MBS Blog

As with many emerging markets, Russia should continue to grow despite the Global Economic situation. The direct link between oil price levels and economic growth is key.

This from  www.themoscowtimes.ru:

GDP Posts Weakest Growth in 3 Years

10 December 2008By Maria Levina / Special to The Moscow Times

Economic growth fell to its slowest rate in three years in the third quarter, at 6.2 percent, the State Statistics Service reported Tuesday, and economists say even lower growth is in store for 2009.

Actual GDP growth in the quarter missed the Economic Development Ministry’s forecast of 7.1 percent, driven by significantly slower growth in the construction, retail, transport and communications sectors.

The decline continued a slide from 8.5 percent GDP growth in the first quarter and 7.5 percent in the second, and if the trend continues the final number for the year could be in the 6 percent range.

“Next year’s GDP growth could range from negative 5 percent to plus 5 percent, depending on what happens to oil prices and the steps taken by the Russian government,” said Yevgeny Gavrilenkov, chief economist at Troika Dialog. “If it continues to throw away currency reserves to defend the ruble, Russia may face a fiscal deficit and zero economic growth.”

He said allowing the ruble to depreciate is one step that could be taken to prop up growth numbers. 

“In the past, the Russian economy grew even with oil prices of $30, $40 and $50 per barrel but at a different exchange rate,” he said. “In the current environment, Russia’s goal should be to achieve positive economic growth and avoid a fiscal deficit.”

In year-on-year terms, growth in the fourth quarter could end up at zero, partly as a result of slower production growth and partly because the number was strong in the final quarter of last year, said Yekaterina Malofeyeva, chief economist at Renaissance Capital.

She said she expects growth this year to finish above the 6 percent mark — at 6.2 percent — and that next year’s figure could range from zero to 3 percent.

“If oil prices average $70 a barrel next year and the ruble is allowed to depreciate, GDP growth could reach 3 percent,” Malofeyeva said. “Otherwise, it could be flat.”

Although the Economic Development Ministry has yet to release an official forecast, in recent informal comments it has put the number at 3 percent to 3.5 percent if oil prices average $50 per barrel for the year.

But economists say conditions have been shifting so rapidly that providing anything resembling an accurate forecast for 2009 would be difficult until all the numbers for the final quarter of this year have been released.

The Economic Development Ministry said Monday that it was revising its forecast for manufacturing growth for the year downward, from 5.2 percent to 2.9 percent. The figure for the first 10 months of this year was 4.9 percent, so the ministry’s forecast suggests that it is expecting disastrous results in November and December, with production dropping by over 10 percent. 

Gavrilenkov said he believed that a 2.9 percent production forecast was overly pessimistic but, if accurate, would mean that the country is entering a severe depression.

He added that losses on the manufacturing side could be balanced somewhat by growth in the service sector, as consumer spending has remained relatively strong. As such, he said he expected GDP growth of 6.8 percent to 6.9 percent this year.

Natalya Orlova, chief economist at Alfa Bank, said she was surprised by how low the production numbers were.

“Given that the October numbers showed there was essentially no growth (0.6 percent), we originally assumed a drop in production of 2 to 3 percent in November and December, which would still imply a growth rate of around 5 percent for the year,” Orlova said. “But if we are to believe the numbers from [Economic Development Minister] Nabiullina, with a drop of more than 10 percent in November and December, then the situation seems more serious.”

Technorati Tags: emerging markets, Russia, Natalya Orlova, Alfa Bank, Moscow, Yekaterina Malofeyeva, Renaissance Capital, exchange rate, Russian Government, oil prices, ruble, devaluation, Yevgeny Gavrilenkov, Troika Dialog, State Statistics Service, Economic Development Ministry, construction, retail, transport, communications, Anton Olff, GDP, Maria Levina, www.themoscowtimes.ru, economic growth,

This is the kind of news….that is not really news…at least to someone who does business in emerging markets. Nonetheless, it is good to keep tabs on where bribes need to be paid to get business.

It an ironic way, the authors of this report-Transparency International-have raised the bar not only in emerging markets like Russia, China and Ukraine, but also in the developed economies like the United States. This would apply not only to the financing of political campaigns or the “sale” of Senatorial offices, but specifically to the types of financial instruments that may have been the catalyst for the Global Economic meltdown.

What is needed is greater transparency in the financial services industry. Many investors had been blinded or lulled into a false sense of security by the advice of institutions that have a direct financial stake in keeping information private. Indirectly, these companies were being “bribed” by their clients to give favorable ratings and analysis. As I was reminded during my short time on Wall Street, “when was the last time you heard of an investment bank urging their clients to sell?”

