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February 17, 2025

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Reciprocal Tariffs and Reducing Bilateral Trade Imbalances
Paying Article

February 17, 2025 10:28 AM UTC

·       President Trump’s executive order on reciprocal tariffs has not produced much market reaction, both as the proposals will not be delivered to the president until April 1 and the process of Commerce/U.S. Treasury and Homeland Security input is seen reducing the odds of penal tariffs.

February 14, 2025

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BJP Ends 27-Year Drought in Delhi with Decisive Win
Freemium Article

February 14, 2025 7:06 AM UTC

The BJP ended its 27-year drought in Delhi, winning 47 seats and breaking AAP’s dominance. The victory was driven by a united party front, strong RSS ground support, success in key voter blocs, including Sikh, Punjabi, and Dalit communities and the promise of freebies. AAP’s vote share fell to 4

February 13, 2025

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India CPI Review:Rate Cuts in Sight as Prices Cool
Paying Article

February 13, 2025 4:12 AM UTC

India’s inflation cooled to 4.31% in January, clearing the way for more rate cuts as food prices dipped. The RBI is shifting focus to growth. But risks remain—rupee weakness and global commodity prices could still stir inflationary trouble.

February 12, 2025

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India’s FY26 Budget: Balancing Growth, Fiscal Prudence, and Political Realities
Paying Article

February 12, 2025 4:56 PM UTC

India's FY26 budget is a strategic attempt to sustain economic expansion while maintaining fiscal consolidation, with the government targeting a nominal GDP growth of 10.1% and a real GDP expansion of 6.3%-6.8%. The budget continues its capex-led growth approach, increasing infrastructure investment

February 11, 2025

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Trump’s Tariffs: Steel Then Reciprocal and Then Cars
Paying Article

February 11, 2025 1:23 PM UTC

 The 25% Steel and Aluminum tariff could have small to modest adverse inflation and GDP growth impacts on the U.S., but the prospect of reciprocal and more product and country tariffs create trade policy uncertainty/supply chain disruption and paperwork problems.  This could amplify the impact of

February 07, 2025

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Monetary Policy Reset: RBI’s Balancing Act Begins
Paying Article

February 7, 2025 4:57 PM UTC

The RBI has cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25%, marking its first reduction in five years. While aimed at supporting growth, the central bank maintains a neutral stance, signaling caution amid global uncertainties. Inflation is projected to ease, but risks from trade disruptions and finan

February 06, 2025

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RBI Monetary Policy Preview: MPC to Deliver a Rate Cut
Paying Article

February 6, 2025 7:50 AM UTC

With the RBI’s policy review around the corner, all eyes are on how the central bank will tackle India’s slowing growth momentum and the increased currency volatility. The RBI is likely to cut rate by 25bps to 6.25% on February 8. Imported inflation will remain a key concern. 

January 31, 2025

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India Budget Preview: Balancing Growth and Fiscal Prudence: What to Expect from Budget 2025
Freemium Article

January 31, 2025 2:28 PM UTC

The FY26 Budget comes at a crucial time for India’s economy, requiring a delicate balance between fiscal prudence and economic stimulus. As GDP growth moderates, inflation continues to impact disposable incomes, and global uncertainties persist, the government is expected to focus on targeted meas

January 27, 2025

Monetary Policy Watch: Will RBI Infuse Liquidity or Cut Rates?
Freemium Article

January 27, 2025 7:27 AM UTC

With the RBI’s policy review around the corner, all eyes are on how the central bank will tackle India’s growing liquidity crunch. Despite calls for rate cuts, the banking system's liquidity shortfall—hitting INR 3.3 trillion—poses a bigger challenge, keeping lending rates high and slowing c

January 21, 2025

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Rupee at Record Low: Can India Weather the Dollar Storm?
Freemium Article

January 21, 2025 5:03 AM UTC

The Indian rupee has slumped to an all-time low of 86 against the US dollar, underscoring the pressure on emerging market currencies as the dollar index surges to multi-month highs. For India, this currency depreciation signals potential disruptions in financial markets, with equities and bonds—no

January 20, 2025

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Brazil Risk Premia and EM Debt
Paying Article

January 20, 2025 8:15 AM UTC

Brazil debt market has two domestic crises rather than a spillover from the U.S. in the form of inflation and fiscal policy. Very restrictive BCB policy can help produce some disinflation and we forecast 4.1% for 2026, which some allow some rate cuts in H2. Brazil risk premium will likely be reduced

January 16, 2025

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India CPI Review: CPI Cools but Target Not in Sight
Paying Article

January 16, 2025 2:27 PM UTC

India’s retail inflation eased to a four-month low of 5.22% in December 2024, driven by a seasonal decline in food prices, particularly vegetables and cereals. With inflation within the RBI’s target range, all eyes are on the upcoming monetary policy review for potential rate cuts.

