No More Learning

The leading listed privatization fund is managed on the state’s behalf by Templeton, and well-known public face Mark Mobius regularly touts capital market progress.

Turkey, which chairs the G-20 this year and established the federation of Eurasian stock exchanges (FEAS) two decades ago, recently reiterated aspirations to become both a conventional and Islamic financial center. Romania is among the two dozen members heavily concentrated in the Balkans and Caucuses, and stretching to Central Asia and the Middle East. Dow Jones has launched a FEAS Titans 50 index of the largest companies, and task forces work to align operating and regulatory standards. Poland now faces multiple competitors in the hub race as it lost investor favor from poor policy decisions and complacency. The lackluster New York reception and presidential election share crash argue for immediate adjustments on privatization, pensions and cross-border alliances to repair the spokes.

Originally published on Business News Europe bne. eu

Nigeria’s Strongman Subsidy Contest
2015 June 12 by admin

Posted in: Africa
Nigeria’s MSCI stock market index pared its loss to 5 percent and Eurobond yields dipped almost 300 basis points to 5. 5 percent as General Buhari returned to the presidency and his opposition party also swept state elections, but the leadership turnover was dogged by continued oil subsidy and supply controversy at the state-owned petroleum company founded during his previous tenure. The Price Waterhouse report commissioned by the Finance Ministry was finally released by the outgoing administration and criticized a management “blank check” leaving billions of dollars in untracked funds, but could not cite an exact figure or attribute leakage to outright fraud as former central bank Sanusi claimed. Just before the inauguration gas stations experienced widespread shortages as refiners pressed for payment of outstanding bills, with the latest budget further cutting subsidies as the excess crude account also neared depletion.

Economic growth may be just 5 percent this year as foreign reserves were down 15 percent to below $30 billion and the current account could go into deficit for the first time in decades. The currency has rebounded from election delay woes, but remains around 200/dollar, and Boko Haram has opted for smaller-scale attacks amid reports that youth kidnapped from northern villages were freed in military operations. As the new president took office petroleum industry reform legislation was taken up in the Senate as movement gathers for maximum selloffs officials estimate could bring in $75 billion. Banks which have lent heavily to the sector may be in trouble according to S&P’s latest risk assessment dropping them on category. Dollar liability mismatches are another threat hurting share prices and the central asset management company is girding for another wave of bad assets after just entering a recovery phase from the 2008 crisis.

The ratings agency’s regional update also pointed to meager credit growth at South African banks as they face an onslaught of oversight and resolution changes with new legislation and the phase-in of Basel III prudential rules. The central bank and financial services board will have different responsibilities and subordinated bondholders could receive haircuts in future liquidations. The system will adopt a version of total loss absorbing capacity designed globally for the biggest most sophisticated institutions. Household debt service to disposable income at 75 percent will dent borrower appetite, and 2 percent GDP growth will maintain a sluggish pace. Unemployment is again over 25 percent, and the rand sank to 12/dollar on chronic power outages and mine worker unrest. Inflation has settled below 6 percent but may be under pressure from civil servant wage increases and negative terms of trade.

The current account gap has improved modestly but still relies on outsize foreign portfolio inflows, as bond ownership has not budged from 35 percent. Finance Minister Nene pushed asset sales at state-run power firm Eskom for an estimated $20 billion in funding needs, as Chinese banks chipped in $2 billion to support telecoms operator Transnet. Riots broke out against expatriate workers from African neighbors as President Zuma was preoccupied by multiple corruption investigations into his own and allies; conduct. The opposition Democratic Alliance strengthened its position with selection of a new party head breaking from the minority white tradition as the business community urgently pressed the ruling ANC for economic policy revisions.

Iran’s Meltdown Alarm Alacrity
2015 June 5 by admin

Posted in: MENA
The Tehran stock exchange zigzagged as the extended June 30 nuclear negotiation deadline with international partners neared, as companies forecast 10 percent profit decline despite reported 2. 5 percent Q1 economic growth and currency firming to around 30,000/dollar average between the official and parallel markets. A $90 million petrochemical listing went ahead in April for the first IPO in a year, as banks and telecoms shares were also actively traded, with market capitalization over $100 billion on a 5 P/E ratio. Producer price inflation fell to single digits according to the government, as the central bank cut the benchmark rate 2 percent to 20 percent. External accounts showed a monthly non-oil trade surplus aided by rial depreciation although import tariffs were also raised to protect domestic miners. The main export destinations are Iraq, the UAE, China and Korea, as Dubai in particular prepares for normalization as a free-zone and financial services hub. An IMF Article IV mission also passed through with praise for consumer subsidy rollbacks to date slashing the program deficit to 1. 5 percent of GDP. Under new rules cash handouts will no longer go to business owners and other higher-income groups. However the discount fixed-rate Bank Maskan mortgage scheme has recently been expanded in an effort to revive real estate activity which plunged 35 percent in the capital as measured by construction permits. The retail loan ceiling for housing-related needs was also increased from the current individual $12,000.

Monetary loosening extended to lower reserve requirements at 13 percent and an 8 percent reduction in the central bank’s window rate from 32 percent, as officials acknowledged losses among the big state lenders and industry NPLs in the 20-25 percent range after years of sanctions and dollar scarcity. Idle industrial capacity is estimated at 30 percent, and over half of commercial credit now goes for immediate cash flow purposes. Authorities trying to brake 30 percent annual money supply growth can ease only gradually and banks are locked in to previous 25-30 percent long-term customer deposits. A list of almost 600 major defaulters has been compiled but political and religious connections will stifle collection. President Rouhani’s team has also decried institutions’ diversification into property and investments and imposed a 40 percent of capital future limit on non-banking pursuits. Private banks like Pasargad and Parsian linked to larger business conglomerates have led the charge, and unregulated units directly established by the Revolutionary Guard may be used for stock market speculation and support experts believe.

The low-cost housing Mehr facility was inaugurated by former President Ahmedijad to spur domestic consumption and consolidate populist credentials to win a second term but came to represent 40 percent of base money expansion, according to the IMF. The household mortgage level was doubled in May to $25,000 at a 15 percent rate to be paid back in 12 years, and the central bank has agreed to move the program off its balance sheet to aid policy conduct and determine the size of potential liabilities to be added to bank cleanup costs. The total burden may already be close to the $100 billion in reserves blocked in foreign accounts under sanctions, as distress greets any end-June deal.

Capital Flows’ Quality Deterioration Qualms
2015 June 5 by admin

Posted in: Fund Flows
The IIF’s May reading of private capital allocation to 30 markets reduced this year’s projection to below $1 trillion for a post-financial crisis low as Q1 economic growth was just 4 percent and inflows/GDP at 3. 5 percent were the worst since 2002. Next year after Fed rate hikes and possible abatement of geopolitical standoffs as in Russia-Ukraine the total should recover to $1. 2 trillion, but a “stress event” can still be envisioned and amplified with the lack of secondary trading and high corporate debt. Portfolio investment has been volatile in recent months and $10-15 billion in outflows accompanied the German bund “mini-tantrum” despite the ECB’s $50 billion buying program. Equity commitments will rise 20 percent from 2014 to $130 billion on discount valuations versus mature markets, while fixed-income stays flat at $170 billion. FDI will decline 10 percent to $530 billion chiefly from China and Russia pullback. China alone will send that amount outward in the form of official reserve recycling, commercial investment and repayment, and capital flight as the other tracked economies send an equal sum abroad for a $1. 2 trillion total. Russian money exit slowed to $25 billion in the last quarter as the ruble firmed and companies covered external obligations with central bank aid.