In some ways, emerging markets are more “honest,” as it is assumed that corruption is part of the normal process of doing business. While this doesn’t negate the need for reform, or diminish the fact that corruption is a huge obstacle preventing development in emerging market economies, it also means those with higher standings in the “least corrupt” category need to look at their own institutions more carefully as well.

 From www.ft.com:

 

Emerging powers’ companies bribe ‘routinely’

By Michael Peel in London

Published: December 9 2008 15:57 | Last updated: December 9 2008 15:57

Chinese, Indian and Russian companies bribe routinely to win overseas contracts, a global survey of executives claimed on Tuesday, highlighting fears that leading emerging economies are undermining international efforts to tackle corruption.

The bribe-payers’ index published by Transparency International, the anti-corruption group, ranks the three nations and Brazil in the bottom five of 22 countries surveyed.

The research highlights how intensifying global competition for natural resources and infrastructure projects threatens a “race to the bottom” between established western multinationals and leading companies from the new financial powers.

Huguette Labelle, Transparency International chair, called on all big exporting countries to join the landmark OECD anti-bribery treaty, which so far has been signed by 38 mainly rich nations.

Ms Labelle said Transparency International’s research “provides evidence that a number of companies from major exporting countries still use bribery to win business abroad, despite awareness of its damaging impact on corporate reputations and ordinary communities.”

The Transparency International index ranked Russia in last place with a score of 5.9 out of 10, with India and China also both scoring below 7.

Belgium and Canada topped the rankings jointly with a score of 8.8, while all the other members of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations except Italy scored more than 8.

The countries ranked in the index account for about three-quarters of world foreign direct investment outflows and exports of goods and services. The survey – carried out by Gallup International, the polling organisation – is based on the perceptions of 2,742 business executives from 26 countries, including six in Africa, four in Central and South America, and eight in Asia.

The research says the most corrupt sectors among 19 surveyed are construction, real estate, energy, heavy manufacturing and mining, while the cleanest are information technology, fisheries and banking.

Many anti-corruption activists warn that the expansion of companies from emerging economic powers into resource-rich but often poorly governed countries in Africa and elsewhere could prolong and extend a tradition of bribery already established by western multinationals.

The OECD has launched a partnership with the African Development Bank to fight bribery on the continent, while Chinese officials will attend a meeting of the OECD’s anti-bribery working group this week .

Another TI index published in September accused the world’s wealthiest countries of failing to live up to their commitments to fight corruption, highlighting fears that only the US and a few other nations were serious about tackling graft by their businesses.

TI’s surveys are widely seen as useful yardsticks on corruption, although their basis on business executives’ perceptions rather than more objective measures means they are susceptible to individual prejudices.

Funders of the latest index include the German and Norwegian development agencies and Ernst & Young, the international accounting firm.

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One of the side effects of the Global Economic Crisis-and we have to come up with a new name for this “crisis,” is the steep falloff in the amount of money sent home by immigrants and workers abroad. Many emerging market economies depend on this income to sustain themselves. The fallout from the falloff could be huge…..

 

