Indonesian Infrastructure Outlook: Modest Downward Revision For 2012
Indonesia remains one of our favourite infrastructure markets in Asia, with real growth for the construction sector forecast to reach 6.9% in 2012. However, this is a slight downward revision of our...
View ArticleThe Implications Of The Rise Of Smart Grids
Business Monitor Online recently published a feature on the rapidly developing area of Smart Grids. Why Do We Need A Smart Grid? In order to meet energy demand growth, improve efficiency and meet...
View ArticleChina Tapping Solar Power In Tibet
Tibet is important for China for geopolitical reasons and its territorial integrity, but now it is emerging as a solar power generating location. The city of Xigaze will benefit greatly from a string...
View ArticleRussia: How Credible Are The New Government’s Promises Of Modernisation?
As Vladimir Putin returns to the presidency, the outlook for Russia is as uncertain as ever. Our head of Europe Country Risk, Mark Schaltuper, discusses what the recent protests mean for the country’s...
View ArticleCambodia: On The Ground Observations In A Frontier Economy
Cambodia is considered a ‘frontier economy’ by most investors, but, having just returned from a visit there, I came back with a generally positive outlook on the country. As with the last time BMI...
View ArticleOn The Ground In Sierra Leone: The Future Looks Promising
Sierra Leone, like much of Africa, has an image problem. For the most part, the country’s name still evokes pictures of child soldiers, blood diamonds, and not much else. It is, however, a decade since...
View ArticleBrazil’s New Amazon Regulations To Boost Agricultural Investment
We expect Brazil’s new forestry regulations pertaining to Amazon rainforest preservation to reduce uncertainty among the farming community, lead to improved investments, and ultimately allow for the...
View ArticleEnd Of India’s Growth Story, Or Just A Bump In The Road?
Following India’s weak Q4 FY2011/12 growth print, consensus expectations for the subcontinent have rapidly deteriorated, with some even calling an end to the Indian growth story. Andrew Wood sits down...
View ArticleNorth American Oil In The Age Of Unconventionals
High oil prices and improved technologies have transformed the US oil market, pushing daily crude production to its highest level in 14 years. One of BMI’s London-based Oil&Gas analysts, Edward...
View ArticleAfrican Economies In 2021
African economies’ impressive performance over the last decade is dispelling the continent’s image as a persistent underachiever. John Ashbourne, from BMI’s Sub-Saharan Africa team, joins the podcast...
View ArticleGermany’s Falling Economic Confidence; + The Philippines’ Casino Plans
Germany’s economic outlook remains clouded by the continued risk of a eurozone break-up, which would lead to an immediate collapse in fixed investment and hit external demand for German exports very...
View ArticleRenewables Renaissance In Japan?
Andrew Wood sits down with Asia Country Risk Analyst Esther Ye and Asia Renewables Analyst David Ng to discuss the nuclear power situation in Japan following the government’s recent decision to restart...
View ArticleNo Country For Old Stimulus
With economic growth flagging, both Beijing and Seoul announced fresh fiscal stimulus packages in early September. While the market reaction has largely been positive, we note that the new stimulus...
View ArticleTurkey To Outperform Russia Over The Next Decade
In Business Monitor Online this week, we compare the investment prospects for the Turkish and Russian economies. We are optimistic about the ability of both Russia and Turkey to attract signific...
View ArticleHong Kong: Positive Construction Sector Outlook In 2013
BMI is positive towards Hong Kong’s construction sector in 2012-2013 for three main reasons. The government’s plan to boost Hong Kong’s housing supply is in full swing. A sizeable portion of the...
View ArticleEast Africa Energy Bonanza Update
There is an increasing amount of interest in exploration for oil and gas in Africa, with gas in East Africa one of the biggest developing stories. The sub-region is well placed to export liquefied...
View ArticleChina After The Hard Landing: Global Winners And Losers (Podcast)
With Chinese economic growth continuing to slow, BMI has released a new Special Report, China After The Hard Landing: Global Winners And Losers, on the implications of the economic giant’s hard...