Global growth may pick up slightly in 2016 under benign assumptions of gradual Fed rate hikes and firmer commodity prices which allow healthy consumption and exports. However sudden US wage pressure with skilled positions hard to fill could be a negative surprise affecting all asset classes with sudden risk aversion, and especially large current account deficit countries like Brazil, South Africa and Turkey. This shock would come against a background of dwindling reserve accumulation, with a wide swathe of Asian, European and Latin American borrowers below the 1-year short-term debt coverage standard. Corporate hard-currency bonds outstanding are over $1 trillion and the previous tendency to issue 70 percent in local currency has eroded over time. Cross-border bank lending also hit $3 trillion in 2014 according to the BIS as non-EU groups replaced weak Eurozone providers with geographic and historic links. With almost $400 billion due in both categories through 2017 consumer and real estate firms without natural hedges are likely most vulnerable, but derivatives markets otherwise are thin with exceptions like Korea and Mexico. Secondary turnover is particularly lacking as US dealers alone slashed foreign bond inventory two-thirds due to post-crisis capital and proprietary dealing changes. Local currency corporate market-making is only $45 billion out of a universe of $5. 5 trillion and many pension and insurance funds that own the paper are locked-in buyers anyway, the survey asserts. ETFs have expanded into the space to attract both retail and institutional investors, and their “herding behavior” and untested liquidity on large scale redemption could pose additional threats.

In Asia China is expected to further open the capital account to gain IMF SDR basket inclusion and foreign fund manager confidence, but Indonesia and Malaysia with 40 percent range overseas ownership of domestic government bonds may be under siege as India’s structural reform rollout leaves the one-year old Modi regime “better placed. ” Greek euro exit could taint the neighborhood, and Latin America is “still in the game” with even Argentina poised for a private capital turnaround with President Fernandez’s departure. The Middle East-Africa will be whipsawed by lower commodity values as Gulf foreign assets drop $100 billion to cap the cross-continent gusher.

Myanmar’s Capsized Investor Opening Optimism
2015 May 29 by admin

Posted in: Asia
The Rohingya refugee crisis, sending thousands of poor persecuted Muslims in Myanmar by boat to neighboring Asian shores, reflects lingering ethnic and religious rivalries as well as economic dysfunction despite headline 8 percent GDP growth. Despite the partial lifting of foreign commercial sanctions and tentative investor forays, the business elite connected to the ruling military remain the dominant force as political, financial and infrastructure systems suffer from a half-century of abuse. Preparation for November elections, which bar Nobel laureate and opposition party head Aung San Suu Kyi from seeking the presidency due to her children’s UK citizenship, are set to further delay policy changes advocated the past two years by development agencies and international companies as they grapple with a mixed recent Indochina track record.

Buddhist-Moslem violence along with rebel conflicts exact heavy costs, and the generals in charge led by Thein Sein, guaranteed one-quarter of parliamentary seats, have never articulated a clear economic platform. Since her release from house arrest 5 years ago National League for Democracy founder Ms. Suu Kyi has stuck a populist tone criticizing Chinese natural resource deals in particular, but has not offered an alternative vision. The upcoming polls will be contested by 70 registered groups in total, with rural ones representing the most impoverished areas. Coca-Cola and Unilever have returned in part to tap the low-end consumer segment of the 50 million population but have so far concentrated on Yangon with $5000-range annual per-capita income. Telecom firms from Qatar and Norway investing billions of dollars have provided broad coverage, but permission to build cell towers is a chronic obstacle.

The IMF in a February visit projected economic growth the current fiscal year will slip below 8 percent on agriculture weakness as inflation picks up to 6 percent. Currency depreciation will continue with the strong dollar and 5 percent of GDP trade deficit, with foreign reserves down to $4. 5 billion at end-2014. The budget gap is at the same level, with proposed public sector salary hikes pre-empting education and health needs as tax collection lags, the Fund admonished. The central bank finances spending directly but has inaugurated Treasury bill issuance, as private sector credit continues to grow at 30 percent annually from a low base.

Financial sector modernization is a main reform priority receiving Asian Development Bank support. In a May paper it noted that half the 25 authorized banks were state-directed with foreign direct investment still barred, although licensed representative offices have been approved to conduct hard currency business with international customers. Lending is collateral-based and must follow strict official allocation mandates. Private banks are part of larger business conglomerates posing contagion risk, and payment system automation has just begun.

Interest rates are determined administratively with a fixed- structure limiting competition. A new central bank law aims to boost supervision capacity and establish formal auditing and deposit insurance frameworks which can aid in consolidating existing players. Capital market development should go in stages with government securities first although they are “years away,” according to the ADB. Stock exchange work has begun with Japanese technical assistance, and preliminary plans impose a 30 percent foreign ownership ceiling on listings. A handful of venture capital funds have launched to target startups, but for now the main company equity channel is through the Singapore bourse which hosts the powerful Yoma conglomerate with interests in real estate, retailing and tourism.

The neighbors’ disappointing experience the past decade with exchange rate and financial sector reforms may help explain premature enthusiasm. An IMF report on Laos at the same time at Burma’s again urged a break from the currency peg and monopoly government banking which put debt in the 60 percent of GDP “distressed” zone. Vietnam’s bank cleanup and stock market state enterprise privatization continue at a glacial pace. Myanmar is trapped by the same history and the next administration can best make up for 50 years’ lost time with a 50-day bold overhaul plan re-opening the lapsed credit and monetary policy agenda to date.

Originally Posted on Asia Times www. atimes. com

The BIS’ Claim Filing Clamor
2015 May 29 by admin

Posted in: Fund Flows
The BIS’ lagged cross-border emerging market banking claims tally for the last quarter of 2014 showed another drop to below the $4 trillion mark as the global total also fell for Asia and Europe in particular. The period represented a second successive drop as seen previously during the Fed taper tantrum and 2008-09 crisis, but systemic damage was not posed as flows to Latin America and the Middle East/Africa rose to almost $1 trillion combined. China alone had the same amount in outstanding lines, and associated Hong Kong accounted for another $400 billion while India was far behind at $200 billion. Europe was off $50 billion to $725 billion, half due to Russia’s sanctions but also to euro depreciation against the dollar. Latin American exposure is up post-crisis especially to Mexico, but Brazil at $250 billion remains the largest recipient. In the Mideast Saudi Arabia attracted $75 billion but local bank liquidity obviates external borrowing, according to the study.