Falling remittances to hit CIS

Clare Nuttall in Almaty  December 8, 2008    As the world’s rich economies sink into recession, the flow of remittances into developing countries is expected to see a corresponding decrease. In the CIS countries that rely heavily on payments from migrant workers abroad, the effect could be highly damaging. The construction and consumer-related sectors are expected to be particularly badly hit.  The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecasts a drop of 6% in remittance payments to developing countries from their nationals working abroad in 2009. CIS countries are among the largest recipients of remittance payments measured in comparison to their GDP.  The Remittances Factbook 2008, published by the World Bank, finds that Tajikistan and Moldova are tied as the top remittance receiving countries – remittance inflows amount to 36% of their GDP. One NGO worker in Tajikistan reports seeing a jet leave from Dushanbe every week to Moscow, with 500 young men on board, while observers of the Moldovan market joke that “will the last Moldovan left please turn off the light.” Other CIS countries are also high on the list: Kyrgyzstan was in 4th place, with transfers from migrants equal to 27% of its GDP; in Armenia the figure is 18%. Only Russia and Kazakhstan have net outflows of money.  Speaking at the World Bank/IMF annual meeting recently, Shigeo Katsu, World Bank vice president for Europe and Central Asia, warned: “This money sent back home is second only to foreign direct investment as a source of external finance across the region, and is the largest source of external finance for a number of low income and lower middle income countries.”  Laid low  There are already signs the flow of money into the CIS’ poorer economies is tailing off as the US and West European economies suffer from the second wave of the credit crisis, while the previously strong growth in Russia and Kazakhstan dissipates – forecasts for 2009 are 3% and 2.7-4.1% respectively.  Reliable data on the situation in Central Asia is hard to come by, but anecdotal evidence suggests that migrant workers from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan were the first to be laid off when work slowed or stopped at Kazakhstan’s construction sites. In Moscow and other Russian cities, many sites are also staffed by workers from other CIS countries. As in Kazakhstan, the Russian government has recently announced it will take measures to shore up the struggling construction sector.  A slowing of growth in the Russian economy is likely to be particularly damaging to Armenia, where 70% of remittances are sent from Russia; the amount is closely correlated with Russian GDP. Meanwhile, Moldova has seen many migrants return home in recent months, according to Matthias Lücke, senior economist at the Kiel Institute and head of the institute’s project on migrant remittances in CIS countries. “Based on the available statistics, the number of migrants is now lower than a year ago, by one fifth,” says Matthias Lücke, though he points out that there has not yet been a decline in remittances, according to available data.  The Kyrgyz government has already sounded the alarm. Economy Minister Akylbek Japarov warned in November that the international crisis could tip the country into financial collapse. He forecast that both FDI and remittances to the country would fall steeply in 2009, with a damaging effect on the already struggling. “Our government is in real terms on the threshold of a financial crisis. A decline in Kyrgyzstan’s economic situation is quite possible by February or March 2009,” Japarov said in a televised address.  Aside from consumption, the sector that has benefited the most from remittance inflows is real estate. Poor business environments and under-developed stock markets mean there are few alternatives to investing in real estate - aside from saving abroad or keeping their money under the mattress. As a result, the housing sectors in most of these countries have boomed lately, out of proportion to continuing low wage levels.  “What do migrants do with their money? The business climate in Moldova is so awful that unless you are well connected, you can’t invest it in the country since everyone will be demanding payoffs,” says Lücke. “The options are to renovate your house, to keep it under the mattress or to save it abroad in preparation for when you emigrate permanently. People are also buying real estate in the capital – there is a real property bubble for apartments in Chisinau.” The cost of an apartment in Chisinau increased on average by 5.5% in September 2008, and new buildings are still going up – the city mayor recently unveiled the Malldova shopping centre and at one upscale estate, developers are throwing in a free car with each house bought.  Real estate prices in both Bishkek and Dushanbe have increased rapidly in recent years. In Armenia, where money transfers are highly correlated to real estate prices, according to the IMF the construction sector overtook industrial production this year to become the largest sector of the economy, accounting for 23.2% of GDP. But just as this happened, the trend started to reverse. After seven years of continuous growth in real estate prices, a slight fall was recorded in 2008, said government agency State Real Property Cadastre. Prices in central Yerevan have fallen by an average of 3%, while in the rest of the country they are down by an average of 1.5%. There was also an 11% year-on-year decrease in the number of property deals registered from August through September. A similar story can be expected in other economies highly reliant on remittances.

Technorati Tags: Global Economic Crisis, State Real Property Cadastre, Bishkek, Chisnau, Kyrgyz Republic, Akylbek Japarov, Armenia, Matthias Luke, Kiel Institute, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, construction, Russian government, Anton Olff, external finance, Russia, United States, Western Europe, Dushanbe, World Bank, IMF, Shigeo Katsu, Tajikistan, Moldova, NGO, CIS countries, recession, Clare Nuttall, Almaty, Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), remittance payments, emerging markets,

Although the situation is rather fluid regarding the Ukrainian economy, this report  featured on www.unian.net  by the private equity firm SigmaBleyzer (www.sigmableyzer.com) gives a good idea of where it is headed. 

The real question is whether the political climate will stabilize sufficiently to allow for macroeconomic conditions to improve. Coordinated actions in Kyiv will prevent further deterioration of an already fragile transition economy reliant on the export sector for growth.

 Stay tuned….

Ukraine macroeconomic situation report, November 2008

SUMMARY:

• Ukraine`s real economy has continued to perform well with a real rate of GDP growth of 6.9% yoy in January-September 2008. However, Ukraine`s near term outlook has worsened substantially, although medium-term prospects remain good.

• Over the first nine months of 2008, the consolidated budget was in surplus of UAH 11.8 billion ($2.3 billion) or 1.6% of period GDP, backed by above-target revenues and tight control over expenditures. With weak prospects of fully covering the planned financing gap and the likely shortfall in revenues through the rest of the year, the government started to revise their expenditure plans. As a result, the fiscal deficit is likely to be significantly below target.

• Following two months of inflation relief, consumer prices returned to growth, advancing by 1.1% month-over-month in September. Though inflation continued to decelerate in annual terms, government plans to adjust a number of service tariffs will notably hinder this process in the coming months.

