GlobalSource Partners | Country Insights

As expected, the Monetary Policy Committee left all rates (weekly policy as well as the O/N rates; see graph) and all other policy levers unchanged today. The wording of the statement was literally a carbon copy of the September statement (click here for this and here for the previous statements....

Industrial Decoupling’s Future

MEXICO · Report · 23 Oct 2013

Executive Summary The most significant news on the economic front last week was the Chamber of Deputies’ vote to pass its version of the 2014 Revenue Law. Changes to tax laws include the levying of a 5% tax on junk food (fruit-flavored candies, chocolates, chips or crisps, gelatins, ice cream, an...

Political Insights: Week of October 21

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 21 Oct 2013

A busy week: Once again the Confaz will try to make an agreement for the unification of the ICMS.The government may also edit an MP on goodwill accounting in cases of mergers and acquisitions among companies in the same group. In the House of Representatives, congressmen will try to conclude the ...

Oil Boosts Finances; the President Makes Threats

ECUADOR · Report · 21 Oct 2013

Executive Summary The oil sector delivered mixed news in Q3. Crude oil production rose by 15,000 barrels per day in January-August 2013, from 2012.This fact, plus a high average oil price of $97.91 per barrel, helped to boost crude oil exports 2.7% y/y, from $8.717 billion to $8.950 billion. Yet ...

Only Moderate Growth of Consumption, Despite Positive Signals

BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 21 Oct 2013

Growth of retail sales in the restricted sense (excluding cars and construction materials) was surprisingly strong again in August. Graph 1 shows that in the quarter through August, these sales expanded at an annualized pace of 10.5%, showing continued strong acceleration in relation to the first...

Battered from Many Fronts

SOUTH AFRICA · Forecast · 18 Oct 2013

Executive Summary We maintain our previous forecast for subdued economic activity in South Africa over the medium-term, with inflation adjusted gross domestic product growth recording 2.0 percent in 2013 and 2.4 percent in 2014. The labor market is poised to remain weak as we expect companies to ...

Room for Improvement

MEXICO · Report · 15 Oct 2013

Executive Summary The Chamber of Deputies is facing an October 20 deadline for passing its version of the 2014 Revenue Law. While no one can predict the final details of that bill, the extent of opposition to new tax proposals suggest that both the administration of President Enrique Peña Nieto a...

Retail Sales in the Restricted and Augmented Senses with Different Behavior

BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 15 Oct 2013

In August, real retail sales in the restricted definition once again came as a positive surprise, with seasonally adjusted growth of 0.9% (+2.1% in July). However, sales in the augmented concept, which includes cars and construction materials, were much weaker. The 12-month rates constructed from...

New Budget, Same Old Problems

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · Report · 15 Oct 2013

Executive SummaryAggressive tightening in September produced the desired result: interest rates stopped falling, the weakening currency rebounded to early August levels and inflation stopped accelerating. (September inflation was 0.49%; accumulated 2013 inflation through September was 3.57% and y...

Economic Policy Changes: What is the Importance?

BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 14 Oct 2013

Executive Summary The Central Bank indicated there will be one more increase of 50 basis points in the SELIC rate. The 12-month forward-looking inflation expectations stand at 6.2%, and assuming a neutral real interest rate between 4% and 5%, the SELIC rate would have to be raised higher than 10....

Political Insights: Week of October 14

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 14 Oct 2013

In the House of Representatives, we highlight the vote on the bill to change the calculation of states’ debt. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Guido Mantega, speaks at the House of Representatives on government taxation. On Thursday, the Central Bank releases the minutes of the most recent Copom me...

Sowing Seeds of Future Discontent

MEXICO · Report · 14 Oct 2013

Executive Summary The demonstrations that held the Mexican capital in their grip for the better part of the past two months have finally died down, but for reasons that could contribute to future strife. The government wielded the proverbial political stick in mid September to drive public school...

Has the Central Bank Increased its Degrees of Freedom?

BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 14 Oct 2013

At the COPOM meeting last week the Central Bank decided to raise the SELIC rate by 50 basis points, to 9.50%. This move had already been widely expected by the market, but the repetition of basically the same communiqué as issued after the previous meetings that were followed by 50-point increase...

In Janet, We Trust

TURKEY · Forecast · 13 Oct 2013

Executive SummaryAfter a difficult and volatile summer, Turkish assets were among the best beneficiaries of the tapering delays and the nomination of Janet Yellen to head the Federal Reserve, but viewing this respite as permanent, would be a mistake, in our view. With almost all the low-hanging f...

Private Sector Likely to Cushion Investment Fall

PANAMA · Forecast · 11 Oct 2013

Executive SummaryThe domestic economy is likely to have less impact on growth from 2013-2015, mainly due to the end of the government’s major investment plan, and the completion of Panama Canal expansion. But execution of major private investments in mining, energy, tourism, logistics and low and...