Outlook
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December 30, 2024
December 24, 2024
December Outlook Webinar on Jan 7: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics
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
EMFX Outlook: Hit From Tariffs, Before Divergence
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
DM FX Outlook: USD to edge lower despite high yields
December 20, 2024 8:28 AM UTC
· Bottom Line: Recent strong US data has bolstered the USD, with the Trump election victory also supportive due to expectations of tax cuts and tariffs which are seen leading to less Fed easing than previously expected. While we still see the USD weakening through 2025 as Fed easing red
Japan Outlook: Lukewarm Japan and BoJ
December 20, 2024 12:00 AM UTC
· Due to the slow recovery in consumption, 2024 GDP has been revised lower to -0.5%. Private consumption will continue to grow throughout 2025/26 gradually as business price/wage setting behavior gently shift and Japanese consumers adapting to higher inflation. Wage growth in 2025 wil
December 19, 2024
Western Europe Outlook: Divergent Policy Thinking
December 19, 2024 2:12 PM UTC
· In the UK, perhaps the main story in our outlook is that we retain our below-consensus GDP picture for next year, with growth of 1.0% and with downside risks. The BoE will likely ease further through 2025 by at least 100 bp and maybe faster and beyond.
· As for Sweden, d
DM Rates Outlook: Policy and Spread Divergence
December 19, 2024 12:07 PM UTC
• 2yr U.S. Treasury yields can decline initially as the Fed finishes easing (Figure 1), but as the sense grows that the rate cut cycle is stopping, we see the 2yr swinging to a small premium versus the Fed Funds rate – as the market debates the risks of a future tightening cycle. For 10y
Asia/Pacific (ex-China/Japan) Outlook: Trump Tariffs, China +1 and Growth
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
Outlook Overview: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics
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
U.S. Outlook: Healthy Economy Facing Policy Risks
December 19, 2024 8:01 AM UTC
• The U.S. economy, consumer spending in particular, has continued to show surprising resilience, and is growing at a pace probably in excess of long-run potential near 2.0%. Inflation has fallen significantly from its highs, with core PCE inflation now running slightly below 3.0%, but rema
December 18, 2024
LatAm Outlook: Economic Shifts
December 18, 2024 5:21 PM UTC
· Brazil and Mexico economy are likely to decelerate in terms of growth in 2025, although we see this being stronger in Mexico. Mexico legal reforms and its close ties with U.S. increases uncertainty for 2025, especially after Trump elections, although we see tariffs in 2025 as unlikely
Jan 7 Outlook Webinar: The Trump Effect- Tariffs, Fiscal Shifts and Geopolitics
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
Commodities Outlook: Strategic Caution
December 18, 2024 11:00 AM UTC
The oil supply outlook depends on OPEC+ policies, with the reversal of the voluntary 2.2 million b/d cuts being officially delayed until April 2025. However, we expect the progressive rollover of these barrels into the market to be further postponed at least until the third quarter of 2025, as the c
Equities Outlook: U.S. Exceptionalism v Valuations
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 17, 2024
China Outlook: Construction and Trade Headwinds v Policy Stimulus
December 17, 2024 11:00 AM UTC
We do see a package of stimulative fiscal policy measures for 2025 including Yuan1-3trn infrastructure spending; Yuan1trn funds to buy completed homes for affordable housing and Yuan1trn capital injection to the big six state banks. Some modest measures for low-income households and to boost soci
EMEA Outlook: Rate Cuts in 2025 Despite Global Uncertainties
December 17, 2024 8:00 AM UTC
· In South Africa, our end-year policy rate prediction remains at 7.0% for 2025 and 6.5% for 2026. We foresee headline inflation will fall to 4.2% and 4.6% in 2025 and 2026, respectively, considering power cuts (loadshedding) are relieved and the domestic fiscal outlook is moderately stab
September 27, 2024
September 26, 2024
Western Europe Outlook: Gradualism vs Reality
September 26, 2024 10:45 AM UTC
· In the UK, while headline GDP numbers look firmer, the real economy backdrop and outlook remains no better than mixed. This should improve a disinflation process driven mainly by friendlier supply conditions. The BoE will likely ease in Q4 and continue doing so through 2025 (we look
EM FX Outlook: Fed Easing Helps but Divergent Trends
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
Asia/Pacific (ex-China/Japan) Outlook: Shifting Gears for Growth
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
Outlook Overview: Rate Cuts But How Far?