January 13, 2025

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Cyberattacks and AI Misinformation: Market and Economic Fallout
Paying Article

January 13, 2025 8:10 AM UTC

   A major cyberattack is a tail risk, while a huge AI misinformation crisis is a modest crisis in our view.  Russia/China and Iran are less likely to launch a state sponsored cyberattack for geopolitical reasons and also uncertainty over president elect Donald Trump’s response.  A huge AI mis

January 10, 2025

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India CPI Preview: A Cautiously Optimistic Outlook
Paying Article

January 10, 2025 10:36 AM UTC

Bottom line: India's inflation rate for October is projected to ease to 5.2% y/y due to base effects and domestic food prices. Moderating food pressures and global commodity prices will see inflationary pressures ease in the coming months. 

January 09, 2025

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The Growth-Inflation Tug of War: RBI’s 2025 Policy Outlook with a New Governor
Freemium Article

January 9, 2025 8:14 AM UTC

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is currently navigating a complex economic landscape marked by rising inflation and sluggish growth. The recent appointment of Sanjay Malhotra as the new RBI Governor adds another layer of intrigue to the central bank's policy directi

January 06, 2025

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Markets 2025: A Tale of Two Halves
Paying Article

January 6, 2025 8:10 AM UTC

·  For financial markets, 2025 will likely be a game of two halves.  US exceptionalism will likely drive US equities to extend outperformance in H1, while the USD rises further as tariffs (threats and actual) escalate.  However, 10yr U.S. Treasury yields will likely push higher in H2, which can

January 02, 2025

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EM Government Debt: BRICS Divergence
Paying Article

January 2, 2025 8:05 AM UTC

   Brazil and South Africa suffer from debt servicing costs outstripping nominal GDP, which will remain a concern unless a consistent primary budget surplus is seen – though S Africa enjoys a much longer than average term to maturity than Brazil.  India and Indonesia, in contrast, enjoy nominal

December 30, 2024

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December Outlook: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics
Paying Article

December 30, 2024 8:05 AM UTC

All chapters of the December Outlook are now available and simply click the link below. 

December 24, 2024

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December Outlook Webinar on Jan 7: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics
Paying Article

December 24, 2024 8:30 AM UTC

    The U.S. economy’s momentum remains reasonable before the impact of President-elect Trump’s policies in 2025 and 2026.  While high uncertainty exists on the scale and timing of policy, the strategic bias is clear – sizeable tax cuts that will boost the budget deficit; tariffs (threats

December 20, 2024

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December Outlook: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics
Paying Article

December 20, 2024 12:15 PM UTC

All chapters of the December Outlook are now available and simply click the link below. 

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EMFX Outlook: Hit From Tariffs, Before Divergence
Paying Article

December 20, 2024 10:00 AM UTC

·        EM currencies on a spot basis will remain on the defensive in H1 2025, as we see the U.S. threatening and then introducing tariffs on China imports – 30% against the current average of 20%. China’s response will likely include a Yuan (CNY) depreciation to the 7.65 area on USD/CN

December 19, 2024

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Asia/Pacific (ex-China/Japan) Outlook: Trump Tariffs, China +1 and Growth
Paying Article

December 19, 2024 10:57 AM UTC

Emerging Asian economies are projected to lead global growth in 2025, with India and Southeast Asia at the forefront. These regions will anchor resilience in Asia, even as China's economic growth remains moderate.  
Inflation trajectories will vary across Asia, with India experiencing sticky prices

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Outlook Overview: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics
Paying Article

December 19, 2024 9:25 AM UTC

·        The U.S. economy momentum remains reasonable before President elect Trump’s policies impact in 2025 and 2026.  While high uncertainty exists on the scale and timing of policies, the strategic bias is clear – sizeable tax cuts that will boost the budget deficit; tariffs (threats

December 18, 2024

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Jan 7 Outlook Webinar: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics
Paying Article

December 18, 2024 1:23 PM UTC

    The U.S. economy’s momentum remains reasonable before the impact of President-elect Trump’s policies in 2025 and 2026.  While high uncertainty exists on the scale and timing of policy, the strategic bias is clear – sizeable tax cuts that will boost the budget deficit; tariffs (threats

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Equities Outlook: U.S. Exceptionalism v Valuations
Paying Article

December 18, 2024 10:05 AM UTC

·        The glory days of exceptionalism for U.S. equities will likely extend in Q1 2025 to bring the S&P500 to 6200-6300. The problem is that valuations have now become stretched with S&P500 ex magnificent 7 on a forward P/E of 19 and valuations out of line with real bond yields (Figure 1)

December 09, 2024

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Asia Country Risk Ratings
Paying Article

December 9, 2024 11:00 AM UTC

We provide country risk reviews for Asia countries including China, India, Indonesia and Taiwan.  

