Zambia borrowed extensively from abroad after 2015, leading to considerable external financing requirements. Fiscal and monetary policy will have to be contractionary, however, the level of adjustment needed is very large. Thus, Zambia is a prime candidate for an IMF program.

Record high economic policy uncertainty is a key risk for business sentiment; Wall of worry prompts bets on rising gold prices and stronger JPY—and a further drop in stocks; Synchronized global easing could drive another round of synchronized global debt accumulation; China’s Belt and Road Initiative—concerns about debt and environmental sustainability 

US tariffs should be imposing a strain on China’s balance of payments, most obviously in the current account. But the surplus is rising, in part due to quite healthy exports. Instead, trade tensions may be manifesting in capital outflows, which are above 2012 levels and half 2015/6 levels. Tariffs may be raising RMB depreciation expectations, an issue of great importance to China’s policy makers and the rest of EM.