Brazil's investor sentiment remains glued to the fiscal outcome

May 05, 2015 06:06 am UTC| Commentary

The possibility of achieving a credible and sustainable fiscal path looks increasingly uncertain despite the austerity pledge and efforts to cut spending. Austerity will have very limited success in improving fiscal...

Brazil's fiscal balance deteriorating at an alarming pace

May 05, 2015 06:04 am UTC| Commentary

Brazils central government revenue grew 3.3% yoy and spending rose 5.7% yoy in March, resulting in a consolidated primary surplus of BRL0.2bn, but a fiscal deficit of -BRL69.3bn as the interest portion stood at BRL69.5bn,...

UK construction PMI to make minor gains

May 05, 2015 05:59 am UTC| Commentary

The UK construction data is currently somewhat of an enigma. The housing market should be benefiting from super low mortgage rates and the high level of consumer confidence but, in fact, housing construction is actually...

Philippines April CPI Headline falls to 20-month low

May 05, 2015 02:06 am UTC| Commentary

Actual: 2.2% (0.14% m/m sa)Consensus forecast: 2.4%April inflation came in slightly weaker than expected, at 2.2% y/y, hitting a 20 month low. Headline inflation fell marginally amid ongoing softness in food prices...

Bank Negara Malaysia likely to keep the policy rate on hold

May 04, 2015 23:15 pm UTC| Commentary

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will announce its monetary policy decision on 7 May. It is expected to keep the overnight policy rate (OPR) unchanged at 3.25%. The rate was last raised in July 2014.The central bank removed the...

US payrolls, markets likely to listen carefully to Chair Yellen

May 04, 2015 22:10 pm UTC| Commentary

Ahead of Fridays release of non-farm payroll data, market attention is likely to be on the one-hour conversation between IMF Managing Director Lagarde and Fed Chair Yellen on 6 May at a conference in Washington DC...

New Zealand unemployment rate likely fell to 5.5%

May 04, 2015 21:43 pm UTC| Commentary

Statistics New Zealand will release Q1 labour-market data on 6 May. The strong employment growth over 2014 is expected to continue, with the unemployment rate down to 5.5% despite the record-high participation rate of...