View ArticleRenewable Energy Sector Seeing Slowdown; + Sudan-South Sudan Tensions Persist
After a boom in renewable energy during the last decade, which was characterised by high installation rates and continuous flows of investment (reaching a record high of US$257bn in 2011), we are now...
View ArticleBMI Publishes New Special Report, ‘Africa: Making Sense Of The Infrastructure...
Business Monitor International (BMI) has just published Africa: Making Sense Of The Infrastructure Deficit, a new special report that examines Sub-Saharan Africa’s physical infrastructure deficiencies,...
View ArticlePeru: One Of The Most Dynamic Economies In Latin America
Although we are expecting Peru’s economic growth to moderate over the coming years, due in large part to knock-on effects from a hard landing in China, we are forecasting 5.5% average real GDP...
View ArticleAfrica – Making Sense Of The Infrastructure Deficit
Africa’s infrastructure deficit is a well documented impediment to economic growth. Matthew Searle from BMI’s Africa team and Helene Wehtje from our Infrastructure team talk about their recent special...
View ArticleLatAm Business Environment: Mexico And Colombia Best Placed To Attract...
Business Monitor International (BMI) has just published its latest business environment analysis for Latin America and the Caribbean, in which we closely examine the latest batch of the World Bank’s...
View ArticleSyria: Assad Regime Edging Closer To Collapse… But War Will Go On
The Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad appears to be edging closer to collapse. Admittedly, such speculation has emerged before, only to be proven premature. However, the Syrian rebels have...
View ArticleCentral America Outlook: Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain
In the run-up to the release of the hotly anticipated Central America Special Report, we welcome Latin America analyst, Julie Beckenstein, to discuss some of the broader themes facing the region over...
View ArticleBrazil’s Economy To Rebound In 2013, But No Return To Boom Years
We recently downgraded our 2012 real GDP growth estimate for Brazil to 1.0% from 1.5% previously, as Q3 2012 growth data indicates that the economic recovery is progressing more slowly than we...
View ArticleWhat Would A Cyber Attack On A Major City Look Like?
Hardly a month goes by without a government agency somewhere in the world warning about the consequences of a major cyber attack. In the scenario below, we outline the consequences of such an attack on...
View ArticleThe Case For A Constructive US Growth Outlook
US GDP numbers disappointed in the fourth quarter, showing the first contraction in growth since 2009, and the unemployment rate ticked up from 7.8% to 7.9% in January. In this podcast, US analyst...
View ArticleBMI Releases New Special Report, ‘Africa: Dissecting The Growth Story’
Africa has become increasingly visible on investors’ radars in recent years, with several traditionally ‘frontier’ economies now being seen as the next generation of emerging markets. Business Monitor...
View ArticleSunny Outlook For Saudi Arabia’s Solar Power Sector
Saudi Arabia’s newly published energy white paper, which details a colossal plan to create 54.1 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy capacity by 2032, corroborates our optimistic outlook for the kingdom’s...
View ArticleDR Congo Heading For An Economic Slowdown
The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is heading for a slowdown. We believe this for three main reasons: 1. The deteriorating security situation. The Congo is still recovering from...
View ArticleCould a ‘BRICS Bank’ Displace The World Bank And IMF?
As the leaders of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) nations meet in Durban for their annual summit, proposals have emerged for the creation of a new development bank to rival...
View ArticleA Tale Of Three Mexicos
Mexico’s central states look set to enjoy robust manufacturing sector-driven economic growth over the coming years, with foreign firms likely to be drawn to the region’s strong transport links,...
View ArticleDiverging Steel Sector Performance In Europe And The Americas
Business Monitor International (BMI) has just published its latest analysis of the global steel industry, and subscribers can read two key articles in our online service. Europe: We continue to see a...
View ArticleGlobal Markets Update: Watch Yen Crosses; + Mozambique Emerging As Power Player
The Bank of Japan (BoJ)’s accelerated easing programme has sent the yen sharply lower, and as logic would suggest, the recent move in JPY/EUR in the euro’s favour matches the move in the ratio of the...
