CATEGORY: Economic Roundups
“The bigger they are, the harder they fall” is an adage familiar to anyone who played sports in their youth – or at least those who looked worryingly at an opponent who had clearly gone through a growth spurt a few years early.
In economics, as in life, everything comes and goes. In 2016 commodity prices were down and most Latin American currencies depreciated. Now, less forex volatility and more reasonable commodity prices have led many to hope for a more promising future.
The much-anticipated risk of an outright trade war between the US and China following US President Donald Trump’s election has subsided after leaders of the two countries met face-to-face to find common ground. The macroeconomic focus has shifted back to oil prices, commodities and growth demand developments in Asia, and the threat of protectionism and isolationism has been averted for now.