December 07, 2024

RBI Decision Review: RBI Balances Inflation and Growth with Neutral Policy
Paying Article

December 7, 2024 2:25 PM UTC

The RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.5% but unexpectedly cut the CRR by 50 basis points to inject ₹1.16 lakh crore into the banking system. Growth forecasts for FY2025 were revised down to 6.6%, while inflation expectations rose to 4.8%. This cautious approach reflects the central bank’s fo

December 03, 2024

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RBI Decision Preview: Growth Slackens, Inflation Soars: RBI’s Policy Tightrope
Paying Article

December 3, 2024 6:42 AM UTC

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is gearing up to announce its last monetary policy decision for 2024 on December 6. For the upcoming meeting, we anticipate that the RBI will likely keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5%, given the recent uptick in inflation. The decision to hold rate will come despite

November 29, 2024

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India GDP Review: Rural Strength vs Manufacturing Weakness - Q2 Story
Freemium Article

November 29, 2024 3:05 PM UTC

India’s Q2 GDP slowed to 5.4%, driven by weaker manufacturing and global headwinds, but rural demand and agriculture showed resilience. Public investment and festive consumption are expected to support recovery in H2, though challenges like export contraction and fiscal constraints remain.

November 26, 2024

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India GDP Review: India’s GDP Faces Headwinds in Q2 FY25
Paying Article

November 26, 2024 9:45 AM UTC

India’s GDP growth is projected to slow to 6.6% in Q2 FY25, marking the weakest pace in six quarters. This decline is primarily due to slower growth in manufacturing and services, though agriculture has shown resilience. Despite robust government spending and rural demand, weak private consumption

November 13, 2024

India CPI Review: CPI Hits New Heights
Freemium Article

November 13, 2024 12:05 PM UTC

Bottom line: The latest CPI figure of 6.2% yr/yr underscores significant inflationary pressures within the Indian economy, primarily driven by food prices but also influenced by housing costs. With inflation now at a 14-month high, the RBI's response will be another rate hold in December. Earliest r

November 11, 2024

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India CPI Preview: Food prices to weigh on headline CPI
Freemium Article

November 11, 2024 5:00 AM UTC

Bottom line: India's inflation rate for October is projected to rise to 5.7% y/y  due to base effects and domestic food prices. In the short term, global crude oil prices and domestic food price surge may pressure inflation further. The Reserve Bank of India is anticipated to maintain a neutral mon

November 04, 2024

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Hawks or Doves? Decoding the New RBI MPC's Monetary Policy Shift
Paying Article

November 4, 2024 7:18 AM UTC

The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) recently maintained the repo rate at 6.50% while shifting its stance from "withdrawal of accommodation" to "neutral," reflecting a cautious approach towards economic growth and inflation management. The meeting, which included three new e

October 28, 2024

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BRICS Summit 2024: Kazan Declaration not a Game Changer
Freemium Article

October 28, 2024 11:41 AM UTC

Bottom Line: The BRICS Summit, which was held in Kazan on October 22-24, was the first summit following BRICS has expanded to include Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Despite expectations, Kazan deceleration, which was a joint statement signed after the summit, is not a game-chan

October 16, 2024

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India Country Risk
Paying Article

October 16, 2024 1:26 PM UTC

We provide country risk review for India.  

October 09, 2024

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Holding the Line: RBI Maintains Policy Rate Amid Economic Optimism
Paying Article

October 9, 2024 1:56 PM UTC

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to maintain the policy repo rate at 6.50% and has shifted its stance to 'neutral' to balance the objectives of inflation management and economic growth. Although inflation has eased, the RBI remains cautious due to rising geopolitical tensions and increase

October 08, 2024

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India CPI Preview: Inflation to Surge as Base Effects Fade
Freemium Article

October 8, 2024 10:49 AM UTC

Bottom line:India’s September inflation level is expected to trend up to 4.1% y/y, given base effects. Global crude oil prices and heightened geopolitical tensions pose risks to inflation in the near term. Meanwhile, monetary policy is expected to remain tight and policy rate to be retained at 6.5

October 02, 2024

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Markets: Rate Cuts or Geopolitics?
Paying Article

October 2, 2024 9:36 AM UTC

Israel will likely counteract Iran, which will prompt a further missile attack by Iran.  However, our bias remains that Israel main aim is to have a buffer zone in southern Lebanon up to the Latani river and not fight a prolonged war with Iran.  This limits the economic fallout globally and on oil

