Emerging markets fall behind their developed-world counterparts
While developed-world markets look forward to a recovery, emerging market stocks have tumbled as foreign investors pull out cash.
The world is heading for a two-speed recovery, says Tom Rees in The Daily Telegraph. The world’s low and middle-income nations are “at the back of the queue for vaccines” and have little cash left to spare on fiscal stimulus.
The International Monetary Fund projects that by 2024 GDP in emerging Asia (except China) will be nearly 8% lower than it would have been without Covid-19. Latin America is on course for a 6% shortfall and sub-Saharan African economies will still be 5% smaller than the pre-pandemic trend. By contrast, advanced economies will be only 1% smaller.
In recent decades “we have got used” to the idea that global economic growth is driven by emerging economies, writes David Smith in The Sunday Times. But the pandemic has “tilted” things “back in favour of the West”.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) index has tumbled by 8.5% since the middle of February. That is partly due to China: the withdrawal of stimulus has hit the country’s stockmarket, with the key CSI 300 down by 6% so far this year. Chinese shares make up more than a third of the MSCI EM index.
Foreign investors are pulling out cash, reports Anna Hirtenstein in The Wall Street Journal. Investors withdrew about $3bn from EM bonds in February and then again in March. South African, Indonesian and Indian debt have suffered the biggest reverses. Money managers also withdrew $670m from developing-country stocks in the same period. Rising bond yields in America mean investors now have less incentive to risk their capital in emerging markets, which are regarded as less stable than the developed world.
Long Covid
The situation in Africa is especially concerning, says Philip Aldrick in The Times. While the continent has performed relatively well in terms of pandemic mortality, Africa faces “its own pernicious strain of long Covid-19; weak growth, unsustainable debt” and rising poverty. The World Bank says that 40 of the world’s 74 poorest nations “are at high risk of debt distress”. That number will only rise.
A huge spike in Covid-19 in India threatens to sink its recovery, report Benjamin Parkin and Amy Kazmin the Financial Times. Infections have already topped last year’s peak. Hospitals in Mumbai and other big cities risk being overwhelmed. Politicians are bringing in localised restrictions, although there is little appetite for a repeat of last year’s strict national lockdown.
The situation in India is now “a major cause for concern”, says a note from Gavekal Research. In Brazil a spiralling public health and political crisis risks turning into an economic one. “Domestic activity in much of the developing world will remain disrupted through the rest of 2021.”
-
Coventry Building Society bids £780m for Co-operative Bank - what could it mean for customers?
Coventry Building Society has put in an offer of £780 million to buy Co-operative Bank. When will the potential deal happen and what could it mean for customers?
By Vaishali Varu Published
-
Review: Three magnificent Beachcomber resorts in Mauritius
MoneyWeek Travel Ruth Emery explores the Indian Ocean island from Beachcomber resorts Shandrani, Trou aux Biches and Paradis
By Ruth Emery Published
-
The industry at the heart of global technology
The semiconductor industry powers key trends such as artificial intelligence, says Rupert Hargreaves
By Rupert Hargreaves Published
-
Three emerging Asian markets to invest in
Professional investor Chetan Sehgal of Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust tells us where he’d put his money
By Chetan Sehgal Published
-
What to consider before investing in small-cap indexes
Small-cap index trackers show why your choice of benchmark can make a large difference to long-term returns
By Cris Sholto Heaton Published
-
Why space investments are the way to go for investors
Space investments will change our world beyond recognition, UK investors should take note
By Merryn Somerset Webb Published
-
Time to tap into Africa’s mobile money boom
Favourable demographics have put Africa on the path to growth when it comes to mobile money and digital banking
By Rupert Hargreaves Published
-
M&S is back in fashion: but how long can this success last?
M&S has exceeded expectations in the past few years, but can it keep up the momentum?
By Rupert Hargreaves Published
-
The end of China’s boom
Like the US, China too got fat on fake money. Now, China's doom is not far away.
By Bill Bonner Published
-
Magic mushrooms — an investment boom or doom?
Investing in these promising medical developments might see you embark on the trip of a lifetime.
By Bruce Packard Published