The statistics focus on short versus long-term and bank against non-bank activity with Asia the outlier in both riskier measures. The bank claim portion is close to Developed Europe’s 45 percent and 70 percent are under one-year maturity. Along with China, Korea and Singapore are concentrated in that bucket. Regional lending at 15 percent of GDP is one-third the peak during the 1990s financial crisis, and the Chinese spurt may have been due to currency carry trading as well as trade credit and invoice manipulation. Russian participation in contrast is in the non-bank private sector and net redemptions have lowered the total to $125 billion. In advanced economies it continues to shrink from $25 trillion pre-crisis to $20 trillion at the end of last year, with the UK, France and Germany each over $1 trillion and Japan just below that number.

Current EPFR bond fund data in turn reflects $500 million in weekly allocation since March with three-quarters in hard currency. Retail and institutional investor participation through May is around $15 billion by broader industry estimates, and local and external sovereigns are 80 percent together in portfolios as compared with corporates’ 20 percent. Sovereign gross issuance is over $40 billion over one-quarter euro-denominated, and on a net basis the remaining 2015 pipeline will be flat. The foreign corporate equivalent is $125 billion, behind last year’s pace, with quasi-sovereigns half the sum and 80 percent investment-grade rated. Asia accounts for two-thirds of placements, and the six-month Brazilian drought was just broken in the wake of Petrobras’ belated earnings release.

Brazil’s sovereign rating may be saved from demotion with the Petrobras disclosure and fiscal adjustment plans, but recession will likely impede return to primary surplus targets. India has been an overcrowded position as oil price rebound may hurt the current account deficit and inflation trajectory. Land and tax reforms are still stuck in parliament and state banks with large nonperforming infrastructure loans need recapitalization soon. Indonesia’s Jokowi was originally cast in the Modi game-changer mold but has since disappointed with populist economic policies and crony appointments demanded by his broader political affiliation. After cutting fuel subsidies, macro-prudential curbs in consumer loans were lifted to honor party claims.

Local Corporate Bonds’ Universe Discovery
2015 May 21 by admin

Posted in: General Emerging Markets
Local corporate bonds, 90 percent concentrated in Asia at Chinese policy banks in particular, have almost matched the growth in the external asset class in recent years to reach almost $5 trillion in size, according to JP Morgan which may be preparing a dedicated index . The amount is around one-third of all EM bonds outstanding, and is just $2 billion behind local sovereigns which are now the largest allocation and trading components. Half of issuance is in financials, with the remainder in infrastructure and utilities. Since 2010 $1 trillion in annual supply has been added before redemptions, but less than one-tenth the total or $350 billion is available through Euroclear and pricing capability is also thin. Ratings agencies only offer coverage of 250 firms out of the 4500-range universe, and JP Morgan’s tracking criteria will require minimum $50 million and 1-year terms.

China accounts for two-thirds of the field led by the Development Bank’s $900 billion, and Europe and Latin America both have placed over $200 billion. Half are in short-term 1-3 year maturities which may impede yield curve development, but countries like Chile and Korea with sophisticated insurance and pension sectors promote longer duration. Banks represent 60 percent of the market and access the debt both for funding and regulatory purposes, while oil and gas activity plunged 40 percent last year due to commodity and Russian crises, as the latter companies were 80 percent of Europe’s total. The Middle East and Africa each have floated $80 billion, and India has the third ranking overall at $250 billion. Brazil is biggest in Latin America with $120 billion followed by Mexico’s $80 billion, which is just ahead of South Africa. Asia has half the Euroclearable sum led by offshore center Singapore, while only Chinese companies have individual taps above $100 billion. Banks are both the prime names and buyers, although foreign investors with a local presence can now participate on the interbank and exchange-listed markets. The Export-Import Bank with $250 billion in circulation recently received additional government injections and may try to target buyers abroad to support its infrastructure project pipeline now expanded with launch of the AIIB, according to reports.

Banks and companies in Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey also are active through the no-interest Islamic sukuk format, as the global corporate and sovereign stock hit $120 billion in 2014. In Q1 placement was near $20 billion, over 40 percent Malaysian followed by the UAE at almost 20 percent. The result was $10 billion below recent periods with oil and exchange rate shifts, but the Bahrain and Bangladesh central banks piloted new instruments. Sovereigns were half the category and supra-nationals like the Islamic Development Bank were prominent. State hydrocarbon producer Petronas had a large $1. 25 billion deal and cross-border acceptance spread with the UK Export agency offering a $900 million facility for Emirates Airlines. Sharia-compliant institutions hold close to $2 trillion in assets by S&P calculations, and debuts are forthcoming in the Philippines, Thailand, Kenya and elsewhere. Barclays includes Malaysian sukuks in benchmark indices, and the premium over standard pricing has halved to 50 basis points as once unconventional cultural norms go universal.

Russia’s Vacant Victory Day Valor
2015 May 21 by admin

Posted in: Europe
Russian stocks were tied with Hungary’s up 35 percent as the 70th Victory Day commemorating World War II triumph was held in early May, also the first anniversary of EU and US-imposed trade and financial sanctions. The regime began with targeted company and individual measure against President Putin’s closest allies and then widened into blanket prohibition on new debt and equity raising and oil sector engagement. The economy teetered on recession before these pressures with commodity price decline, and according to consensus reviews export-related manufacturing and mining subsequently benefited from ruble correction and barely suffered output loss. Consumers and domestic business in contrast were battered by GDP contraction expected at 4-5 percent this year, and tighter credit as the government took emergency prudential and liquidity steps to aid banks.

The PMI has again crept above 50, and inflation may come down toward 10 percent plus as the central bank continues rate cuts after its recent 150 basis point slash. The anti-crisis fiscal plan drew on the sovereign wealth fund but may not have been as reckless as originally feared, with public sector salaries frozen and private pension contributions maintained. A balanced budget is again seen in 2017 with oil at $70/barrel, and the current account surplus could rise to 5 percent of GDP in 2015 with lower imports, enough to offset capital outflows mainly due to external debt repayment. Banking system dollarization has slowed, enabling stricter parameters for the special FX repo facility that was a lifeline in late 2014.

Central Europe’s exports to Russia and Ukraine fell almost 20 percent since the boycott but the portion foregone was less than 1 percent of GDP. In Hungary and Poland oil cost savings offset the blow, and Moscow’s counter food and beverage ban was barely registered amid abundant harvests and increased non-EU shipments. CIS members suffered large currency devaluations and swings; in Azerbaijan and Belarus they depreciated 35 percent against the dollar, and Georgia’s dram was battered by remittance reversal. Kazakhstan has resisted a second resetting but after President Nazarbaev’s repeat re-election another adjustment is widely expected especially with flat hydrocarbon revenue. State banks have managed to weather the squeeze so far with government funding access but smaller consumer lenders are under “severe stress” according to a May JP Morgan analysis. Corporate bond issuers with dollar earnings have been unharmed and syndicated loans have gone through with European and Asian sources despite sanctions. High-yield CEMBI components have been downgraded, but obligations through year-end should be met with the 2016 outlook more uncertain.

