GlobalSource Partners | Country Insights

On August 25 police searched the office of Yandex in Minsk. Yandex is the largest Russian internet company. There were 300 employees based in the office, although some are working at home. Yandex has transferred some of its staff to Russia. No one was arrested in the raid. No official explanation...

Debate on Renda Brasil causes disagreements in the government

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 26 Aug 2020

When participating in an event at Usiminas, in Minas Gerais (MG) today, President Jair Bolsonaro announced that the proposal for the Renda Brasil program, presented by the economic team, has been suspended. Bolsonaro is said to be dissatisfied with a value of Renda Brasil below R$ 300. There is a...

Thoughts on the strengthening yuan

CHINA ADVISORY · Report · 26 Aug 2020

There has been speculation that the recent rise of the yuan will reverse course. The currency strength is encouraging inflows. Clearly, a lower valued currency would encourage exports. However, I estimate that Beijing will not depreciate the yuan, for several reasons. First, the PBOC has tend...

Casa Verde e Amarela program marks a new phase in the social area

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 25 Aug 2020

In a ceremony held at the Planalto Palace, President Jair Bolsonaro signed the provisional measure that creates the new government’s housing program – Casa Verde e Amarela – replacing Minha Casa, Minha Vida. President Bolsonaro has restructured and changed the names of programs that were the hal...

Rising debt and falling ratings - Brazil, Colombia, South Africa and Turkey

BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 25 Aug 2020

Our live webinar features Affonso Pastore, Juan Carlos Echeverry, Iraj Abedian and Murat Ucer as they discuss the rising fiscal deficits in their countries, a challenge even before the Covid-19 pandemic. Fiscal deficits and debt dynamics will take a turn for the worse for these four countries, r...

The MNB today: No to rate cuts, yes to quantitative easing

HUNGARY · In Brief · 25 Aug 2020

At its regular monthly rate-setting meeting, the Monetary Council kept all its interest rates unchanged, but announced to raise the Bank's weekly purchases of government bonds to HUF 40bn from the HUF 10-15bn implemented recently. Just as most lately, the MNB intends to buy bonds with more than 1...

New Budget Amendment Proposal for 2020 requires USD 3.4 billion of additional financing.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · In Brief · 25 Aug 2020 · 1 response

Yesterday the new government of Luis Abinader delivered the proposed amendment to the public sector budget for 2020 to the National Congress. The amendment is justified by the additional drop in revenues of USD -1.2 billion and the increase in expenses of USD 1.9 billion, with respect to the valu...

China virus check – week ending August 24, 2020

CHINA ADVISORY · Report · 25 Aug 2020

Economic activity in China was mixed in the past week. Heavy industry remains relatively flat – but is not declining. The retail sector is mixed. Car sales were flat YoY but cinema theaters showed a slight uptick, indicating growing confidence among consumers regarding leaving the house. The cons...

Russia declares Austrian diplomat persona non grata

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 25 Aug 2020

On August 24 Russia expelled an Austrian diplomat as a reprisal against Austria's expelling a Russia diplomat. Vienna accused the Russian of industrial espionage. Earlier this year Austria jailed one of its army officers for spying for Russia.Austria is the third European country to expel a Russi...

Government prepares announcement of economic measures; Maia focuses on reforms

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 24 Aug 2020

In order to build a positive agenda, the Jair Bolsonaro government is working on the final format of the basic income program – Renda Brasil, which will replace Bolsa Família – and other projects aimed at restarting economic growth. According to the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo, the Minister o...

Economics: Main issues of the Pension Reform proposal

MEXICO · Report · 24 Aug 2020

The stated purpose for the social security reform package the López Obrador administration announced on July 22 with the support of the country’s business and social sectors is to raise disability or retirement pensions. They propose doing this by increasing the contributions paid into the system...

The SA Government is making progress in tackling corruption, but the governing ANC is still stuck in the rot

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 24 Aug 2020 · 1 response

Corruption in government has been brought back into the spotlight by the many allegations of corrupt dealings regarding the monies related to the Covid-19 fiscal rescue package. This has led to President Ramaphosa's writing a letter (published on August 23) to members of his governing African Nat...

Russian economy and finances: economy gradually improves, markets to stabilize

RUSSIA ECONOMICS · Report · 24 Aug 2020

As several sectors of the economy saw relative improvements in July, such as the strong m-o-m rebound in retail sales that continued to raise consumption following a deep fall reported in April, and better performance in manufacturing, the Economics Ministry estimated that Russia’s GDP contracted...

Politics: Governors’ rebellion de-activated overnight

MEXICO · Report · 24 Aug 2020

The federal government’s response, or lack thereof, to this year’s pandemic and economic crisis has become a major focus of a growing number of state governors who have been trying to coordinate efforts to challenge federal policies and develop practical alternatives of their own. But factors of ...

Lessons and consequences of the senators’ vote and other weekly topics

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 24 Aug 2020

On Tuesday, August 25, the government will announce new social and economic measures. It may also come to a decision on the extension of the emergency aid payments. Important bills are on the voting agenda in the House, for example the Bankruptcy Law, the regulatory framework for the natural gas ...