• With rapidly widening trade and current account deficits, large external debt financing needs and high banking system exposure to credit and foreign currency risks, Ukraine was and remains extremely vulnerable to adverse external shocks. On the back of heightened global financial instability since September, falling world steel prices and a weakening global economy, these risks started to materialize during September-October.

• Reflecting growing stress to the Ukrainian economy, major international rating agencies downgraded Ukraine`s sovereign rating.

• Despite the recent turbulences, the prompt government and monetary authorities` response as well as gained support from international financial institutions increases the chances that Ukraine may be able to weather the storm with relatively moderate pain.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Buoyed by outstanding performance in agriculture, real GDP growth picked up to an impressive 10.4% yoy in August, bringing cumulative growth to 7.1% yoy. At the same time, the Ukrainian economy is likely to lose steam through the rest of this year and also 2009, courtesy of both external and domestic factors.

Resilient so far, Ukraine`s heavily export-oriented and external-financing-dependent economy looks increasingly vulnerable to the recent financial crisis. Weakening external demand has already manifested through plunging world commodity prices, while foreign investors` flight-to-quality and risk aversion may dry up foreign capital inflows to emerging markets.

On the domestic front, lingering inflationary pressures and political instability, weaknesses in the domestic banking system, a rapidly widening trade deficit

and large private sector indebtedness subdue Ukraine`s economic outlook in the near future.

Already in September, real GDP growth slowed to 5.5% yoy on the back of weaker industry, domestic trade and construction. Cumulatively, however, economic growth decelerated only marginally to 6.9% yoy, supported by strong value added growth in agricultural and the transportation and communication sectors.

Thanks to a 15-year record grain harvest, agriculture expanded by 15.7% yoy over the first nine months of the year. At the same time, due to unfavorable weather conditions in September, the harvest of corn, sugar beets and some other crops and vegetables turned out to be less successful than previously expected. This explains value added growth deceleration in January-September compared to an explosive 24.4% yoy increase in January-August.

Transportation and communication kept expanding at a robust 10.4% yoy over January-September, virtually the same rate as in 1H 2008, according to the revised State Statistics Committee data.

On the other hand, construction plunged by 10.3% yoy over the first nine months of the year, affected by tight access to credit. The industrial sector also continued to decelerate and grew by only 5% yoy due to weaknesses in the global demand for iron, steel and chemical products. In particular, following several months of deceleration, metallurgical production has been contracting in annual terms since August, in line with the sharp decline in world steel prices.

In September, output in industry fell by 17% yoy, driving cumulative growth below zero. October is likely to see another major decline in industry as a number of metallurgical producers announced production and employment cuts.

The depression in the metallurgical sector will exact a significant toll on the whole Ukrainian economy as the sector accounts for more than 45% of total export revenues and about 25% of total industrial production. In addition, poor metallurgical performance will also affect a number of other industries and sectors, including the extractive industry, machine-building, construction, and transportation.

Expectations that the new harvest will improve food processing performance did not materialize. Industrial production grew by a modest 2.2% yoy over the first nine months of the year, decelerating from about 10% yoy at the beginning of the year. Weak external demand was among the main reasons of worsening chemical industry performance.

Over the nine months, output growth in export-oriented chemical production slimmed down to 2.9% yoy compared to 9% yoy growth at the beginning of the year.

After all, warning signs of economic weakness were already evident in the second quarter of 2008. In particular, investments advanced by only 6.3% yoy as tighter monetary policy limited access to banks` credit. Private consumption growth decelerated to 13.3% yoy, down from almost 18% yoy in the previous quarter. A domestic trade slowdown to 9.4% yoy in January-September from 13% yoy in 1H 2008 foretells further weakening of domestic consumption in 3Q 2008.

Moreover, while exports rebounded at a strong 9% yoy (up from less than 1% yoy in 1Q 2008), imports continued to outpace exports, expanding by a record high 25.6% yoy in 2Q 2008. Ukraine`s deteriorating current account balance puts pressure on economic growth and increases the country`s dependence on external capital flows.

On the back of easing steel prices, tight external and domestic credit markets amid large external financing needs, a cooling world economy and recent turbulence on the domestic financial market (which is likely to cause a further credit squeeze and aggravate domestic banking sector weaknesses), Ukraine`s near-term outlook has worsened substantially. Economic growth is forecasted to decelerate to 6.3% yoy in 2008 and enter a downturn in 2009.

At the same time, the country maintains a good medium-term outlook, supported by a large domestic market, great agricultural potential, a cheap and skilled labor force, good prospects for signing a free trade agreement with the EU and greater chances of reform acceleration (in part thanks to recently applying to the IMF financing).