Share P/E ratios at 5 remain compelling and international fund inflows have resumed as an exception to almost $20 billion in EPFR-tracked exit for all markets. Tech listings have performed well and dividend payouts have attracted buyers. Sovereign spreads have roughly halved from their near 600 basis point maximum over Treasuries on the EMBI, despite ratings agencies’ negative outlooks. Real-money investors have not embraced the ruble’s recovery, and models show it may now be overvalued after recouping 2014’s meltdown. Weights in the benchmark corporate and sovereign indices have dropped below 10 percent, and the local currency GBI-EM share is 5 percent as the mixed march marks a second year.

Saudi Arabia’s Reserved Access Axis
2015 May 11 by admin

Posted in: MENA
Saudi Arabia, which trounced MENA markets with a 20 percent jump through April on the MSCI index, finalized the June incremental foreign direct opening rules in line with earlier signals as it also looks to replenish $35 billion in reserve loss, 5 percent of the total, in recent months. Qualified investors will need minimum $5 billion in assets, above the scale of smaller frontier specialists, and the collective exchange and individual company control stakes are to be capped at 10 percent and 49 percent respectively with single funds unable to own more than 10 percent of a listing. The swap market will remain intact although the regulator will promote greater disclosure and standardization. Local retail investors are ambivalent about the additional non-resident liberalization beyond the GCC as they fear crowding but welcome increased trading and corporate governance focus. In the run-up to June the US-trained stock market overseer stepped up insider dealing and broker capitalization enforcement after norms were routinely breached.

The Kingdom, which just reshuffled the leadership for a younger generation, has spent $50 billion of its $700 billion in reported reserves the last six months as it contends with lower oil prices and outstanding infrastructure projects. The new monarch also granted public sector employees bonuses on assuming the throne, and the IMF’s latest regional outlook warned Gulf States to pare wages and subsidies to avoid reserve depletion. With allies Kuwait and the UAE funds were also diverted to Egypt to allow its holdings to rebuild to $20 billion. With its top credit rating sovereign external and local borrowing is a backstop option but authorities are wary of repeating a debt cycle like in the 1990s ending in crisis. Military outlays may represent further drag as the aerial bombing campaign continues against Houtis in Yemen and US equipment is requested to forestall Iranian action as an anti-nuclear sanctions deal is contemplated. As these issues evolve contractors for the Saudi mega-projects have encountered payment delays, according to industry sources, and they must absorb the risk without legal recourse.

Global foreign exchange reserves overall shrank almost 5 percent to $11. 5 trillion in the second half of last year, with two-thirds of the drop attributed to euro devaluation, the IMF believes. With negative bond yields on the ECB’s quantitative easing the single currency share of the total at a decade-low 22 percent will likely dip further versus the dollar’s 60 percent. Emerging economies with two-thirds of the sum have hit plateaus with a few exceptions like India and Mexico. In China and Russia recent losses were in the $100 billion range. Moscow’s liquid assets may only be $150 billion, according to the Peterson Institute and other analysts, equal to external sovereign and corporate obligations due this year. China’s heft continues to recede from the $4 trillion mark on capital outflows and deleveraging as the central bank may have also drawn on the pile for currency support.

Elsewhere in Asia Indonesia and Malaysia with flat MSCI stock market performance have experienced major reserve falls as foreign investors rethink heavy portfolio positions. Coverage is precarious for short-term external debt where IMF guidelines recommend 100 percent servicing capacity, and an international backlash has also formed against their leaders for unreserved harsh security measures.

Corporate Bonds’ Gruesome Body Dissection
2015 May 11 by admin

Posted in: General Emerging Markets
Amid a wave of corporate debt downgrade and defaults through April, CEMBI inventor JP Morgan published research “defining and dissecting” the $1. 6 trillion asset class, $300 million above US high-yield. It encompasses hard currency and Eurocleared issues in public markets only and quasi-sovereigns with partial and complete state ownership, although cases like Venezuela’s PDVSA are in the government instrument EMBI. The CEMBI covers half the universe and the size doubled the past five years. By region, Asia and Latin America dominate with respective 40 percent and 35 percent shares with Europe and the Middle East between 10-15 percent. Dollar and euro-denominated bonds account for 85 percent and 15 percent in turn and they must fall under foreign law jurisdiction. China’s presence at $35 billion is biggest in the dim sum market for non-convertible currencies. The Middle East/ Africa segment is 60 percent government-related and Latin America oil giants PEMEX and Petrobras top the quasi-sovereign list each with over $50 billion outstanding.

Hong Kong, Singapore and certain GCC sponsors are excluded from benchmarks with per capita-income levels above the cutoff. Islamic-style sukuks and credit-enhanced structures are also barred but Chinese bank Basel III Tier 1 placements feature despite local law rule since they settle in dollars. Fifty countries are in the CEMBI broad and Brazil and China are roughly tied with $135 billion in activity and along with Mexico and Russia comprise 45 percent of the roster. Turkey’s component has grown fastest to over $35 billion currently, and by industry financials remain one-third or $550 billion for the overall category. Oil and gas is next and the real estate has jumped 750 percent since 2009 in the CEMBI Broad to almost $70 billion. Russia financial at $70 billion was the largest combined classification but China’s equivalent has eclipsed it since the onset of international capital market sanctions.

New entrants have recently been scarce to meet the CEMBI’s $300 million and 5-year maturity requirements with the investment-grade portion off 10 percent to 60 percent on prevailing downgrade trends. Slowing economies and earnings and high leverage and currency mismatch, in addition to the singular Russian and Brazilian drags have eroded the decade long creditworthiness base. JP Morgan projects annual volume will fall $75 billion this year to $225 billion, with the former figure equal to remaining 2015 rollover needs. Russia interest has revived despite “fallen angel” status with the ruble recouping a chunk of 2014’s dollar loss, commodity price rebound, and double-digit yields. The central bank has offered refinancing facilities and cut interest rates another 200 basis points at end-April.
Global emerging market company debt exposure is only one-third through external bonds, according to the bank, and the Moscow stock market has also bounced this year as Europe’s MSCI leader.

Petrobras before the scandal broke was the leverage leader at 5 times and still may be relegated to junk despite the belated release of certified Q4 earnings flirting with covenant breach. Construction firm contractors have defaulted on their obligations, and state banks at home and abroad will cover 2015 debt service but management will have to slash capital investment and sell core assets as pension fund law suits threaten to carve up remaining morsels.