October 01, 2024

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Futures & Options Frenzy: Retail Investors Suffer as SEBI Plans Rescue
Freemium Article

October 1, 2024 10:05 AM UTC

Retail investors in India’s futures and options (F&O) market incurred losses of USD 21.6bn over three years, with 93% of traders losing money. SEBI is planning new measures, including raising the minimum contract size and tightening risk management rules, to curb speculative trading and protect in

September 30, 2024

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RBI’s October Rate Call: Patience May Prevail Over Pressure
Paying Article

September 30, 2024 6:58 AM UTC

The RBI is expected to keep interest rates unchanged in its October meeting, despite global central banks initiating rate cuts. Domestic inflation concerns and uncertainties over MPC appointments are likely to drive a cautious "wait-and-watch" approach, with potential easing only by December. 

September 27, 2024

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September Outlook: Rate Cuts But How Far?
Paying Article

September 27, 2024 7:44 AM UTC

The 15 chapters of our September Outlook have now been published.  See the headlines and weblinks enclosed for links to the articles on economic, policy and markets for the 23 countries that we cover.

September 26, 2024

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EM FX Outlook: Fed Easing Helps but Divergent Trends
Paying Article

September 26, 2024 8:00 AM UTC

  USD strength is ebbing across the board, which provides a positive force for most EM currencies on a spot basis.  However, where inflation differentials are large, the downward pressure will remain in 2025 e.g. Turkish Lira (TRY).  Where inflation differentials are modest against the U.S., but

September 25, 2024

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Asia/Pacific (ex-China/Japan) Outlook: Shifting Gears for Growth
Paying Article

September 25, 2024 7:57 AM UTC

Emerging Asian economies are poised to remain the fastest growing globally. India and Southeast Asia will drive regional resilience amid China’s cooling growth engine in 2025. For India, while the external environment remains challenging due to weaker global demand and geopolitical tensions, domes

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Outlook Overview: Rate Cuts But How Far?
Paying Article

September 25, 2024 7:30 AM UTC

·        The U.S. economy is slowing, with the critical question being whether this is a soft or harder landing.  Our broad analysis leaves us inclined to the soft landing view into 2025, though we shall watch real sector data closely over the next 3-6 months to check the trajectory.  Else

September 24, 2024

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Equities Outlook: Choppy U.S. and Outperformance Elsewhere
Freemium Article

September 24, 2024 8:30 AM UTC

 •     We now forecast 5450 for the S&P500 for end 2024, but could see a move to 5200/5000 in the next 3-6 months as volatile data keeps the soft v hard landing debate alive.  On our baseline of a U.S. soft landing, we would see the S&P500 at 5600 by end 2025. The tech sector is still really i

September 16, 2024

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India CPI Review: India's Inflation Edges Up to 3.65% in August, Staying Below RBI Target
Freemium Article

September 16, 2024 6:55 AM UTC

Bottom line: India’s August rose to 3.6% yr/yr, rising marginally from 3.53% y/y in July, reflecting higher food prices. Anticipate increased inflation over Q4, as festive demand drives up prices and the high base effects drop out of the equation. 

September 15, 2024

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Sep 27 Outlook Webinar: Rate Cuts But How Far?
Paying Article

September 15, 2024 10:30 AM UTC

    Uncertainty about whether the U.S. economy will have a soft or hard landing is growing as the market approaches Q4.  This is shaping the debate regarding the scale of easing through the remainder of 2024 and 2025 by the Fed.  European easing is underway, but how much further will central ba

September 10, 2024

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India CPI Review: Easing Prices, but Monsoon Risks Loom
Freemium Article

September 10, 2024 9:14 AM UTC

Bottom line: India’s August inflation level is expected to trend down to 3.5% yr/yr, from 3.53% y/y in July, reflecting higher base effects. Interest rate cut is unlikely though as the RBI perceives this as a temporary reprieve. 

September 01, 2024

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India GDP Review: A Sobering Start to FY25
Freemium Article

September 1, 2024 1:53 PM UTC

India’s GDP growth slowed to 6.7% yr/yr in Q1 FY25, falling short of expectations, as reduced public spending during the election period weighed on economic activity. Strong private consumption and investment provided some support, but a decline in manufacturing growth and weak external trade damp

August 26, 2024

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India GDP Preview: Slowing Growth, Solid Prospects
Paying Article

August 26, 2024 6:04 AM UTC

India’s Q1 FY25 (Apr-Jun) GDP is expected to moderateto 7% yr/yr. The slowdown is expected on the back of limited government spending and sluggish urban demand. Additionally, high interest rates and inflation are expected to have been a drag on growth.