FISCAL POLICY

Ukraine`s public finances remained in a good shape as the country ran a consolidated budget surplus of UAH 11.8 billion ($2.3 billion) through the end of September, which is equivalent to 1.6% of period GDP. Public spending rose by a nominal 41% yoy over the first nine months of the year, underpinned by higher spending on public wages and social transfers.

In particular, remuneration to public sector employees grew by a nominal 38.1% yoy, while current transfers to the population advanced by 48% yoy. Despite strong growth, fiscal expenditures were still below target mainly due to under-execution of capital spending. The government refrained from tightening social expenditures in view of the turbulent political environment and looming presidential elections (scheduled for early 2010).

At the same time, though expenditures notably increased, they were still below the targeted amount. According to the State Treasury, expenditures from the general fund of the state budget were under-executed by about 3%. Together with above-planned revenues, this secured a budget surplus for the period.

During January-September, consolidated budget revenues grew by 43.7% yoy in nominal terms over the first nine months of the year backed by a 53% yoy increase in tax receipts. As in the previous periods, value added tax proceeds, advancing by almost 70% yoy in nominal terms, were the main contributor to tax revenue growth over the period.  Defined usually as the tax on consumption, impressive growth in VAT receipts this year is explained by high inflation,  robust imports, and improved tax administration.

In parallel, however, the authorities started to accumulate VAT refund arrears, as it became clear in the middle of the year that the targeted amount for VAT refunds, envisaged in the 2008 budget law, was significantly underestimated. In January-September, VAT reimbursement was 43% above the planned amount. According to expert estimates, VAT refund arrears amounted to UAH 11 billion (about $2 billion) at the end of September, up from about UAH 8 billion in the middle of the year.

However, the situation is unlikely to improve until the end of the year, as a reduction in arrears will require a budget revision, the likelihood of which looks quite low. At the same time, the accumulation of further arrears may lose speed substantially through the rest of the year given notable export weakening.

Execution of other taxes, particularly corporate and personal income taxes, has been good in January-September, as proceeds from these taxes picked up by a nominal 57% yoy and 38% yoy respectively.

Despite current favorable budget performance, successful budget exercise through the rest of the year looks quite worrisome. First, due to further projected worsening of economic performance through the rest of the year and government initiatives to introduce tax benefits for a number of industries affected by a sharp deterioration in the external environment, budget revenues risk being substantially under-executed.

However, above-target revenues and strict control over expenditures allowed the government to accumulate significant cash balances on its Treasury account (about UAH 16 billion at the end of September).

Second, the financing gap, targeted at about UAH 19 billion, or 1.8% of expected 2008 GDP, looks insurmountable. The budget deficit was planned to be financed by new government borrowings (both external and internal) and privatization proceeds.

Despite the greater reliance on domestic debt financing this year, Ukraine`s fiscal authorities still planned to raise UAH 8.1 billion ($1.6 billion) in foreign borrowing, including about $1 billion by placing Eurobonds, for which a road-show was conducted in June.

However, on the back of tight external credit markets and investors` flight to safety, the government decided to shelve the bond issuance. At the same time, reliance on domestic debt issuance also was not very successful. Given frankly unattractive yields amid high domestic inflation, the authorities raised only UAH 1.4 billion into state coffers in January-September, or less than 20% of the targeted amount for this year.

And finally, government plans to receive UAH 8.8 billion ($1.5 billion) in the form of privatization receipts this year will not materialize. At the end of September, the accumulated privatization proceeds amounted to less than 4.5% of the annual target.

With the deteriorating prospects for an already slowing economy and the lack of targeted fiscal deficit financing, the government started to revise their expenditure plans. In particular, the President and the Cabinet of Ministers issued a number of Decrees, envisaging expenditure cuts on public administration.

Moreover, the government is likely to continue to tightly control expenditures through the rest of the year. This would mean moderate expenditure loosening in the last couple of months. However, the year-end fiscal deficit may turn out to be significantly lower than previously expected.

Presented in September, the draft Budget Law for 2009 is likely to be recalled or significantly amended, as it was developed prior to financial stresses on both the external and domestic markets and deteriorated prospects for the next year. Moreover, the targeted deficit of UAH 17.4 billion ($3 billion), or 1.4% of GDP, is not in accordance with the government`s commitment to the IMF to maintain a balanced budget in 2009.

A prudent fiscal stance is considered the most effective measure to cool aggregate demand, tackle inflation and narrow the foreign trade deficit. Given the turbulent political environment, it looks like the 2009 budget law will be approved next year.