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China’s Swirling Sediment Trails
2015 May 5 by admin

Posted in: Asia
China stocks were up 35 percent on the MSCI index through April on record $275 billion in retail investor margin debt, triple last year’s pace, to offset foreign fund outflows accounting for the bulk of $15 billion in equity exit according to EPFR. Over 3 million individual accounts were opened the last week of the month as regulators approved 25 Shanghai and Shenzhen IPOs. The Hong Kong connect has been the main channel for overseas cash, as the QFII quota half used at $75 billion has also not budged. International banks joined in aversion as BIS-reported claims dropped $50 billion in Q4 with $1 trillion outstanding. Repayment spurred $25 billion in net RMB selling in March, as the US Treasury Department again demurred in branding practice currency manipulation ahead of the annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue (SED) summer meeting between top officials. The summit will treat an extensive issue list including steps toward a bilateral investment treaty and Washington’s positions toward the new Asian Infrastructure Bank and Yuan inclusion in the IMF’s SDR basket. On the last question the US does not have a blocking vote, and Fund eligibility criteria do not presume full convertibility and will consider Beijing’s swap network with 30 central banks.

The PMI reading remains under 50 as the 7 percent growth target may be honored in the breach with state-owned firm profits off almost 10 percent in Q1 and fiscal revenue continuing to flag with declining property sales. To aid exports rare earth restrictions were lifted and the central bank cut reserve requirements 100 basis points to 18 percent and injected $30 billion each into the Export-Import and Development banks for cross-border and small business support. Bank loans rose 12 percent last year to $8. 5 trillion according to Price Waterhouse but real estate developer credit has jumped at twice that clip with NPLs worsening 40 percent. The government giants barely registered better earnings, and central bad asset manager Huarong will soon go public to tap more resources. Local government debt refinancing is still a drag as banks have bridled at proposed low yields in swap operations estimated at RMB 1 trillion, with another RMB 500 billion to be issued through an updated municipal regime. Several provinces have announced but postponed sales with process uncertainty and sour market conditions.

Trusts have disappeared from the bidding with the shadow banking crackdown but traditional insurers have partially absorbed the slack for both LGFV and property transactions. Offshore creditors own 40 percent of the latter, one-third of Asia’s junk market, and Kaisa’s default may leave them with recovery value under 5 percent by consensus calculations. Other companies like Glorious Property and Rehne face big repayments amid ratings downgrades, as industry favorite China Vanke revealed a 60 percent slump in Q1 profit. Frequent state issuers like Petrochina, part of $200 billion in mainland placements abroad in 2014, are likewise experiencing balance sheet deterioration as they belatedly restructure. A solar power concern missed an onshore bond installment in April, after peers’ previous international troubles where Hong Kong negotiations ended in distressed exchanges. Political dialogue there seems stuck in similar recriminations as protests have not yet resulted in direct chief executive elections with holdout enclave thinking.

Frontier Fans’ Ten Top Hits
2015 May 5 by admin

Posted in: General Emerging Markets
A new Bloomberg book Frontier combines global travelogue with specific dedicated debt and equity fund manager views to spotlight their ten leading picks across all regions. Myanmar, without functioning public markets is at the bottom, and Nigeria wins the top ranking, with the caveat that Iran, bypassed due to existing sanctions that could be lifted with a proposed anti-nuclear deal, could soon be “the most compelling” bet. The author Serkin is Bloomberg’s emerging markets editor at large and noted Templeton investor Mobius pens the introduction and conveys bottom-up and top-down wisdom from 40 years of stock picking and company visits aided by private jet. The other managers are from both big-name and specialist houses, and their quantitative and qualitative analyses are as diverse as the frontier MSCI and NEXGEM index rosters. The mix of objective and subjective factors highlights the difficulties of portfolio selection and conflicts and guidelines are ultimately left to the reader and professional advisers to sort, with the implication that passive ETF choice may not be the best route for this asset class. In this respect, the work joins recent warnings by the US self-regulatory body FINRA that retail investors may not fully appreciate risks and should opt for experienced traditional mutual funds.

In the opening the Pakistan Stock exchange is identified as the outperformer the past decade with a 175 percent gain, although it originally was part of the MSCI main tier until demotion from capital controls. Since 2000 Mongolia has led up over 3000 percent even though it has yet to formally join the frontier index, and Colombia also climbed over 1000 percent but is in the core universe. The volume covers just one-quarter the 40-50 counties classified in the broad “exotic” category, including distressed secondary debt available for outcasts like Cuba and North Korea. According to general characteristics, stock markets have lower capitalization, correlation and liquidity relative to standard emerging markets, and per capita incomes and securities development also typically lag. Africa’s contingent in particular has fast growing economies and consumer goods have boomed alongside historic commodities reliance, although financials remain 40 percent of MSCI’s 25-member frontier listing. The group tends toward younger demographics, greater political instability and poor infrastructure, but may have minimal foreign debt after bilateral and multilateral cancellation programs. They are under-researched and lack domestic institutional investors, and may have scant corporate alongside government debt and venture capital with public equity.

Nigeria’s size despite its litany of oil, security and currency woes may explain the number one finish ahead of 9th place Ghana on the continent, which the writer describes as “too laid back” not to mention the backsliding to IMF assistance with double-digit budget and current account deficits. In the Asia pack Vietnam beats Sri Lanka and Myanmar on the 40th anniversary of US troop withdrawal and 20th of stock exchange launch with its ASEAN and China integration. In the Middle East Saudi Arabia, which is to enable direct overseas access next month, outpaces Egypt with the author’s experience in the respective locations colored by accidental beheading witness and brief army detention. Romania is Europe’s only entry and was shunned for social problems offsetting fiscal balance and privatization, while Argentina, formerly in the core MSCI universe was chosen third in manager preference with hydrocarbon reserves and the twilight of the twin Kirchner populist presidencies. A broader survey as Bloomberg routinely conducts quarterly of global allocators may reveal different placement and top ten choices as the continuing journey jostles presumed pioneers.

The OECD’s Small Firm Finance Finagling
2015 April 30 by admin

Posted in: Global Banking
The joint industrial and emerging economy OECD issued a gloomy report on post-crisis small enterprise finance through banks and urged broader securities-related availability through asset-backed instruments and exchange IPOs. The Paris-based agency argued that regulatory reform since 2008 has cramped business credit and that official emergency programs left borrowers with increased debt and leverage. Real interest rates have spiked for the sector and start-up companies have been especially shut out. Non-banks and private investors can help plug the gap, and leasing and factoring already popular in Europe can be extended to the developing world. Corporate bonds have been tried by less than 5 percent of firms surveyed with their earnings and size requirements and low ratings entailing steep yields. Mid-cap companies could benefit from a private placement market for sophisticated buyers with easier reporting and related work to modernize secondary trading and insolvency frameworks.

Loan securitization and covered bonds offer potential but the former has been denigrated with the US mortgage security collapse and the latter must still be carried on-balance sheet as an “encumbrance,” according to the organization. Crowd-funding through the internet has attracted money mainly to social and non-profit causes, and rules often do not yet permit equity and fixed-income support through the channel. Hybrids such as mezzanine finance in the middle of the seniority scale have been applied for speculative grade transactions but can depend on government and development institution support. Venture capital is active across the range of OECD members but still has not recovered to pre-crisis levels despite additional tax and training incentives. Public listings through dedicated stock market tiers have not caught on with both demand and supply constraints. Company owners lack the confidence and education for the process and post-offering liquidity is low and micro and macro data are sparse on performance and policy for successful efforts.

