The Lastest Macroeconomic News
09.02.2016 14:18 How Low Can The Russian Ruble Go?
The European sanctions and sharp fall in crude oil prices have weighed on the Russian economy. I have remained bearish on the Russian Ruble since the beginning of 2015. Recently, the Russian Ruble touched a low of 83.63 against the U.S. dollar as Brent crude oil prices fell below $30 a barrel. Oil prices are projected to touch as low as $20 a barrel. So where is the Ruble heading?
07.02.2016 16:35 Citi: World economy seems trapped in death spiral
The global economy seems trapped in a "death spiral" that could lead to further weakness in oil prices, recession and a serious equity bear market, Citi strategists have warned. Some analysts - including those at Citi - have turned bearish on the world economy this year, following an equity rout in January and weaker economic data out of China and the U.S. "The world appears to be trapped in a circular reference death spiral," Citi strategists led by Jonathan Stubbs said in a report on Thursday. "Stronger U.S. dollar, weaker oil/commodity prices, weaker world trade/petrodollar liquidity, weaker EM (and global growth)... and repeat. Ad infinitum, this would lead to Oilmageddon, a `significant and synchronized` global recession and a proper modern-day equity bear market." Stubbs said that macro strategists at Citi forecast that the dollar would weaken in 2016 and that oil prices were likely bottoming, potentially providing some light at the end of the tunnel. "The death spiral is in nobody`s interest. Rational behavior, most likely, will prevail," he said in the report. Crude oil prices have tumbled by around 70 percent since the middle of 2014, during which time the U.S. dollar has risen by around 20 percent against a basket of currencies. The world economy grew by 3.1 percent in 2015 and is projected to accelerate to expand by 3.4 percent in 2016 and 3.6 percent in 2017, according to the International Monetary Fund. The forecast reflects expectations of gradual improvement in countries currently in economic distress, notably Brazil, Russia and some in the Middle East. By contrast, Citi forecasts the world economy will grow by only 2.7 percent in 2016 having cut its outlook last month.
04.02.2016 16:09 Recession in Russian economy to continue - Bank of Russia
Recession in the Russian economy will continue, the Bank of Russia said. "Industrial production statistics for December 2015 shows that production decline continues on the whole across main kinds of economic activity. This evidences concerns that the decline in the Russian economy will last longer than assumed earlier. The primary reason is the decline in oil prices in the coming months," the regulator said. "Macrostatistic data received in the late month confirms the assumption we made in January regarding higher probability of continued recession in the first half of 2016," the Bank of Russia said. According to the Central Bank, Russia`s budget deficit amid $35 per barrel oil price will grow to 4.8% of GDP. "Implementation of base case forecasted scenario [implying average oil price in 2016 at $35 per barrel - TASS results in lost federal budget revenues versus 1.45 trillion rubles outlined by the legislation and raises deficit from 3% to 4.8% of GDP," the report said. Also, targeting deficit of 3% of GDP without raising debt burden necessitates a respective spending reduction by almost 9% of 16.1 trillion rubles outlined by the legislation, the report said.
02.02.2016 18:34 Sorry Haters, Russia Survives $30 Oil
Russia`s economy has adjusted relatively well to lower oil prices thanks in large part to the ruble, which has tracked oil`s fortunes since 2014. But if oil falls below $30 for an extended period, then all bets are off and Russia`s economy will be in for a prolonged recession. The investment research arm of Sberbank, Russia`s largest lender, warned that if oil does average under a $30 per barrel, then Russia`s budget deficit easily widens to around 3.5 trillion to 3.9 trillion rubles, or around $48.7 billion. Government expenditures are budgeted at around 16 trillion rubles. In a sub-30 oil scenario, the Russian government will be forced to cut its budget by 10% in order to reduce the deficit, according to Sberbank CIB. Russia`s federal government remains highly solvent. The country is run by a bend-don`t-break mentality in the economic policy centers. Western sanctions have helped prolong a recession. Oil just made it worse. Last year, Russian government accounts declined by around 900 billion rubles. But the Finance Ministry held 250 billion rubles on deposits with banks as of January 1, as well as some more cash not spent in 2015. Investors have told FORBES that lifting of sanctions on Russian energy and finance will be a boon for sentiment, but won`t translate into economic growth overnight.
01.02.2016 20:04 Russian Central Bank forecasts GDP decline more than in base case scenario in 2016
The Bank of Russia does not rule out Russia`s GDP will decline more in 2016 than assumed earlier in the base case scenario (0.5-1%) due to probably lower oil prices, the regulator said on Friday after its Board of Directors` meeting on the key rate. The GDP growth rate will be positive in 2017 but will remain low, the Bank of Russia said. According to the base case scenario of the Central Bank released last December, the GDP will decline 0.5-1% in 2016 and may grow up to 1% in 2017. "Oil prices in 2016-2017 will probably be lower than assumed in the base case scenario. The floating rate will partly compensate the adverse impact of low energy prices on the economy. Nevertheless, further adaptation of the payment balance and the economy to lowered level of global prices on Russian export will be required. The GDP decline will therefore be more substantial than forecasted earlier in the base case scenario," the regulator said. The period of additional adaptation of the Russian economy may take several quarters. According to regulator`s forecast, oil prices will be $50 a barrel under the base case scenario and $35 per barrel under the risky scenario.
