GlobalSource Partners | Country Insights

The current domestic scenario has been characterized by resilient activity, marked by positive surprises at the beginning of the year, and an increasingly tight labor market. In the Copom minutes, the Committee indicates that in this context, combined with the adverse external environment and unm...

Iran’s president dies – what comes next?

GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 20 May 2024

* President Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash. * There has been no suggestion of foul play. * Elections are due by July 9, and a handpicked hardliner will win. * This comes as a sensitive time, when Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei may not have long to live a...

What will China do about excess housing?

CHINA FINANCIAL · Report · 20 May 2024 · 1 response

Special points to highlight in this issue: * The Third Plenum is scheduled to be held in July, much later than the expected October or November date last year. Most analysts believe the long delay suggests the lack of a consensus over how to address weak domestic demand, a rapidly contracting...

The Senate should vote on the payroll tax exemption bill, the Working Group on Tax Reform regulation may be installed this week, and the TRE-RJ should review the impeachment case against the governor of Rio de Janeiro

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 20 May 2024

This week, the Senate will vote on Senator Efraim Filho's (União-PB) bill to exempt payroll taxes for 17 sectors of the economy. According to the agreement with the government, there will be a gradual resumption of the tax at a rate of 5% in 2025, 10% in 2026, 15% in 2027, and 20% in 2028. The in...

Economics: Indicators for the first months of 2024 suggest a gradual yet sustained weakening of economic activity

MEXICO · Report · 20 May 2024

The first months of 2024 have witnessed a gradual but sustained weakening of economic activity that comes on top of other economic challenges, both internal and external, that will be exacerbated during 2025. On the supply side, the monthly GDP proxy IGAE showed 1.9% yoy average growth for the...

Inflation is expected to accelerate

ISRAEL · Report · 20 May 2024

1. Despite strong GDP growth in Q124, the level of activity remains significantly below potential. 2. Inflation is expected to accelerate on the back of fiscal expansion, a tight labor market and excess demand in the housing market. 3. As long as geopolitical risks remain elevated, it is di...

President Abinader re-elected in the first round.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · In Brief · 20 May 2024

With 59.05% of the votes counted in his favor and the recognition of his victory by his adversaries Abel Martinez and Leonel Fernández, President Luis Abinader has been reelected in the first round. So far, only 44% of the votes have been counted. The total vote obtained so far by Leonel Fernánde...

Damn the package, full speed ahead

TURKEY · Report · 19 May 2024

The post-election shakeup in Turkish politics continues at an accelerating pace, with surprising twists and turns. The current fashion is “normalization”, which obviously means different things to each protagonist, but in essence entails rapprochement between rival blocs and more cooperative deci...

With geopolitical risks elevated and inflation set to accelerate, monetary loosening will be postponed

ISRAEL · In Brief · 19 May 2024

Geopolitics: Military operations escalated both in Gaza and in the Northern border. Israel has returned to several areas in Gaza, in addition to pushing into Rafah. The missile barrage from Lebanon has become more intense. Gantz (from the opposition, who joined the military cabinet) demanded a pl...

Georgian President vetoes Foreign Agent Bill

CIS POLITICS · In Brief · 19 May 2024

On May 18 Salome Zurabashvili said she was vetoing the bill because of its unconstitutionality. The Georgian Dream Party has a super majority in parliament and so could override the presidential veto. They have offered to negotiate with the president and remove the more objectionable clauses in ...

Abinader’s first-round reelection prospects strengthen

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · Report · 17 May 2024

The latest polls in the runup to the May 19th national elections indicate that President Luis Abinader will be reelected in the first round, with at least 60% of voters polled saying they planned to vote for him. After the overwhelming victory of the official PRM party in the February 18th munic...

GULF WEEKLY: Kuwait suspends parliament, Emirates makes record profit, Moody’s hikes Bahrain deficit, UAE sends $14bn to Egypt

GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 17 May 2024 · 1 response

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * OPEC has shifted its core unit of analysis in its oil market reports to OPEC+ for the first time. * Half of Rafah’s population has been displaced, and Israel’s cabinet argued over postwar planning. * UK-GCC free trade tal...

US sanctions on Russia for buying arms from North Korea

CIS POLITICS · In Brief · 17 May 2024

On May 16 the announcement was made in relation to two Russian men and three companies. The United States said these entities have purchased ballistic missiles, shells and other items for use in Ukraine. Almost all of North Korea's military hardware is of Soviet design, so it is compatible with R...

An agreement has been reached on municipalities' payroll tax exemption, the Working Group on Tax Reform regulation may be installed next week, and the STF should discuss the ADI on unjustified labor dismissals

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 17 May 2024

After a meeting with Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), Minister of Finance Fernando Haddad and Minister of Institutional Relations Alexandre Padilha announced an agreement on the payroll tax exemption for municipalities. It was agreed that the exemption for municipalities will be applie...

Slide Presentation: Colombia - A turbulent year

COLOMBIA · Report · 17 May 2024 · 3 responses

Gain insight into the current challenges facing Colombia as we discuss the prospects for rate cuts, health care and pension reform, and the fiscal situation in our slide presentation "Colombia - A turbulent year".