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Politics: In a context of lackluster campaigns, the first presidential debate probably only had a marginal impact
MEXICO · Report · 15 Apr 2024

With Xóchitl Gálvez trailing by 17 points and only 8% of registered voters still undecided according to the latest El Financiero poll, and less than six weeks left to the campaign, time is running out for the main opposition presidential candidate to begin making significant inroads with undecide...

Markets shrug off escalation
ISRAEL · Report · 15 Apr 2024

1. So far, markets appeared unfazed by the recent Iranian strike on Israel, including the equity, bond and FX markets. 2. The BoI kept rates unchanged at its most recent meeting due to current elevated geopolitical risks, but expects easing in the coming year. 3. The economy has recovered...

New opposition star announced his party, runs at European election in June
HUNGARY · In Brief · 15 Apr 2024

Péter Magyar, who appeared as an opposition politician just a few weeks ago, and has been ambitiously working to build himself up as a leading figure ever since then, has announced his new party (TISZA Respect and Freedom), and also the fact that this party has been registered by the National Ele...

Ban on Russian metals by the US and UK
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 15 Apr 2024

On April 12 the announcement was made as part of the drive to reduce revenue that funds the Russian war effort. The metals targeted are nickel, copper and aluminum. The sanctions also reduce the use of these metals in the world metal exchanges and in derivatives trading. The Chicago Mercantile Ex...

Local markets shrug off recent Iranian missile attack
ISRAEL · In Brief · 15 Apr 2024

Geopolitics: Iran launched a large-scale drone/cruise/missile attack on Israel Saturday night. Some 200 projectiles were fired, 99% were intercepted. Israel’s defense system performed exceptionally well, in addition to cooperation with other allies including the US, UK, and Jordan. The big questi...

Reserves up, politics sideways
TURKEY · Report · 14 Apr 2024 · 1 response

The politics author analyses the reasons for AKP’s stunning defeat, concluding that while President Erdogan’s mistakes did play a role in the defeat, by no means were they the primary factor. It is very difficult to fix these mistakes anyway. Voters who migrated from AKP to ultra-Islamist New Wel...

The limited Iranian strikes at Israel were as expected, the next steps are more uncertain
GULF COUNTRIES · In Brief · 14 Apr 2024 · 1 response

Last night, April 13, Iran launched around 300 drones and missiles toward Israel. These are significant as the first attacks from Iranian territory (and possibly by Iranian forces directly) in nearly a half-century of enmity. Until now, Iran has merely provided support to allies across the region...

Russia destroys Ukraine main power plant
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 13 Apr 2024

On April 12 Russian air strikes carried out the attack. The Ukrainian Air Force said it destroyed 58 out of 82 missiles and drones that attacked the plant. 6 of the missiles fired were Kinzhal (''dagger'') which are ultra fast—according to Kyiv. Air defense was unable to take down the Kinzhals. T...

China’s sugar high
CHINA ADVISORY · Report · 12 Apr 2024

Recent data from China’s economy has indicated a turnaround, mostly in the industrial sector including autos, but also in some high technology products. However, the improvements have been fueled by a sharp increase in industrial loans even as monetary policy overall remains sluggish. Further gro...

GULF WEEKLY: Oil rises alongside Iran-Israel tensions, Bahrain releases GDP and prisoners, Kuwait in confusion over government formation
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 12 Apr 2024

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * Brent crude hit a six-month high of $92, driven by geopolitics, but the IEA cut its demand forecast. * Countries including Saudi Arabia, Germany and Russia urged Iran not to retaliate against Israel. * Comments by an Irania...

Election Monitor II: National elections outcome growing more unpredictable, but more profound
SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 12 Apr 2024

In its first truly competitive and pluralistic elections since the dawn of democracy in 1994, the SA National Elections predictions are becoming more and more complex, and the outcome more unpredictable, leading to a blend of excitement and anxiety. Since my last Election Monitor, the Speaker of...

The government withdrew the urgent status of the payroll tax bills and the app drivers bill, the payroll tax bills should be negotiated next week, and the government may also announce three important measures next week
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 12 Apr 2024

Faced with resistance from the National Congress, the government was forced to withdraw the request for constitutional urgent status for the payroll tax reinstatement bills and the bill dealing with app drivers. Next week, the bills on payroll tax relief, Perse (the program aimed at the events se...

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: Analysis of growth drivers points to upside risks to economic performance in 2024
CAUCASUS / CENTRAL ASIA · Report · 12 Apr 2024

The publication of the national accounts data for 4Q23 allows us to investigate in more detail the breakdown of growth drivers across Caucasus and Central Asia economies for the year (2023) as a whole. The most salient feature of our analysis is that the counter-intuitive (and counter-cyclical) i...

Ukraine passes law to draft more people
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 12 Apr 2024

On April 11 the Verkhovna Rada voted for the bill that has been debated since 2023. The objective is to increase the size of the army. The army is struggling because of the major Russian advantage in munitions. There was a clause in the bill to allow soldiers who had served 3 years to leave the a...

ECJ rules against sanctions on 2 Russian billionaires
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 11 Apr 2024

On April 10 the European Court of Justice ruled that sanctions on Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven are unlawful because the European Union did not provide sufficient evidence that they should be sanctioned. They were sanctioned in 2022 only 2 days after the Ukraine War began. The men were also sanct...