Country Briefings articles from April 2005

Country Briefings archives from April 2005

Hungary: National Economy Investments Increase in 2004.
April 4, 2005... Byline: BARRY WHEELOCK The Economy: According to preliminary data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH), the volume of investments in the national economy increased by 7.8% y-o-y in 2004, following a 3.1% increase in the previous...

Singapore: Fears for Lower GDP in First Quarter.(Gross Domestic Product)
April 4, 2005... Byline: BARRY WHEELOCK The Economy: In January tourist arrivals to the city-state increased by 2.4% from the same month a year earlier but fell 17% from December. In 2004 tourist arrivals rose 36% to a record 8.3 million. Tourism...

Argentina: 2004 Economic Growth at 12-Year High.
April 15, 2005... Byline: BARRY WHEELOCK The Economy: Data released by the national statistics agency, INDEC, showed that goods-producing sectors increased by 9.7% during the fourth quarter of 2004, compared to a year earlier, driven by manufacturing...

Brazil: 2004 GDP Grows at Fastest Pace in a Decade.
April 15, 2005... Byline: BARRY WHEELOCK The Economy: In February motor vehicle sales rose by a seasonally adjusted 7.8% y-o-y to 114,900 units, helped by the country's expanding economy. In February sales of cars, trucks and buses (as measured by new...

Czech Republic: Prime Minister Under Pressure Calls for Vote of Confidence.
April 15, 2005... Byline: BARRY WHEELOCK The Economy: Foreign trade posted a Kc5.2bn surplus in February, up from Kc3.4bn posted in January and was the highest recorded since January 1994, the Czech Statistical Office (CSU) said. Exports grew by 9.6% in...

Indonesia: Fuel Prices Push Inflation to 27-Month High.
April 15, 2005... Byline: BARRY WHEELOCK The Economy: In a bid to stem inflation, at the beginning of April the central bank raised its benchmark seven-day intervention rate by 0.25% to 7.25% and said there would be further rate hikes. Finance...

Sri Lanka: Government to Capitalise on Paris Club Debt Relief.
April 15, 2005... Byline: BARRY WHEELOCK The Economy: The country's export sector showed signs of a stronger performance during January, recording a 13% increase to Rs47.8b compared with Rs42.3bn reported in the same period in 2004. Export Development...

Taiwan: Trade Surplus Falls in First Quarter of 2005.
April 15, 2005... Byline: BARRY WHEELOCK The Economy: According to the central bank, at the end of the fourth quarter of 2004 the country's international bank credits totalled US$83.6bn, up by US$10bn from the end of the third quarter. The bank...

United States: Budget Deficit the Biggest Threat.
April 15, 2005... Byline: BARRY WHEELOCK The Economy: The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by another 0.25% to 2.75% on March 22nd stating, "Pressures on inflation have picked up in recent months and pricing power is more evident". The...