30.01.2016 12:59 How Cheap Oil Is Squeezing Russia`s Economy
When Vladimir Putin first became Russia`s president back in 2000, oil traded at an average $28.40 a barrel. After spending much of the past five years above $100 a barrel, crude prices have come nearly full circle. In just the past few weeks, oil prices have fallen about 16 percent. That`s poised to squeeze an economy that`s heavily dependent on the commodity for its revenues. The Finance Ministry in Moscow has already warned about a higher deficit if spending cuts and other austerity measures aren`t implemented in the face of cheaper crude.
29.01.2016 14:07 Fitch Highlights More Risks to Emerging Markets and High-Yield Credit
Fitch Ratings has released its latest global credit outlook. The good news is that overall credit ratings outlooks are said to be improving in most sectors in developed market regions. The bad news is that credit rating outlooks are worsening in emerging markets, which is on top of having fallen for the past five years. In fact, Fitch said that emerging markets are now more negative than their developed market equivalents in core sectors. One issue here is the strong dollar. Fitch points out that there is a correlation between a strengthening U.S. dollar and weakening emerging market sovereign credit worthiness, as falling U.S. dollar incomes can affect credit fundamentals. The other issue brought up is the environment of low commodity prices. Fitch points out that low commodity price are the greatest risk to emerging market sovereign ratings. After all, emerging markets generally are considered to be net exporters of commodities (outside of India and China).
28.01.2016 12:24 Russian Economy Holding On For Dear Life
Russians are a patient lot. They will have to wait a little longer for their economy to turn the corner. The lows aren`t as low anymore in some sectors but not all. In other words, Russia`s economy is holding on for dear life. That`s not to say it`s falling off a cliff; rather…it`s hanging off a cliff. It needs to build some strength to climb back up. With oil $20 below what the government budgeted for this year, it`s hard to say if Russia`s economy gains its footing this year as predicted. The final month of 2015 showed that the trends observed for most of the year had become well entrenched - retail consumption is adjusting to lower disposable real incomes and wage growth is now at record lows. Russians are spending less. Headline growth for retail was down 15.3% year-over-year in December after falling 13.1% in November. Retail sales have been in sharp decline since May, when they fell by 8.9% annually, then just kept getting worse from there. In December of 2014, for instance, retail sales were up 5.1%. And this occurred during the sharpest devaluation of the ruble in the nation`s history, from around 35 to the dollar to 71. The Russian central bank raised rates three times in a five week period, sapping the country`s confidence. A weaker ruble is making imported goods more expensive, keeping inflation in the double digits. The only thing that will lower inflation at this point is continual demand destruction.
27.01.2016 20:48 Too Corrupt Not to Fail: Ukrainian Economy Won`t Recover Soon
Despite its free trade agreement with the EU, the Ukrainian economy remains in a dire state, mostly due to rampant corruption and widespread tax evasion. Even though the free trade agreement between the European Union and Ukraine came into force on January 1, EU ambassador to Kiev Jan Tombinski has remarked that the country`s economy is unlikely to recover anytime soon, according to WirtschaftsBlatt, an Austrian financial newspaper. Speaking at the Europe-Ukraine forum, an event held in the Polish city of Lodz and organized by the local Institute of Oriental Studies, the ambassador remarked that the situation in Ukraine is unlikely to improve over the next two years. Head of the Poland`s Supreme Audit Office Krzysztof Kwiatkowski also pointed out that a staggering 97% of all of Ukrainian exports are being directed to so-called `tax havens`, resulting in a significant decrease in tax revenues.
26.01.2016 15:04 US Industry Expects Increasing Demand for Engineered Wood Products
From 2015 to 2019, APA expects increasing demand for North American engineered wood products; structural panels are forecast to grow 19 percent, and other engineered wood products will see growth of 20 to 25 percent. Driven by a 12 percent increase in housing starts in the U.S., demand for structural panels in residential construction in North America is expected to rise 10 percent in 2015, while growth in the other end-uses is projected to be 2.5 percent. North American production of OSB and plywood is predicted to hit 32.2 billion square feet in 2015, an increase of nearly 8 percent over 2014. Glulam production is on the rise, up 2 percent in 2014, and is projected to grow 8 percent this year, to 255 million board feet, and continue to increase steadily through 2019.