BRUSSELS EUObserver- EU diplomats predict Turkey will use Russia’s South Stream decision as leverage in accession talks, as the European Commission handles the financial implications for member states. The deliberations come after Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday (1 December) in…
Category: Economy
Oil price slumps as OPEC holds firm
As we expected, OPEC kept its production target of 30m barrels/day (b/d) of crude oil steady at its six-monthly meeting on November 27th. With global oil markets oversupplied, benchmark oil prices slumped on the news. Brent, the international crude grade, fell from…
China – Has monetary policy shifted?
The People’s Bank of China (PBC, the central bank) surprisingly cut benchmark interests rates on November 21st. This has generated speculation that further monetary policy easing will follow, as the authorities seek to ward off deflationary pressures and stimulate economic growth.…
Economic/Political Risk Assessments for European Countries
Economic/Political Risk Assessments for Select European Countries. Turkey, Spain, Germany, Greece, France
World risk: Operational financial risk ratings review
FROM THE ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT RATINGS CHANGES There were changes to risk scores in 26 countries during the latest monthly updating cycle of the Risk Briefing model. These led to upgrades of the overall score in only five cases, but…
World risk: Economic/Political Operational risk ratings review
RATINGS CHANGES There were changes to risk scores in 18 countries during the latest monthly updating cycle of the Risk Briefing model. These led to upgrades of the overall score in only nine cases, but there were four downgrades. In…
Asia – Key economic/political issues in 2014
Across much of Asia, 2013 proved unexpectedly testing. Demand from the US and the EU remained sluggish, while the threat of an end to the asset-purchasing programme of the Federal Reserve (the US central bank) sent many Asian currencies tumbling…
Iran gas: South Pars progress remains a problem
Iran’s natural gas production has had a lower profile since the introduction in 2012 of US and EU sanctions targeting the country’s oil exports. Iran is estimated to have one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves, with nearly half…
Operational world risk ratings review
RATINGS CHANGES There were changes to risk scores in 47 countries during the latest monthly updating cycle of the Risk Briefing model. These led to upgrades of the overall score in only 18 cases, but there were 17 downgrades. In…
Economic Risk Table
Here is a economic risk table for countries across the world.