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
DM FX Outlook: USD Set for 2025 Decline
September 25, 2024 7:11 AM UTC
· Bottom Line: The USD has reached the end of year targets of 1.12 for EUR/USD and 140 for USD/JPY that we forecast in June, when it was trading at 1.07 and 159 respectively. From here, we still favour the USD downside through both the rest of the year and 2025, as the Fed continues to
EMEA Outlook: Rate Cuts Loading in 2025
September 25, 2024 7:00 AM UTC
· In Turkiye, we still foresee upside risks emanating from buoyant domestic demand, the stickiness of services inflation, and adverse geopolitical impacts leading average inflation to stand at 58.8% and 35.3% in 2024 and 2025, respectively. We think Central Bank of Republic of Turkiye (CBRT
September 24, 2024
LatAm Outlook: Diverging Patterns
September 24, 2024 12:54 PM UTC
· Brazil and Mexico started to diverge in terms of growth. While we see Brazil GDP growing above 3.0% in 2024 (pushed by the internal demand), we see Mexico’s growth decelerating to 1.3%, due to weaker demand from U.S. and contractionary monetary policy. In 2025, we see Brazil growing
DM Rates Outlook: Rate Cuts Arrive Except Japan
September 24, 2024 9:00 AM UTC
• For U.S. Treasuries, we see 2yr yields coming down further on our baseline soft landing view, as the Fed moves consistently to a 3.00-3.25% Fed Funds rate. However, with considerable Fed easing already discounted, 2yr yield decline should be modest and 2yr yields should bottom mid-2025. 1
China Outlook: Unbalanced Growth and Slowing
September 24, 2024 8:54 AM UTC
Growth is benefitting from momentum in public investment/exports and high tech production. However, domestic demand is slower and this is a drag on H2 2024 and 2025 growth prospects. Aside from the ongoing negative drag from the residential construction crisis, consumption is also softe
Equities Outlook: Choppy U.S. and Outperformance Elsewhere
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
Japan Outlook: A Hawkish Take
September 24, 2024 5:30 AM UTC
· GDP growth for 2024 has been revised lower to +0.2% after the consumption contraction in Q1 2024 and the subsequent sluggish recovery in Q2. Private consumption is expected to pick up along improving real wages but its magnitude will be limited by the unwillingness to consume at high
September 23, 2024
U.S. Outlook: Fed Focus Turning To Downside Risks
September 23, 2024 2:16 PM UTC
• The U.S. economy is showing clear signs of labor market slowing which poses downside risks to the still impressive resilience of consumer spending, which has sustained healthy GDP growth through Q2 2024. We expect GDP growth below potential in the second half of 2024 and the first half of
Commodities Outlook: Fragile Foundations
September 23, 2024 9:30 AM UTC
Oil prices in the short to medium term will be shaped by demand in China and the U.S. In particular, we expect weak data in China to continue weighting on oil prices in Q4 2024, with limited upside risks from supply-side developments. In 2025, demand growth will likely remain slow in the first half,
September 15, 2024
Sep 27 Outlook Webinar: Rate Cuts But How Far?
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
August 27, 2024
Indonesia's Election Law Drama: Court Rulings and Political Fallout
August 27, 2024 6:57 AM UTC
In a dramatic turn of events, Indonesia's parliament abandoned its plan to amend electoral laws. The parliament had recently planned to amend the country's electoral laws, aiming to overturn pivotal decisions by the Constitutional Court. The proposed changes, which have sparked widespread controvers
August 20, 2024
Indonesia's 2025 Draft Budget: A High-Stakes Gamble on Growth and Subsidies
August 20, 2024 6:24 AM UTC
Indonesia's 2025 budget is a high-risk gamble, with potential for the fiscal deficit to breach the 3% of GDP legal threshold. The ambitious revenue targets and planned spending cuts pose significant challenges, particularly in a low commodity price environment. The reliance on optimistic tax revenue
June 26, 2024
June 25, 2024
Outlook Overview: Cyclical and Structural Forces
June 25, 2024 10:15 AM UTC
• The global economy is showing signs of healing, as inflation comes back towards targets and growth recovers momentum in some economies. Nevertheless, the cyclical headwind of lagged monetary tightening remains in DM countries, and will likely be one of the forces slowing the U.S. economy
EMFX Outlook: USD Strength to Ebb with Different EM Impact
June 25, 2024 8:05 AM UTC
We see Fed rate cuts from September starting to soften USD strength into year end and 2025. Beneficiaries will include currencies with inflation moving towards target and high real rates or, alternatively, undervalued currencies. This should benefit the Brazilian Real (BRL) and Indonesian Rupiah
Equities Outlook: Choppy U.S. and Outperformance Elsewhere
June 25, 2024 7:05 AM UTC
• U.S. equities are overvalued and waiting for earnings growth to catch-up, which leaves the market choppy, directionless and vulnerable to intermittent 5% corrections. Our forecast slowing of the U.S. economy before Fed rate cuts or nervousness about the post-election prospects are potenti
June 24, 2024
LatAm Outlook: Pausing the Cuts
June 24, 2024 6:00 PM UTC
· Brazil and Mexico growth will decelerate from the growth rates in 2023. The stronger basis of comparisons in 2023 and the tight monetary policy will diminish growth during 2024. Brazil robust Agricultural growth will not repeat in 2023 while Mexico is on the limit of growing due to a
EMEA Outlook: Stubborn Inflation Dominates
June 24, 2024 1:00 PM UTC
· In Turkiye, we expect Central Bank of Republic of Turkiye (CBRT) will likely halt the key rate at 50% until the end of 2024, which is our baseline scenario. We expect a fall in inflation likely after July due to favorable base effects, additional macro prudential measures, public savings
DM Rates Outlook: Rate Cuts Arrive Except Japan
June 24, 2024 8:45 AM UTC
• For U.S. Treasuries we see a steady easing process from the Fed from September, which can allow 2yr yields to fall consistently. However, the decline in H2 2024 will be slower at the long-end from traditional yield curve steepening pressures and then we see fiscal stress in H1 2025 unde
Western Europe Outlook: Easing Cycles Diverge?
June 24, 2024 7:48 AM UTC
· · In the UK, while downside economic risks may have dissipated, the real economy backdrop and outlook is still no better than mixed. This should accentuate a disinflation process hitherto driven mainly by friendlier supply conditions. The BoE will likely ease in Q3 and
DM FX Outlook: Politics rears its head
June 24, 2024 7:42 AM UTC
· Bottom Line: The USD strength in Q2 on the back of a less dovish view of the Fed is unlikely to extend over the rest of the year. The JPY remains exceptionally cheap and has potential to recover sharply if risk appetite weakens. A slower JPY recovery is likely if lower inflation leads
June 21, 2024
Asia/Pacific (ex-China/Japan) Outlook: Growth Momentum but Delayed Rate Cuts
June 21, 2024 9:45 AM UTC
• Economic activity in emerging Asian economies is forecast to remain strong. Despite several challenges, including a tight oil market, constrained liquidity conditions, and delayed rate cuts, the region's economic activity is expected to show resilience. Other potential obstacles include u