GlobalSource Partners | Country Insights

On February 11 the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that Russia could launch a full-scale war imminently. The US has warned its citizens in Ukraine to leave by February 13. Some say that Russia would not make an aggressive move now as the Olympics are on until February 20. The US d...

Funny meme on Russian invasion

UKRAINE · In Brief · 12 Feb 2022

I know our readers appreciate "anecdotal evidence". I think the meme below depicts the best how Ukrainians are reacting to all the news about a potential Russian offensive. Came across this picture on social nets and think it worth sharing. In some cases one funny picture gives more info than doz...

UK Defense Minister in Russia

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 11 Feb 2022

On February 11 Ben Wallace visited Moscow to meet his Russian analogue. He repeated the warning of other Western leaders that a full scale war between Russia and Ukraine would have grave repercussions.The Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said that tensions in Eastern Europe were not due to Russia....

The South African economy at the beginning of 2022: end of Covid-19 fourth wave and more vaccinated, but low confidence persists

SOUTH AFRICA · Forecast · 11 Feb 2022

• South African Tourism: Tourism is an important sector of the South African economy (it contributed 3.7% to total GDP in 2019) and it has been one of the sectors most adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Encouragingly, there was an increase in gross travel receipts in the third quarter...

The Federal budget posted a surplus in January

RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 11 Feb 2022

The Ministry of Finance reported that the federal budget revenues reached nearly R2.1 trln in January and were nearly 39% higher than in January 2021. These revenues accounted for 8.3% of the annual plan, i.e., exactly one-twelfth of it. Note, that tax collection in January is traditionally low a...

GULF WEEKLY: IEA says Gulf could pump more, Aramco could list more equity, PIF could issue after being rated

GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 11 Feb 2022

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * As oil continues to rise, the IEA hinted that the Gulf could make up for shortfalls elsewhere in OPEC+. * Iran nuclear talks reconvened in Vienna amidst expectations that a deal is no more than a few weeks away. * Omicro...

Inflation now the main concern

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · Report · 11 Feb 2022

Inflation ended 2021 at 8.5%, its second highest level since the banking crisis of 2003-2004, but below the 10.65% of 2008, when the price of WTI oil increased 37.7% to $99.56 a barrel. Episodes of high inflation in the DR are generally associated with sharp oil price increases, and 2021 was no e...

The PEC on fuels is the main focus in Brasilia, the STF will review the overturning of a Petrobras labor conviction, and Lula is expected to meet with economists to discuss his economic plan

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 11 Feb 2022

Arthur Lira (PP-AL) said that he will negotiate for the government's PEC on fuel to be absorbed by PLP 11, which is being analyzed in the Senate. Bolsonaro said that the PEC will certainly be unanimously approved in the House and Senate. Rodrigo Pacheco, Jean Paul Prates and leaders will meet to ...

CPI-inflation, core inflation sharply up in January

HUNGARY · In Brief · 11 Feb 2022

Unfortunately, those analysts (including us), who expected the yoy headline rate to move upwards in January have proven right. But even they (including us again) were negatively surprised by how sharply the headline rate actually jumped, to 7.9% yoy from the previous two months' 7.4% yoy level. T...

Russia and Ukraine at a negotiating impasse

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 11 Feb 2022

On February 11 the Russian delegate said that talks in Berlin had not achieved an agreement. The Ukrainian delegate confirmed this. There were 9 hours of talks on February 10. Germany and France are brokering the talks despite being partial towards Ukraine. The four countries are called the Norma...

China cements relations with Russia and Central Asia at the Olympics

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 11 Feb 2022

On February 4 the Winter Olympics opened in China. The presidents of Russia and all the Central Asian countries attended. No Western leader was there. The West is signaling its displeasure at Uyghurs being locked up in re-education centers.The Olympics is an unmissable opportunity for these leade...

President Ramaphosa's Statement of National Address (SONA) 2022: More of the Same Correct Analysis, Promises of Reforms, and holding the fiscal line

SOUTH AFRICA · In Brief · 10 Feb 2022 · 1 response

In his 2-hour SONA, President Ramaphosa delivered a detailed economy-centric speech to the Parliament. Whilst reiterating his administration's commitment to the Constitutional Democracy, he articulated his market-friendly economic ideology more crisply than ever before. "Government does not creat...

UK Foreign Minister in Moscow makes no progress

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 10 Feb 2022

On February 10 Liz Truss met her Russian counterpart in Moscow. They both openly acknowledged that relations are strained. Truss said that Russia must desist from Cold War rhetoric and massing troops near Ukraine. Lavrov accused NATO of aggression and russophobic hysteria. Truss embarrassed herse...

The recovery will slow, but at least an inflationary explosion can be avoided

ARGENTINA · Forecast · 10 Feb 2022

After long negotiations, the staff of the IMF and Minister Martín Guzman reached an understanding on the path for the primary fiscal deficit and the monetary assistance of the Central Bank to the Treasury that will be the core of a program. The government hopes the program will be supported by t...

Economic performance wasn’t too bad in 2021

RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 10 Feb 2022

Despite some noise about the vulnerability and the weakness of the Russian economy, which often appears in the media (especially at times of shocks), the country’s economic performance didn’t look bad either in 2020 or 2021. Having contracted by 2.7% in 2020, it looks as though economic growth wa...