

While the initial economic and financial figures for January don’t look too bad, growing uncertainty has led the National Bank to keep the base rate at 18%. The NBK thinks inflation expectations are still high and seems set on holding the base rate steady for about six months. Y-o-y inflation is ...

The Senate approved the People’s Gas Provisional Measure, the government’s priority is now the “6x1” work schedule, and Haddad said he presented two names to Lula for positions at the Central Bank
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 04 Feb 2026

The Senate concluded yesterday the vote on the People’s Gas provisional measure (MP 1,313/25). As no substantive changes were made, the bill now moves to the President’s desk for final approval. Another government priority is ending the so-called “6x1” work schedule. According to Congressman Lind...

Keep calm and carry (on)
TURKEY · Report · 04 Feb 2026

Preventing regime change in Iran has become the number one policy priority for Ankara, which is rightfully mindful of negative spillovers across the border. The politics author thinks a peace deal between Iran and US-Israel is not very likely, thus sharing Ankara’s concern. At home, it is calm...

Institutional FX sales drive shekel appreciation, following non-resident flows in Q2–Q3
ISRAEL · In Brief · 04 Feb 2026

Since September 2024, the shekel has strengthened markedly, reaching multi-year highs and outperforming most major currencies. Over this period, the shekel has appreciated by around 18% against the U.S. dollar, about 23% against the Japanese yen, and roughly 12% against the euro. At the same time...

The Most Serene Committee
BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 03 Feb 2026

The minutes of the last Copom meeting brought relatively few novelties compared to the Statement released last week, but, taken as a whole, they reinforce our conviction that the most likely scenario for monetary policy involves the beginning of the monetary easing cycle with a 0.50 p.p. cut at t...

EU finally prohibited gas imports from Russia, Hungary sues at the European Court
HUNGARY · In Brief · 03 Feb 2026

The EU regulation to prohibit the imports of natural gas from Russia was finally published in the EU's official gazette on January 26, after being approved by the European Parliament in early December and by the EU Council at a later date. This regulation does not prohibit the imports of Russian ...

The House approved the People’s Gas Provisional Measure, the Executive Branch outlined its legislative priorities for the year, and the Supreme Court also outlined its priorities for the year
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 03 Feb 2026

Yesterday, the House approved the People’s Gas Provisional Measure. Considered an important initiative for the government, Provisional Measure No. 1,313/25 establishes the People’s Gas Program, aimed at expanding access to cooking gas in Brazil. In its message to Congress, the Executive Branch al...

Inflation: a challenging start to 2026
TURKEY · Report · 03 Feb 2026

Consumer prices rose by a higher than expected 4.8%, m/m, in January, with the 12-month CPI rate therefore easing only slightly to 30.7% from 30.9% in December, while producer prices rose by 2.7% (January 2025: 3.1%, m/m) with the 12-month rate easing to 27.2% from 27.7% in December. The key driv...

Macroeconomic and geopolitical developments – Weekly report, February 3, 2026
ISRAEL · Report · 03 Feb 2026

Recent data point to a clearer improvement in Israel’s macroeconomic fundamentals toward year-end 2025, supported by a rebound in activity, strong high-tech exports, and easing inflationary pressures. The recent upgrade in Israel’s credit outlook will reinforce confidence in the macro-fiscal envi...