The 2015 annual “scorecard” for SMEs based on findings through end-2013 showed a drop in payment delays and uneven bankruptcy record. European non-performing loans spiked, and governments tried to step into the breach with guarantee and equity sponsor schemes. Long-term maturities have been reduced in particular, and interest rate spreads widened relative to bigger firms. Half of credit was collateralized, and rejection rates were 30-50 percent in several emerging market cases. Seed and early stage venture investment remained under 2008 numbers and stock market launches were mixed while leasing growth was a bright spot.

Turkey’s G-20 presidency has emphasized new financing options under its 3Is thrust—implementation, investment and inclusion—heading into the November summit. Deputy Prime Minister Babacan, who may stay in the post although he must leave parliament under the three term limit, has taken steps at home to align debt and share tax treatment and promote private equity. Washington’s chief development finance arm OPIC has pressed Congress for more power to take capital stakes although it still has $10 billion in unused budget authority attributed to lack of personnel. Into the 2016 presidential election advocates have tabled proposal for a combined government-wide entity absorbing AID, Trade and Development Agency and other capabilities to overhaul almost 50-year old quasi-commercial designs.

The G20’s Standard-Setting Stragglers
2015 April 30 by admin

Posted in: General Emerging Markets
A study by the academic and think-tank network New G20 project released around the Spring IMF-World Bank meetings offered a mixed assessment of emerging economy participation in post-financial crisis regulatory standard adoption. It hailed “remarkable change” in joining the key Basel Committee, International Securities Commission, Payments Committee and Financial Stability boards, but regretted that with neophyte status and limited capacity their representatives’ focus was mainly “defensive” to cushion rule fallout on local banking and capital markets. The expanded supervisory governance is positive with more diverse representation but may slow consensus decision-making particularly if developing country members offer alternative global frameworks. However so far their role has not been proactive in view of lagging expertise and innovation relative to advanced economies, and has concentrated instead on mitigating and reworking specific provisions.

Before 2008 emerging markets were “rule-takers” despite consultation processes, but accounted for less than one-fifth of outside comments on the Basel II norms from the early 2000s. The paper claims that the US and EU are the pre-eminent financial powers, with the ability to set and enforce the agenda through their own jurisdictions when cross-border cooperation is lacking. In the past middle-income countries sought to comply to avoid external criticism and sanction but adherence was often cosmetic in contrast with the current intent to be “responsible” partners. They have embraced macro-prudential concepts in Basel III such as counter-cyclical capital buffers and agreed to extend surveillance to derivatives and shadow banking. On resolution a Chinese state lender is on the list of systemically-important global institutions even as the insolvency and workout regime remains a project in progress.

The BIS and IOSCO fights have been between developed nations reflecting different commercial-investment baking splits and hedge fund comfort levels. Recent relaxation of proposed liquidity set-asides did not involve emerging market regulators, who have looked instead to monetary policy and foreign reserve levels to manage capital flow volatility. However they were active in the debate on trade credit treatment and safe asset definition given relative government securities underdevelopment. A number opposed central clearing and mandatory disclosure for over-the-counter derivatives in view of the heavy infrastructure load but sophisticated centers went ahead with the changes. Incorporation of the new Basel guidelines has been greater in emerging market participants with incomplete grades only in Mexico and Russia according to a 2014 peer review. They agree to full IMF-World Bank financial sector analyses every five years, and the 15 countries involved in the BIS are committed to full implementation despite cost and knowledge barriers.

Banks in Brazil, China and India have begun to move abroad but are less internationalized than Japan’s when they became the focus of wider geographic sweep in early 1980-90s formulas. Advanced economy delegates still dominate not just official bodies but also the main industry associations like the IIF, the study finds. Trade finance risk-weighting adjustment was championed both by government and commercial interests in rare consensus, and with their double-digit credit growth developing economies have managed to challenge conventional “above-trend” definitions that could trigger countermeasures. South Africa’s comments stand out for complexity but in terms of influence the middle-income group may only find it voice with standard-setting body rebalancing reforms as proposed at the Bretton Woods twins which have been muted since introduction.

Ukraine’s Hard Bargaining Chips
2015 April 23 by admin

Posted in: Europe
After getting the first IMF $5 billion slice under its resumed program and passing energy reforms halfway to full market pricing, Ukraine’s bondholder negotiations opened with skirmishes placing in doubt the June agreement deadline around the next Fund review. Finance Minister Jaresko, who previously ran a private equity fund, rejected Franklin Templeton’s initial gambit with BlackRock advice for a simple coupon extension or re-profiling as proposed in the IMF’s new restructuring guidelines. To achieve the $15 billion relief from private debt operations as the linchpin of the latest facility, “hard” interest and principal haircuts are on the table according to participants and a taxonomy prepared by the Canada-based Center for International Governance Innovation in an April paper. It argues that war in the East has now overtaken the prospect for “soft” write-downs and that explicit loss-sharing will result in contrast with the past vague “bail-in” formula.

Resort to short-term maturity lengthening around 3 years in the Fund’s description presumes that market access and debt sustainability are restored over the period. The current indicators are poor on both fronts as foreign relationship banks refuse to roll over or agree to payment delays by the state Export-Import bank, and debt/GDP is widely estimated in the 100 percent range already, breaching the terms of Russia’s last-ditch Yakunovych regime rescue package. Sovereign default historians also point out that the country’s 2000 exercise when it was better positioned involved sizable coupon cuts. In CIGI’s view rescheduling must be stretched out for a decade and only principal reductions could be avoided in the preliminary phase. Numerous questions remain for the operation such as Russia’s creditor status it claims as official and the inclusion of foreign currency-denominated domestic Treasury bills. Ukraine may have also alienated investors with the choice of Lazard for its team after the adviser was behind the draconian Greece exchange. Rumors have circulated that Kiev could invoke covenant clauses to force any swap under local law jurisdiction following Athens’ playbook or that it may mount an “odious debt” defense repudiating the past decade’s contracts under corrupt rulers.

These uncertainties assign urgency to the broader restructuring agenda the Canadian think-tank outlined in a separate document. A 2014 UN resolution championed by Argentina urged a multilateral framework although this treaty response was soundly quashed in the early 2000s. However the UK and US which govern most emerging market debt opposed the move, and many issuers prefer the IMF as the guiding forum. Contractual response advocates for their part hail the collective action and pari passu clause cleanups last year as major strides. Kazakhstan went first with the changes and Mexico and Vietnam soon followed, but altering the terms for outstanding paper will take years. The CIGI has endorsed the parallel launch of a standing independent forum to address “incipient distress” and advance research and reform agendas. It would seek to modernize the traditional comparable treatment approach which non-Paris Club and new private creditors did not shape. The analysis also recommends strengthening the IIF’s code of conduct to shift the onus from debtors and more automatic standstills in the perennial confrontation literally extended to the CIS danger zone.

