NEWS FLASH

UPCOMING WEBINAR: OUTLOOK FOR THE GULF AFTER 12 WEEKS OF WAR...

Politics: The U.S. requests the extradition of Morena politicians, including sitting Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya
MEXICO · Report · 04 May 2026

On April 28th, the U.S. Department of Justice submitted an extradition request for Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and nine other current and former state officials on charges of drug trafficking conspiracy, narcotics distribution, and firearms offenses in connection with the Sinaloa Cartel. Th...

Executive Branch weakens further and other weekly topics
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 04 May 2026

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced the Desenrola II program. The Special Committee discussing the end of the 6x1 work schedule will present its work plan. At the Supreme Court, attention turns to the trial of direct actions of unconstitutionality challenging Law No. 12,734/12, which es...

Iran war could erode Bahamian growth and reserves as election race tightens
JAMAICA / BAHAMAS · Report · 04 May 2026

The electoral race in The Bahamas appears to be tightening, with the traditionally sleepy advance poll held last week for essential government workers such as police, and importantly seniors (the latter a traditional key opposition Free National Movement ((FNM)) voting bloc), seeing extremely hig...

Russian macro: the economy at a crossroad
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · Report · 04 May 2026

In earlier reports, we pointed out that this year’s economic data look a bit puzzling, mainly because of ongoing revisions to historical figures. These updates shift short-term growth patterns, as the adjusted m-o-m numbers from last year heavily influence this year’s y-o-y results. Monthly busin...

Inflation's fuel is not just fuel prices
BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 04 May 2026

The inflation outlook is shaped by both the external shock associated with the situation in the Middle East and the deterioration of underlying inflation measures. The acceleration of core inflation and underlying services, combined with broader diffusion, signals that price pressures reflect per...

Lula will announce a new program aimed at reducing household debt, the special committee on the 6x1 work schedule proposal will meet to discuss the work plan, and the STF will decide on the distribution of oil royalties
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 04 May 2026

Today, President Lula will announce Desenrola II, a program aimed at reducing household debt. The signing ceremony for the provisional measure is scheduled for this morning at the Planalto Palace. Tomorrow, the special committee reviewing the proposed constitutional amendment to end the six-days-...

Near the interim target already
TURKEY · Report · 04 May 2026

Monthly CPI inflation surprised notably to the upside in April, coming in at 4.2%, m/m, compared with the (median) market expectation of around 3.2%, with the 12-month CPI-rate increasing materially by 1.5 pps to 32.4%, from 30.9% in March. Monthly domestic PPI inflation was 3.2% in April, markin...

Economics: Mexico's economy facing stagnant growth, persistent inflation, and mounting fiscal risks
MEXICO · Report · 04 May 2026

Figures released in April 2026 depict a Mexican economy under stress. Economic activity weakened, with GDP virtually stagnant at 0.2% YoY in Q1 2026 — a sharp deceleration from 1.8% YoY in Q4 2025 — as industry contracted and services lost momentum. Private consumption growth, although positive, ...

Economic activity resilient -- at least for now
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · Report · 04 May 2026

The Dominican economy strengthened in Q1 2026, with growth accelerating from 2.2% in 2025 to 4.1%, supported by a gradual decline in inflation toward the 4% target. Headline inflation moderated to 4.63% in March. This performance reflects strong external inflows and improved financial conditio...

Private consumption declined sharply in March and partially recovered in April; high-tech services exports remain strong
ISRAEL · In Brief · 04 May 2026

Private consumption declines in March, recovery expected to be gradual Credit card purchases fell by 11.9% in March (real terms, seasonally adjusted), reflecting the disruption to economic activity caused by the war. By comparison, during Operation “Rising Lion” in June 2025, purchases declined b...

Magyar in Brussels, Varga on HUF speculation, and politically driven capital flight
HUNGARY · In Brief · 03 May 2026

Incoming PM Magyar visited the EU headquarters in the middle of last week, seeing the heads of the Commission and the Council separately. With Mme von den Leyen, they agreed that Mr. Magyar will return to Brussels, already as PM, on May 25, to strike a political deal on what exactly Hungary will ...

Early elections, trip notes, etc.
TURKEY · Report · 03 May 2026

Since President Erdogan needs early elections to be eligible for the next presidential race and with only two years left to the deadline for regularly scheduled ones, it is natural that this topic will steadily increase in importance. Despite numerous alleged election dates swirling at the scuttl...

Election forecast: cloudy
COLOMBIA · Report · 01 May 2026

Deteriorating fiscal balances, weakening investment dynamics and rising external vulnerabilities are being driven by a structural imbalance: the government has increasingly absorbed excess savings from both the domestic private sector and foreign sources to finance its growing fiscal deficit. By ...

GULF WEEKLY: Oil surges as talks stall, UAE quits OPEC+, Emirates NBD breaks bond drought
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 01 May 2026

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * There were no US-Iran talks for a second week, and oil surged further as Hormuz remained blocked. * Proposals are still being exchanged via Pakistan, with Iran proposing a mutual blockade lifting. * Four Gulf leaders and ...

Essential CIS Politics: April 16 - May 1, 2026
CIS POLITICS · Report · 01 May 2026

- The 20th package of EU sanctions on Russia imposes secondary sanctions on Kyrgyzstan. - Russia pledges to continue support for Mali despite recent military setbacks. - Kazakhstan denies rumors it will quit OPEC+. - Ukraine plans mass migration program after the war to address labor short...