GlobalSource Partners | Country Insights

On December 3 the Mayor of Moscow announced that the vaccination of high risk groups will commence this weekend. The president ordered Sputnik V vaccine to be rolled out across the federation as soon as practicable. Medical staff, teachers, police officers and other frontline public sector worker...

Ukraine backed by Turkey on Crimea

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 03 Dec 2020

On December 2 the Turkish Foreign Minister said that it agrees that Crimea pertains to Ukraine. The minister said that Turkey would enhance its military relationship with Ukraine. Russia gained control over the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Only a handful of countries recognize Crimea as Russian.Tur...

A bad political accident at a critical time; rating agencies are cautious for the time being

HUNGARY · In Brief · 03 Dec 2020

Our title for today's note refers to two separate stories, which are closely linked together, though, by the fact that both are relevant in the context of the ongoing EU budget debate culminating just in these days.The first one is about a bad political accident hitting the governing Fidesz party...

After today’s print, CBRT falls further behind

TURKEY · Report · 03 Dec 2020

CPI inflation surprised on the upside by a wide margin in November, coming in at 2.3%, m/m, markedly higher than the market consensus of around 1% (and our slightly higher expectation). Twelve-month CPI inflation rose sharply to 14%, as a result, which is the highest level since September 2019, f...

Unemployment rate at 8.7%

PHILIPPINES · In Brief · 03 Dec 2020

The statistics bureau today published the October round of its Labor Force Survey showing unemployment rate at 8.7% which compares favorably with July’s 10%. However, delving into the numbers behind the headline rate, we find: The lower unemployment rate was due more to reduced labor force partic...

Aggregate output in 9M20 contracts moderately, inflation accelerates in November but the peak is near

RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 02 Dec 2020

Rosstat reported that weekly inflation during the period ending on November 30 slowed and was at 0.1% (in previous weeks of November it remained at 0.2% w-o-w). It means that monthly inflation was around 0.7% that could have brought annual inflation to 4.4-4.5%. Note that weekly inflation numbers...

Flattening the fear

PHILIPPINES · Forecast · 02 Dec 2020

It is now almost nine months since the Philippines first went into lockdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The resulting economic recession, with GDP expected to contract by 9.5% this year, is proving much more fearsome beyond the continuing health problem. Early hopes of a quick rebound i...

Fakhrizadeh killing could speed lifting of sanctions if Iran shows restraint

GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 02 Dec 2020

If Iran maintains strategic patience in responding to the killing of its nuclear scientist, despite pressure from hardliners in parliament, the incident should actually increase the urgency of the Biden Administration in quickly restoring the JCPOA, our baseline scenario. However, if there are fu...

Japan angry at Russian missiles in Kuril Islands

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 02 Dec 2020

On December 2 Tokyo denounced the stationing of S-300 surface to air missiles on islands claimed by Japan but owned by Russia. Moscow announced that the air defense system was on the island on Iturup.Japan lost the islands to the USSR in 1945. Tokyo has always spoken out against Russian military ...

A Merry Christmas for Russia's billionaires

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 02 Dec 2020

On December 1 Bloomberg revealed that Russian billionaires have gained USD 468 million to their fortunes in 2020. The stock market rally in November really helped this.Of the 22 richest people in Russia: 16 of them gained a total of USD 14 billion and 6 lost a total of USD 13.6 billion. Suleiman ...

Incoming President of Moldova calls for Russian troops to leave

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 01 Dec 2020

On November 30 Maia Sandu said that Russian troops should leave Transdnistria. Transdnistria is a region of Moldova that broke away in 1991. Russian troops have been there ever since. Moscow says that they are peacekeepers. Moldova says that they are occupiers. Sandu wants unarmed European observ...

Inflation: warning signs that should be monitored

BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 01 Dec 2020

Inflation accelerated at the start of the second half, first led by the rise of food prices, but now the process is more disseminated. The depreciation of the exchange rate, which in 2020 has amounted to a bit over 30%, is the main culprit for this increase of prices, and the depreciation in turn...

Conflict with the EU does not affect current transfer payments

HUNGARY · In Brief · 01 Dec 2020

Today, Hungary is receiving a €200 mn payment from the EU, the first instalment of a €504 mn loan to cover fiscal spending on the health care sector and job protection, both in relation to the Covid epidemic. The loan, which is part of the EU-s bond-financed SURE program, will be repayable in 15 ...

Russia consumer spending down

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 01 Dec 2020

On Black Friday there was a 39% YoY fall in spending in stores. By contrast some e-commerce sites reported sales bonanzas. Online shopping was 61% more than on a typical Friday. That is still not enough to compensate the retail sector for the collapse in in-person shopping. Wildberries and Ozon a...

An imminent breakthrough on the Qatar rift is possible but unlikely

GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 30 Nov 2020

* A regional visit by Jared Kushner has raised hopes of a breakthrough on the rift, although he is more focused on the Israel normalization push. * The best outcome, still unlikely, is an easing of the airspace blockade by Saudi Arabia. * For Saudi Arabia a resolution could help ease tensions w...