Financial Stability’s Treading Traction Trace
2015 April 23 by admin

Posted in: General Emerging Markets
The IMF’s April Global Financial Stability Report flagged higher emerging market risks on is periodic “heat map,” and urged deeper “policy traction” against corporate balance sheet and commodity price deterioration outweighing lower inflation and more competitive currency benefits. China’s disinflation was singled out as more structural due to overcapacity in real estate and industrial sectors and its potential for “abrupt and disorderly” deleveraging with bank property loan exposure at 20 percent of GDP. The Asia high-yield bond market with $125 billion in mainland issuance since 2010 has felt the impact with developer Kaisa’s missed payments, which raised basic collateral and seniority questions amid fraud and mismanagement allegations. Chemical and mining companies have also borrowed heavily offshore, and state banks may be vulnerable through previous shadow channels used to evade prudential rules, the Fund believes. With retrenchment capital spending plans have been curtailed and may erode the economy’s underlying investment potential although returns have steadily diminished post-crisis with the massive central and local government stimulus push.

Oil and gas shocks have been “systemic” in Nigeria, Russia and Venezuela and since 2007 energy firms have issued one-third of external corporate debt including syndicated loans. Their financial ratios in terms of profitability and servicing capacity had begun to slip before this year’s price crash, and state-owned borrowers in Argentina, Brazil and South Africa are also in trouble. The dollar’s 15 percent nominal appreciation since late 2014 has revealed fault lines in household loads as well in Asia. The private sector has binged in Chile, Poland and Turkey, and non-resident ownership of local government bonds is a vulnerability at 30 percent plus ranges in Indonesia and Mexico as “original sin 2. 0” according to the report. The Swiss franc’s sudden move has likewise battered Central Europe markets with the mortgage denomination and Latin American equities have been in uniform decline with the currency volatility spike.

Corporate weakness will also affect domestic banks in Nigeria, Peru, Turkey and Ukraine with half of loan books there. While Tier I Basel standard equity is above 10 percent in most systems loss-absorbing buffers may be low in Chile, Hungary, India and Russia. Russian liquidity and solvency risks are currently contained, but NPLs as of December were 7 percent and the loan-deposit relationship at 150 percent assumes continued wholesale funding which has evaporated from overseas sources post-sanctions. Banks owe around $30 billion in external debt through the rest of this year but have been able to refinance through a central bank facility as the ruble has retraced half its 2104 spill against the dollar. Portfolio outflows have also eased with stock funds among the few country gainers in Q1 according to tracker EPFR.

China should allow public bond defaults and central banks generally should sharpen macro-prudential tools to restrain foreign currency dealings. Tax incentives favoring debt could be removed and information collection must focus on murky areas like derivatives where claimed hedges may not truly be in place. Countries should have liquidity backstops to remedy market seizures and bilateral and multilateral currency swaps can salve cross-border misery in similar fashion, the publication concludes.

The Americas’ Summit Despair Valley
2015 April 17 by admin

Posted in: Latin America/Caribbean
The Americas Summit in Panama featured symbolic handshakes between the US President and historic foreign adversaries including the Cuban and Venezuelan leaders, but continued the sour economic mood from the preceding Inter-American Development bank meeting with negligible GDP growth and commodity turnarounds forecast. Financial markets remained in a funk through Q1 with only Argentina up among equities and corporate bond defaults in several countries as Brazil was cut off with Petrobras’ debacle. The IIF captured the poor sentiment in March research titled “a year of reckoning” and blamed policy mistakes for the drag rather than global raw materials prices and higher external borrowing costs. The Pacific Alliance—Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru—will outperform with greater cross-border capital and trade integration against the low bar set with Argentina’s and Venezuela’s stagflation and Brazil’s near investment grade rating loss, it predicted.

Currency depreciation has been the main adjustment response in the absence of 2008-like scope to conduct counter-cyclical fiscal and monetary policy. Brazil will end the standing swap program as the real settles below 3/dollar and Venezuela has introduced a private trading platform off to a meager start although the clearing rate is more aligned with the informal exchange. Ecuador’s exports and public spending have been battered by oil price correction, while Chile has benefited from reduced imports and subsidies. Argentina must rebuild institutions and economic management as President Fernandez leaves the scene, still refusing any holdout creditor deal as another scheduled New York bond payment was blocked. Brazil in addition to regaining budget discipline must improve the business climate, and Mexico and other Pacific Alliance members must implement as well as launch overdue structural reforms. Corruption and income inequality have fostered rising social tensions after a decade of relative calm in the hemisphere and must be addressed to preserve political and competitive gains, according to the IIF.

On trade the US is gaining market share at China’s expense while EU commerce is flat. In Asia Latin American exporters have diversified to India and Korea, With the Federal Reserve due to raise interest rates soon, most central banks are on hold or set to tighten, the latter led by Brazil where the benchmark could touch 14 percent by year-end. The fiscal deficit there hit a decade-high of 6. 5 percent of GDP and new Finance Minister Levy will be hard-pressed to achieve the 1. 5 percent primary surplus target, less than half the previous norm.

The average current account deficit will level to 2. 5 percent of GDP and mid-size Colombia and Peru should be the growth leaders at 3-4 percent on infrastructure investment and tax cuts. Productivity lags other regions, with only Mexico embarking on far-reaching reforms which will hardly budge its bottom World Economic Forum ranking on organized crime. Chile under returning President Bachelet has tried to restore the country’s reputation for bold steps, but has floundered with increased corporate taxes and a nepotism scandal involving her son. Peru’s President Humala has encountered resistance to business-friendly proposals with elections due next year and his spouse wishing to keep the summit view in the family.

ETFs’ Spurned SOS Signal
2015 April 17 by admin

Posted in: Fund Flows
As global ETFs totaled $3 trillion according to the latest data and regulators continued to fret in particular over $300 billion in emerging market equity exposure at one-quarter of outstanding mutual funds, the Investment Company Institute representing the industry claimed fears were “exaggerated. ” Its chart of EM stock and bond ETF growth the past five years showed they both account for less than one-tenth of capitalization in the respective asset classes and publically-available funds were responsible for just 15 percent of the period’s $1. 5 trillion in foreign portfolio flows. It did not quantify hedge fund engagement but argued that sovereign wealth vehicles were the dominant influence.

According to trackers the Vanguard and BlackRock iShare offerings with $75 billion in combined assets were the biggest, and of the ten leading ETFs most are global with the remainder India and Russia-focused. The average expense ratio is just over 0. 5 percent, and in Q1 they spurred all but $1 billion of the $12 billion in stock fund outflows across the core and frontier universe categories. Hedge funds drive trading on New York Stock Exchange EM listings at over 10 percent daily turnover. They routinely employ leveraged versions which enable long and short positions double and triple basic commitments. The SEC has warned that such bets, along with “exotic” country ones, are unsuitable for average retail investors and may aggravate liquidity and market-making pressures. During the Federal Reserve taper scare several funds had problems with overnight pricing and redemptions suggesting the need for broader fixes in a sustained selloff.

