Emerging Markets

In our annual special issue on emerging markets, we take a macro and regional view of the new realities (yes, more than one) that have developed over the past year. There are quite a few surprises.

Central Europe and the Southeast revive, while the CIS struggles with low oil prices and sanctions.

Capital Markets | Renminbi
The renminbi dropped a position in October, going from fourth to fifth, in terms of its use as a currency for international payments, according to the latest SWIFT Renminbi Tracker report.

Asia’s emerging economies fight to diversify from China and the US.

Trends | Taxation
Brazil is well known in the global business sector for its tax complexity, heavy tax burden (around 35% of GDP) and high use of technology for tax collection. Not for nothing do Brazilians call their tax authority—Receita Federal do Brasil—“the Lion.”

It is not even close: The 12 largest emerging markets banks in the world are Chinese.

Chinese banks receive high ratings, but many also fall below investment grade.

Montenegro tries to keep the foreign direct investment environment as simple as possible. 

Big oil companies waited for years to see if anyone could successfully tap into Arctic oil reserves.

India seems to be on course with economic reforms under the leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi, achieving a significant landmark as it moved ahead of the US and China in the foreign direct investment (FDI) sweepstakes.

Capital Markets | Banking Licenses
Saudi Arabia cracked open the door to direct investments in its stock market by qualified foreign institutions in June, when HSBC became the first foreign firm to receive a license.

Sovereign wealth funds have expanded dramatically in recent years. High commodity prices and large foreign exchange reserves have contributed to their significant growth in global markets.

Financial institutions from two regions dominate the ranking of the 50 Safest Emerging Markets Banks.

Some green shoots lurk beneath the region’s raging civil wars, economic woes and political unrest.

Vietnam is emerging as one of the few bright spots among Southeast Asian economies buffeted by the slowdown in regional and global trade.

In the long run, a fully convertible renminbi will make things easier for global companies doing business in China. Shorter term, treasurers face hard choices.

As the renminbi gains international acceptance, Chinese firms look further afield for growth.

An analytical exercise that was moderately popular before the financial crisis has become a mandatory task in the post-crisis years.

Developing countries have long sought a greater voice in running the IMF and World Bank. The rise of rival development banks gives them more options—and more leverage.

Guatemala’s political turmoil, with parties deadlocked in Parliament, a runoff election looming and corruption scandals exploding, means the government will operate in a kind of suspended animation until 2016.