MONETARY POLICY

Monetary policy tightening, appreciation of the national currency in May, and a record harvest caused prices to fall during July-August. As a result, annual inflation continued to decelerate, reaching 26% yoy in August, down from its peak of 31.1% yoy in May. However, two-month deflation was a temporary relief as in September, monthly inflation advanced by 1.1%.

However, inflation kept slowing in annual terms to 24.6% due to a high statistical base. A rise in monthly inflation reflects a 3.8% mom increase in utility tariffs (starting September, natural gas prices for the population were increased by 13–14%), 21.2% mom growth in the cost of education services and 1.2% mom more expensive services in restaurants and hotels and higher excises on tobacco.

Some relief was brought by declining gasoline prices (down by 6% mom in September) consistent with falling world crude oil prices.While inflation is expected to decelerate further through the end of the year, its pace will be much slower.

First, easing inflation provided the government authorities with some room to adjust a number of regulated prices and tariffs. A 20% rise in communication tariffs since the beginning of October, another 35% increase in natural gas tariffs for households since the beginning of December, and multi-fold increases in utility tariffs for legal entities and transportation tariffs in Kyiv, the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, were already announced.

Second, the recent sharp depreciation of the national currency may spill-over into domestic inflation as it will make imported goods more expensive. Although the substitution effect will be present, it may be quite limited for a number of inelastic goods such as medicines, energy, etc. Annual inflation is expected to slow moderately to about 22% yoy in 2008.

Unfavorable sentiments formed amid recent intensification of global financial turmoil and Ukraine`s deteriorating fundamentals prompted foreign investors to more actively withdraw capital from the country. A combination of falling world steel prices and weakening external demand, a large current account deficit and sizable payments due on private sector external liabilities, weaknesses in the banking system (high exposure to credit and foreign exchange risks) as well a new wave of political instability since September tilted the balance towards sharp Hryvnia depreciation.

The NBU refrained from active support of the exchange rate, allowing it to depreciate, which was consistent with May`s decision to switch towards a managed float regime. The NBU, however, wanted a smooth exchange rate adjustment to its market clearing level by selling limited amounts of foreign currency on the interbank foreign exchange market.

This strategy resulted in a loss of $4.5 billion in the NBU`s foreign exchange reserve during September-October and in a depreciation of the Hryvnia by about 27% of its value against the US dollar over the period (to UAH/USD 5.95 on average on the interbank market at the end of October).

Devaluation may also intensify stress on the banking sector due to existing currency mismatches of banks` assets and liabilities. Although the level of indebtedness of the Ukrainian private sector is far below that of developed countries, more than half of all loans issued by commercial banks are denominated in foreign currencies.

This means that local borrowers are particularly exposed to currency risks. On top of that, the sixth largest Ukrainian bank suffered a bank-run by depositors in September. Although the National Bank of Ukraine responded quickly by providing UAH 5 billion (about $1 billion) of emergency refinancing and later took control of this bank, this occurrence undermined confidence in the banking system.

To minimize counterparty risks in the banking sector, commercial banks cut or closed their bilateral credit limits, restraining commercial bank access to domestic finances. In addition, the population rushed to withdraw funds from their deposit accounts. The NBU`s active support of a number of commercial banks with liquidity through its refinancing operations calmed these fears. In October, it provided UAH 29.3 billion (about $5 billion).

To avoid bank-runs, the NBU has imposed a six-month freeze on the early withdrawal of savings deposits from commercial banks. Simultaneously, an increase in the deposit guarantee was suggested to UAH 150,000 (about $25,800), tripling from the previous level. The NBU has also imposed tight limitations on the capacity of the commercial banks to expand their credit portfolio.

Although the NBU softened this restriction a few days later, trying to avert a local credit crunch, the ban on foreign currency loans to borrowers without foreign currency income was left intact. The NBU strengthened its monitoring capacity of external private sector debt. In particular, it required commercial banks to report data on their and their clients` external liabilities maturing each quarter over the next 12 months.

Government officials have also considered the establishment of a stabilization fund, which would work with a government-owned Asset Recovery Company to buy and resolve some of the distressed assets of the banks.

Ukrainian authorities applied for IMF financing support and on October 26th, an agreement was reached on a two-year $16.5 billion stand-by IMF loan. Given the above measures and support from the international financial institutions, Ukraine may still weather the storm with relatively moderate pain.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND CAPITAL

Ukraine`s foreign trade data, released by the State Statistics Committee for January-August, still demonstrate a rather favorable picture. Exports kept increasing fast, advancing by an impressive 48.5% yoy over the first eight months of the year. An outstanding harvest triggered a surge in grain exports, which expanded by 120% yoy over the period.