The BIS in a follow-on report last year noted the additional threat posed by common benchmarking of emerging market assets to a greater degree than in developed economies. This clustering is pronounced with the MSCI and FTSE indices used by 40 percent of ETF launches, which also typically do not offer currency hedges and were thus pounded with the past months’ dollar surge. An array of specialist EM sponsors now promotes company sector and size and intra and sub-regional alternatives, as well as dividend-only and derivative-protected products. Several feature a combination of active and passive management, even though the former have underperformed in recent years. Market Vectors, whose Egypt ETF was closely monitored during President Mubarak’s and Morsi’s overthrows, follows a different definition which taps multinational companies with earnings and operations in the named destination. With this flexible approach a Central Asia and Mongolia construct can be more liquid than the underlying markets.

The bond ETF segment at just over 5 percent of the $350 billion in dedicated funds has not evoked similar alarm, but individual interest has returned to local currency and entered external debt within $10 billion in Q1 allocation. Barclays underscored in recent research that bank market makers under capital and supervisory constraints have turned to them for indirect liquidity, raising the prospect of simultaneous primary and second market collapses. Despite the ICI counterattack, industry and official representatives have started to consider further safeguards that may muffle the next rapid-trigger firing amid actual US interest rate rise echoes.

Central Europe’s Russia/Deflation Hit
2015 April 9 by admin

Posted in: Europe
Central Europe has not yet been hurt badly by the Russian trade and investment hiatus and draws commodity import relief but is grappling with deflation as Slovak Republic bond yields go negative and stock markets slip with company pricing ability. In Poland headline CPI is -1 percent as the central bank slashed the benchmark rate 50 basis points despite 3 percent growth and a 55 PMI reading. Auto manufacturing and consumer demand have been solid in advance of national elections, with the main opposition party introducing Swiss franc mortgage breaks into the debate. Monetary officials argue that blanket solutions could compromise banking system health and encourage voluntary individual client workouts. Hungary has continued easing through conventional and special channels, the latter focusing on discount small firm lending schemes which get popular support despite the Orban administration’s loss of its sweeping legislative majority. EU-backed projects continue to aid 3 percent growth despite Brussels’ denunciations of strongman tendencies. The Czech Republic will keep its own currency cap through 2016 with no inflation recorded last year as the start of ECB massive bond-buying will add a crowning touch to the strategy.

Kazakhstan stocks shed 20 percent among the worst MSCI frontier results as February’s previous currency devaluation anniversary passed with no reset against the ruble as non-deliverable forwards anticipate an adjustment of the same magnitude, and President Nazarbaev in power since independence called early end-April elections. All parliamentary members except one urged the snap polls as the regime scrambles to preserve economic and political confidence with the oil and Russia crisis effects. GDP growth may be only 1 percent this year on 5 percent inflation that would spike with presumed exchange rate change. Banks find few borrowers at double digit interest rates as they cope with a 30 percent NPL legacy from the 2008 crash. Both private and multilateral advisers urge faster write-offs through tax incentives and a nascent central resolution agency, but the saga has been mired in family and ruling party intrigue as the President’s former son-in-law was found hanged in a foreign jail cell and another alleged conspirator against the state lenders awaits extradition from Italy. Shares have also suffered from insider maneuverings in dual London-listed ENRC and indefinite delays in partial public enterprise selloffs promised under a “popular capitalism” program. Full exploitation of the giant Kashagan field remains distant with international funding and technical partners now gaining leverage with the global slump which has battered fellow CIS oil producer Azerbaijan. The longstanding currency peg to the dollar there was abruptly ended and the government petroleum company plans another Eurobond to bolster its position after sovereign wealth fund losses. The Aliev regime was already under criticism for imprisoning journalists ahead of hosting a major international event, and the hydrocarbon-endowed Turkmenistan chief has in turn been condemned for authoritarianism as remittances from Russia may drop 30 percent this year.





Central Asia’s Ratcheted Ruble Zone Remorse
2015 April 9 by admin

Posted in: Asia
Despite the ruble’s recent bounce with global oil prices, the Asian Development Bank joined other official lenders in downgrading the economic growth forecast for Russia’s closely tied CIS neighbors. After 5 percent expansion in 2014, this year’s pace was cut to 3. 5 percent on reduced trade, investment, and remittances. Global financial markets with small positions had largely ignored the fallout and focused on major credit and securities exposure to Moscow under recession and sanctions, but they have increasingly soured on Central Asian and Caucuses countries run by aging autocrats with poor competitive and reform records. From oil exporters Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to Eurasian Economic Union members Armenia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, these assets have been marked down to “distressed” awaiting Russian orbit shifts delayed for decades.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development earlier warned that the the sub-region faces 1-3 percent medium term growth cuts from the Russia-Ukraine crisis and commodity price slump. The IMF pointed out that worker remittances, which account for 30-50 percent of GDP in Georgia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, began to fall in the first quarter of 2014. The ruble’s 40 percent fall against the dollar slashed incomes and compelled comparable devaluations across the zone, as central banks also hiked interest rates and foreign exchange controls. Inflation has often spiked to double digits and returning migrants will aggravate already steep poverty and unemployment.

Belarus was first to enter President Putin’s Eurasian Union but his close ally Lukashenko has bemoaned reliance on Russian trade, banking and remittances for half of output. He demanded cross-border payment in dollars rather than national currencies, and doubled interest rates and taxed foreign exchange trading at the end of last year. As the local ruble sank to a 15-year low, he sacked the central bank head and prime minister and invited the IMF to restart program talks after a post-2008 effort was derailed. The Fund recently completed a visit and Moscow tried to quell dissatisfaction with the promise of a $2 billion loan.

Kazakhstan’s $225 billion economy dominates the area as the main hydrocarbon exporter alongside Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. President Nazarbaev postponed a second devaluation after one in early 2014 until imminent snap elections which will extend his post-independence tenure. Analysts expect 20 percent depreciation despite a recent order to banks to repatriate dollars. The ADB forecasts just 2 percent GDP growth this year with oil exports and mining falling over 10 percent. The giant Kashagan field remains in ownership and royalty dispute with foreign partners. The President’s 2014 housing and infrastructure initiatives have lost momentum, and residual bad loans from the 2008 crisis banking remain one-third of the total.

Through the first quarter the stock market declined 20 percent on the MSCI Frontier Index, and investors have dumped sovereign bonds despite recent global market re-entry. They fear the BBB investment grade rating will again disappear, and took large losses from consecutive restructurings of state-owned BTA bank. The Kazakhstan stock exchange is also held down by its stake in Kyrgyzstan’s one next door as the country prepares for admission to the Eurasian Union in May. Former communists still hold power there in a multi-party coalition, and the IMF estimates that a one percent Russian growth drop fosters a 0. 5 percent Kyrgyz one. The Kumtor joint venture gold mine as the main company represents a “vulnerability” with management clashes and price fluctuations, according to the ADB. When the currency peg first came under pressure officials banned private exchange bureaus further alienating foreign investors.