Mary Sadler

Are markets upbeat on potential tax reforms? The markets (SPY) (IVV) surged last week with the announcement of a phenomenal update on the corporate tax cut. The S&P and Nasdaq Comp gained ~2% in the week ended February 10, 2017. The Trump administration’s proposed tax cut is likely to boost the economy, though analysts have […]

The recovery of oil prices in the second half of 2016 has helped the Russian economy recover from negative growth in 4Q16.

The Nikkei India Manufacturing PMI for April 2017 matched its reading for the previous month.

Malaysia’s trade surplus jumped to 9.9 billion Malaysian ringgit (MYR) (about $2.3 billion as of August 11, 2017) in June 2017—an 80% rise YoY.

The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (or GST) is expected to boost India’s medium-term economic growth above 8%, according to government data.

The rising interest rate is expected to boost the economy in the long run, but it could severely impact sectors like real estate.

The main drivers of China’s (FXI) (GXC) stock market are domestic investors who make the market volatile.

Economic activity in Brazil (EWZ) has been slow as it tries to emerge from its deep recession in 2016. But consumer and business confidence is improving.

Colombia (GXG) signed a deal with the Mercosur trade bloc on July 21, 2017, to allow the import of limited quantities of certain products without a tariff in the Colombian market.

The recovery of oil prices in the latter half of 2016 has helped the Russian ruble to appreciate along with improved exports.

Argentina’s economy expanded in 1Q17 after consecutive contractions over the last three quarters.

Consumer spending in India (INDL) stood at ~17.8 trillion rupees in 4Q16, an 11% increase compared to 16.0 trillion rupees in 3Q16.

For the first time since the 2008 financial crisis, FPI in 2015–2016 saw net outflows of about 181 billion rupees as compared to an inflow of about 2,274 billion rupees in 2014–15.

China’s service sector has been showing tremendous improvement since the last quarter of 2016.

Index funds have recently gained popularity since actively managed funds haven’t been able to capture investors’ return expectations.

Several macroeconomic indicators are suggesting that the Russian (RSX) economy is improving.

Europe’s average unemployment has fallen to a four-year low of 9.8% as of 2016. Greece’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 23.5% in January 2017.

The service sector is the main contributor to Brazil’s GDP and job creation, but it’s currently suffering from structural weakness and poor international performance.

The social and economic crisis in Venezuela has resulted in food and medicine shortages, a crippled economy, record high inflation, and falling oil prices.

Argentina (ARGT) posted a higher trade deficit for May 2017 at $642 million, mainly due to increasing imports as compared to its exports.

Retail sales in Malaysia rose 13.9% YoY (year-over-year) in June 2017, compared with its 13.6% gain in May 2017.

Exports from Malaysia in June 2017 stood at 73.1 billion Malaysian ringgit (MYR) (about $17 billion as of August 11, 2017), or 10% higher YoY.

As the third-largest economy in Latin America, Colombia is expected to recover from its subdued growth of ~2% in 2016—its lowest figure since 2009.

China had pegged its currency, the yuan, to the US dollar as it was a developing nation.

Consumer prices in Colombia (GXG) rose 3.4% on a year-over-year basis in July 2017, lower than the 4.0% rise in June 2017.

Industrial confidence in Colombia (GXG) improved in June 2017 to -5.4% as compared to -8.8% in May 2017.

The big technology companies (XLK) are expected to continue dominating the markets (SPY) (QQQ) thanks to their size, innovations, acquisitions, and investments in 2017.

Manufacturing activity in Indonesia In July 2017, manufacturing activity in Indonesia (EIDO) fell at the fastest pace in 19 months, mainly due to sharp decline in its output. Indonesia’S (EEM) manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers’ index) fell to 48.6, compared with 49.5 in June 2017, according to an IHS Markit report. New orders also fell in July […]

Manufacturing activity in Brazil In July 2017, the manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers’ index) in Brazil (BRZU) continued to decline, falling to 50 from 50.5 in June 2017. July 2017 brought a slowdown in both output and new business. US companies doing business in Brazil include Walmart (WMT), ExxonMobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX), and Apple (AAPL). Brazil (EWZ) […]

In this series, we’ll look at the performance of global (ACWI) manufacturing indexes and manufacturing activity in emerging markets.

Consumer confidence in Indonesia (EIDO) fell to 122.4 in June 2017 from an all-time high of 125.9 in May 2017.

Manufacturing activity in Indonesia (EEM) in July 2017 fell at its fastest pace in the last 19 months mainly due to the sharp decline in its output.

Exports from Indonesia (EIDO) in June 2017 stood at $11.6 billion, a fall of 11.8% on a year-over-year basis and 19% on a month-over-month basis.

Indonesia’s (EIDO) trade surplus in June 2017 stood at $1.6 billion as compared to $1.1 billion in the corresponding period last year and $0.57 billion in the previous month.

Inflation in Indonesia (EEM) in July 2017 stayed in line with the market expectation of 3.9%.

Business confidence in the manufacturing sector in South Korea (EWY) has remained stable at 78 in July 2017.

South Korean equities are soaring in 2017, with the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (or KOSPI), its benchmark index, reaching an all-time high of 2,451.5 in July 2017.

The service sector PMI (purchasing mangers’ index) in India (INDA) rose to 53.1 in June 2017, compared to 52.2 in May.

Uncertainty related to India’s new goods and services tax, which was implemented on July 1, 2017, seemed to affect India’s manufacturing activity in June 2017.

Consumer spending in India (INDA) is expected to grow via remonetization and other reforms undertaken by its government in 2017.

Mexico’s manufacturing activity posted a strong performance after its output, new orders, and employment picked up the pace in June 2017.

Consumer prices in Mexico (EEM) surged 6.31% year-over-year (or YoY) in June 2017, compared to their 6.16% rise YoY in May.

Global (ACWI) recovery in 2017 has helped labor market conditions to improve across OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations.

Economic activity in Mexico rose 3.1% year-over-year (or YoY) in May 2017, a rebound from its YoY fall of 0.57% in April 2017.

Many macroeconomic indicators in Russia (ERUS) are showing signs of improvement in 2017.

The Russian ruble (ERUS) tends to move in line with crude oil prices (USO) (UCO).

Russia’s (ERUS) current account recorded a $0.3 billion gap in 2Q17 as compared to a $23.3 billion surplus in the previous quarter and a $2 billion surplus in the same period.

The consumer prices in Russia (ERUS) rose 4.4% on a year-over-year basis in June 2017 following a 4.1% rise in the previous month.

Manufacturing activity in China expanded in June 2017 compared to its fall in May. Chinese manufacturing activity is showing a mixed outlook for economic growth in 2017.

China’s (FXI) imports rose to $153.8 billion in June 2017, a 17.2% rise year-over-year (or YoY) and a 2% rise month-over-month.