High world iron ore, coal and energy prices over the period underpinned an almost 70% yoy increase in mineral products exports, whose share grew to 10.4% of total merchandise exports, up from 9% in the respective period last year.

Weakening of world steel prices, which was observed since July, had a minor impact on Ukraine`s exports of metallurgical products in August. Export of the weightiest group of commodities surged by 60.6% yoy, bringing cumulative growth to 54.5% yoy.

Robust economic growth in Ukraine`s main trading partner countries supported a 40.5% yoy increase in exports of machinery and transport equipment. At the same time, export growth started to decelerate in August as exports in value terms were by about $1 billion lower compared to the previous month.

Although a decline in world iron ore, steel and energy prices, tighter domestic credit conditions and slower growth in real households` income contributed to a deceleration in imports in August, rates of growth remained at an impressive 63% yoy that month (down from almost 70% yoy in July) and 58.3% yoy to date.

As imports continued to notably outpace exports, the FOB/CIF merchandise trade deficit widened to $12.5 billion over the first nine months of this year. A deteriorating foreign trade balance is the main cause of the widening current account gap. According to preliminary estimates of the NBU, the CA gap widened to $7.5 billion in January-August, representing 6% of period GDP.

Over the period under review, this amount was fully covered by foreign direct investments, estimated at $8.1 billion over the period. However, the current account gap is expected to reach $12–13 billion, or about 7% of GDP, in 2008.

In addition to this, Ukraine will need to serve significant foreign short term debt. As of June 2008, out of total external debt outstanding of $100 billion, about $28.2 billion was due up to one year. At the same time, the NBU registers external debt by original maturity.

This means that if the short-term portion of the long term debt is included, the total amount of external debt refinancing may be as high as $40–45 billion. Although a portion of this sum is either due by subsidiaries to parent companies or represents more stable trade credits, the net external financing requirements still remain at a substantial $25–30 billion.

While this amount looks manageable, amid a turbulent global environment marked by risk aversion and worsening macroeconomic fundamentals, raising it may be very difficult, which points to rising stress on Ukraine`s balance of payments.

Although official data is not available yet, very high risk premiums on Ukraine`s securities, a decline in portfolio investments, partly as a result of which the country`s stock exchange (PFTS) index has declined by more than 80% year-to-date, and finally sharp currency depreciation during September-October show that the above risks have started to materialize.

On a positive note, declining world crude oil prices increase chances that the natural gas price increase on imported gas in 2009 may be significantly lower than in was previously anticipated. Coupled with the implementation of a government program developed in close cooperation with the IMF to restore financial and macroeconomic stability, current account pressures will ease substantially. The current account gap is now forecasted to decline to about 3% of GDP in 2009.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING INVESTMENT CLIMATE

Following rapid deterioration of macroeconomic fundamentals, currency pressures and increased worries over banking sector health, international rating agencies downgraded Ukraine`s sovereign ratings as well as individual ratings of a number of private companies and commercial banks.

For the same reasons, the Ukrainian authorities applied for IMF financial support at the beginning of October. On October 26th, a tentative agreement was reached on a two-year $16.5 billion stand-by agreement. The final decision was conditioned on the parliament`s approval of a number of legislative initiatives, including approval of a bank recapitalization program and a firm commitment to prudent fiscal policy coupled with tighter monetary policy.

Despite a turbulent political environment, the government authorities promptly developed the “stabilization” package, which was approved by the parliament at the end of October. For the Parliament vote to be legitimate, the President has suspended the dissolution order of the Rada. Moreover, early parliamentary elections called by the President at the end of September are likely to be delayed until spring of next year.

Although the approval of the IMF financial support package is not a panacea, it sends positive signals about the possibility that Ukraine may weather the storm with relatively moderate pain.

The IMF support also opens other alternative external sources of financial assistance to Ukraine. In particular, the World Bank has already announced it is revising its program of cooperation with Ukraine to provide rapid assistance in hot areas, such as restructuring and recapitalization of the banking sector, improving support to the poor, deepening of structural reforms to restore Ukraine rapidly to sustainable economic growth, etc.

