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Mexican banks may post another year of record profits

Location:

MEXICO

AMLO’s government recently shelved a plan to buy part of the retail banking operations of Citigroup’s local subsidiary, Banamex -- a plan that had caused concern among bankers and…

Anti-graft moves will hurt banking sector in Vietnam

Location:

VIETNAM

This was soon after further details emerged about previously reported financial scandals. The largest involves alleged embezzlement of more than VND300tn (well over USD12bn) from…

Mexican government will seek to buy Banamex

Location:

MEXICO

The move has further highlighted risks for international investors in Mexico under the administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), who appears to have…

Laos is at growing risk of sovereign debt default

Location:

LAOS

According to a debt sustainability analysis published by the IMF in May, Laos is in debt distress. Years of rapid growth in borrowing to fund infrastructure development…

Iraqi Kurds’ economic trap will drive instability

Location:

IRAQ

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) emphasised it had sent the federal finance ministry a promised full list of employees on April 21; however, Baghdad sources said…

Nigeria's 2024 budget projections are likely untenable

Location:

NIGERIA

Defence and security get the largest sectoral allocation at NGN3.25tn, followed by education at NGN2.2tn and health and infrastructure, each at NGN1.33tn. However, the budget is…

Rising Russian investment will cause structural change

Location:

RUSSIA

The war in Ukraine, Western sanctions and the redirection of external trade away from Europe towards new partners all required a surge in investment. The bulk of new investment…

ASEAN leadership will stretch Laos in 2024

Location:

LAOS

The theme it has chosen for its chairmanship is ‘enhancing connectivity and resilience’. The reference to ‘resilience’ is apt, as Laos is attempting to manage severe economic…

Zambia debt impasse exposes flaws in the G20 framework

Location:

ZAMBIA

This brings the three-year attempt to negotiate a debt-restructuring deal to a halt at the last hurdle. The parties must now try to salvage the deal before the end-of-year…

Election plans carry risks for Sri Lanka’s leader

Location:

SRI LANKA

According to the constitution, the next presidential election must take place in September-October 2024, but parliamentary polls are not due until 2025. Wickremesinghe is heavily…