Costa Rica has secured an IMF Extended Fund Facility agreement, as COVID-19 has intensified ongoing fiscal woes. However, significant reform progress seems challenging ahead of the February 2022 elections, and higher interest rates would exacerbate the already-demanding adjustment.
A new report from the Institute of International Finance, the Financial Services Forum and the International Swaps and Derivatives Association examines several important issues related to the functioning of the financial markets – in particular, large global banks and dealers – during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rapid vaccination and soaring copper prices bode well for a strong recovery. However, high caseloads have prompted renewed mobility restrictions. While a robust policy framework has allowed for sustained policy support, ongoing political changes could result in an expanded state footprint.
The vaccine program, strengthening of energy prices, and end of the rift with other GCC countries will support the recovery in Qatar. We expect the current account and fiscal balances to shift to sizeable surpluses in 2021 and 2022.
Total global debt fell by $1.7 trillion to $289 trillion ($221 trillion ex-financials) in Q1 2021–nearly all in mature markets
The COVID-19-induced collapse in international tourism was unprecedented. Even in an optimistic scenario, tourism revenues will remain subdued in 2021. As a result, the economic recovery in countries such as Thailand will be slower. Furthermore, external pressures are set to rise as imports rebound strongly.
In light of the 2021 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund, this letter provides private sector views that build on our November 2020 letter to the G20.
Total debt in frontier markets (FM) reached a record high of nearly 110% of GDP in 2020, up from less than 100% in 2019. We have added 15 new countries to our FM debt database.
GCC authorities took forceful steps to mitigate the fallout from COVID-19, and we expect a modest recovery in 2021 supported by higher oil prices. However, the region confronts an ongoing exodus of expats and decelerating growth of capital stock, underscoring the need for broad structural reforms.
While the pandemic hit the economy hard, timely measures have limited the health and economic effects. Uzbekistan entered the pandemic with strong fundamentals and policy buffers. We expect real GDP to pick up to 4.5% in 2021 from 1.6% in 2020.
Pandemic response helped add $24 trillion to the global debt mountain in 2020, bringing it to a new high of $281 trillion.
On February 16, the IIF published a visual summary and numerical stock-take of the banking sector prudential regulatory measures taken across the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020.
The Egyptian economy has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic relatively well. Monetary policy was appropriately eased and has some scope for additional support to underpin the recovery. Reining in fiscal deficits and debt will require a commitment to fiscal discipline once the COVID-19 crisis abates.
The UAE has seen limited health impacts from the pandemic. The vaccine rollout, partial oil price recovery, and progress in digital transformation offer hope for the UAE economy. Technological progress will develop new growth drivers and raise potential growth over the medium-term.
China’s exports were remarkably resilient in 2020, thanks to strong demand for PPE and WFH products. Export’s contribution to China’s economic growth in 2020 was greater than the headline number indicated. China’s exports are likely to be more balanced in 2021 as vaccination reopens global economy.
Global sustainable debt issuance hit an all-time record of over $655 billion in 2020, driven by rapid growth in ESG and sustainability-linked bonds. A more supportive global policy landscape could spur even more issuance in 2021
As the mountain of negative-yielding debt hits new record highs, EM sovereigns continue to benefit from the search for yield ; Emerging markets set to rely increasingly on USD borrowing as abundant global central bank liquidity persists; China has significantly cut back its lending to low-income countries
We expect Brent oil prices to average $47/b in 2021, but upside risks are significant. Low interest rates, a weaker US$, tighter supply, and strong demand from East Asia are boosting non-fuel commodity prices.