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Monthly Analytical Report: By Olga Pogarska, Edilberto L. Segura

SigmaBleyzer Emerging Markets Private Equity Investment Group,

The Bleyzer Foundation, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Technorati Tags: Ukrainian economy, IMF, PFTS, international trade, iron ore, steel, energy prices, personal income taxes, free trade, Olga Pogarksa, Edilberto L. Segura, fiscal policy, reform, current account deficit, foreign exchange risks, hryvnia, balanced budget, natural gas prices, hotels, restaurants, oil prices, tobacco, National Bank of Ukraine, NBU, utility tariffs, transportation tariffs, EU, monetary policy, Anton Olff, current account balance, domestic credit markets, credit squeeze, export, chemical production, private consumption, domestic consumption, extractive industry, machine-building, construction, transportation, metallurgical producers, industrial production, State Statistics Committee, flight to quality, GDP, banking, inflation, export, www.unian.net, www.sigmableyzer.com, Kyiv,

You have to admire the Chinese.  As the article below from “The Shanghai Daily” (www.shanghaidaily.com)  notes: where some see crisis…others see opportunity. The Chinese obviously do. Perhaps it is natural in a 5,000 year old civilization to take the long view? Building skyscrapers during a recession sounds illogical to some-those who must find tenants to occupy the space for example- but it does reflect confidence in the future, as well as inspire it. 

There was a time when Americans had this perspective. During the darkest days of the Great Depression in the 1930s, some of the greatest and tallest structures in America were built, including the Hoover Dam and the iconic Empire State Building. You would think that this spirit would be present in the midst of the current economic situation, but sadly it has not appeared yet.

Interestingly, a few of my Chinese friends told me after September 11^th, 2001 that if America did not re-build the World Trade Center, higher and better than before, then that would portend America’s decline.

Defying the downturn, city builds even higher

WHERE some see crisis, others see opportunity.

Three months after opening the world’s second-tallest skyscraper, Shanghai is about to start construction of an even taller building - in the face of an economic slowdown and falling property prices.

Construction on the 632-meter Shanghai Tower, expected to cost 14.8 billion yuan (US$2.17 billion), will begin in Pudong’s Lujiazui financial district tomorrow, developers said yesterday.

Gu Jianping, general manager of Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co, said that by starting work in an economic downturn, construction materials would be cheaper. He also predicted that by the time the 121-floor, glass-and-steel tower is opened, China’s economy is likely to be soaring again.

“Launching construction at this time will help boost Shanghai’s confidence in fighting the financial crisis,” he told a news conference.

The tower, which will comprise offices, retail space, a super-five-star hotel and cultural facilities, will be part of a triangle of tall buildings. The recently opened World Financial Center, at 492 meters, is now the world’s second-tallest building. Its neighbor, the Jin Mao Tower, rises 420.5 meters above the Shanghai skyline.

The new skyscraper will surpass the height of the 501-meter-high Taipei 101 in Taiwan, but the world’s-tallest title will go to the Burj Dubai, now under construction in the United Arab Emirates. The Burj is expected to be roughly 800 meters tall, though its exact height has been kept secret.

The Shanghai Tower is scheduled to open partially in 2012 when the top floor is finished and go into full operation two years later. 

The tower’s pinnacle will feature the world’s highest non-enclosed observation deck. And the building’s high-tech office space is expected to help boost Shanghai’s financial industry.

WHERE some see crisis, others see opportunity.

Three months after opening the world’s second-tallest skyscraper, Shanghai is about to start construction of an even taller building - in the face of an economic slowdown and falling property prices.

Construction on the 632-meter Shanghai Tower, expected to cost 14.8 billion yuan (US$2.17 billion), will begin in Pudong’s Lujiazui financial district tomorrow, developers said yesterday.

Gu Jianping, general manager of Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co, said that by starting work in an economic downturn, construction materials would be cheaper. He also predicted that by the time the 121-floor, glass-and-steel tower is opened, China’s economy is likely to be soaring again.

“Launching construction at this time will help boost Shanghai’s confidence in fighting the financial crisis,” he told a news conference.

The tower, which will comprise offices, retail space, a super-five-star hotel and cultural facilities, will be part of a triangle of tall buildings. The recently opened World Financial Center, at 492 meters, is now the world’s second-tallest building. Its neighbor, the Jin Mao Tower, rises 420.5 meters above the Shanghai skyline.

The new skyscraper will surpass the height of the 501-meter-high Taipei 101 in Taiwan, but the world’s-tallest title will go to the Burj Dubai, now under construction in the United Arab Emirates. The Burj is expected to be roughly 800 meters tall, though its exact height has been kept secret.

The Shanghai Tower is scheduled to open partially in 2012 when the top floor is finished and go into full operation two years later. 

The tower’s pinnacle will feature the world’s highest non-enclosed observation deck. And the building’s high-tech office space is expected to help boost Shanghai’s financial industry.

Anton Olff

Technorati Tags: China, Shanghai, Shanghai Daily, civilization, opportunity, skyscrapers, recession, America, Depression, Hoover Dam, Empire State Building, Dubai, construction, Pudong, confidence