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Geothermal Power Opportunities In The Rift Valley
The buzz around East African geothermal energy has been increasing in recent years. Although Kenya is the clear leader of the pack, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and now Djibouti are all taking steps to...
View ArticleEthiopia: The Water Tower Of Africa?
The 6,000 MW Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River will be the biggest hydropower project in Africa when completed in 2018. It is part of an ambitious 25-year plan to ramp up...
View ArticleIstanbul’s Global Air Hub Dream: Can It Succeed?
Istanbul is a city with increasingly big ambitions. Not only is it bidding for the 2020 Olympic Games, but it is actively seeking to become a major east-west air hub, as evidenced by its plans to build...
View ArticleBMI Publishes Special Report – China: Environmental Stresses Offer Investment...
Business Monitor International (BMI) has just published ‘China: Environmental Stresses Offer Investment Opportunities’, a new special report examining the critical state of the country’s environment,...
View ArticleOn The Ground In Brazil: Impressions On Economic Challenges Ahead
After meeting with Business Monitor’s clients and attending a conference in Brazil, Katherine Weber, Brazil analyst, shares her on-the-ground impressions and provides an outlook on the economy. Will...
View ArticleNigeria’s Equity Rally Becoming Broader Based
Nigeria’s stock market continues to climb, as investor confidence rises and the economy benefits from wide-ranging reforms. At the time of writing on June 10, the All Share index was approaching...
View ArticleHow Will Brazil Actually Benefit From The World Cup And Olympics?
Business Monitor International (BMI) has just published a special report, ‘Brazil World Cup And Olympics: Lasting Benefits Or Missed Opportunities?’, which focuses on the impact of increasing...
View ArticleAfrica Attracting Global Automakers
Long ignored by international auto makers due to low incomes and poor business environments, Sub-Saharan Africa is now the focus of increasing interest in the global automotive sector. As incomes rise...
View ArticleRussia’s Infrastructure Imperative, And BMI’s Construction Forecasts
We maintain our view that the infrastructure sector’s growth in Russia will be underpinned by the government’s drive to develop its vast natural resources, especially in Siberia and the Far Eastern...
View ArticleIs The Myanmar Hype Justified?
Is the investor hype surrounding Myanmar over the past year justified? Can Myanmar’s tentative political and economic liberalisation be maintained? What is the outlook for the kyat currency? What...
View ArticleMyanmar: From Promise To Profits
Over a year after our last special report on the topic, and approximately three years since widely ridiculed elections installed a fresh, nominally civilian government in the country, Myanmar continues...
View ArticleCan Africa Emerge As An Autos Manufacturing Hub?
Business Monitor International (BMI) has just published a new special report, Autos Logistics In Africa – The Distribution Challenge, in which we examine Africa’s logistics capabilities for the...
View ArticleRiyadh’s Struggle With ‘Saudisation’
BMI Podcast: Saudi authorities are cracking down on undocumented immigrants, deporting hundreds of thousands of foreign workers from the country. The move is part of a broader ‘Saudisation’ scheme that...
View ArticleNicaragua Canal’s Prospects Remain Dubious, Despite The Hype
Business Monitor International (BMI)’s pessimistic view on the viability of the proposed Nicaragua Canal continues to play out, with the project facing strong opposition. The bill for the concession...
View ArticleMexico: A Somewhat Weaker Economic Outlook Ahead…
Business Monitor International (BMI) has downgraded its forecast for Mexican real GDP growth from 3.0% to 2.3% in 2013, and from 4.0% to 3.5% in 2014. Why The Downgrade? The manufacturing sector has...
View ArticleIstanbul, Madrid, Tokyo 2020: Olympic Year, Olympian Challenges
This Saturday, September 7, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will announce the venue of the 2020 Olympic Games. Istanbul, Madrid, and Tokyo (in alphabetical order) are the three contenders....
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