STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Friday, 8 January 2016

[Proserpina]

9. World Bank issues 'perfect storm' warning for 2016

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/06/world-bank-perfect-storm-warning-2016-slowdown-brics-economies?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+USA+-+Version+A&utm_term=148457&subid=9068680&CMP=ema_565a

Simultaneous slowdown in Brics economies would jeopardise chances of pick-up in global growth this year, report says...The risk of the global economy being battered by a “perfect storm” in 2016 has been highlighted by the World Bank in a flagship report that warns that a synchronised slowdown in the biggest emerging markets could be intensified by a fresh bout of financial turmoil.

The Bank said the possibility that Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – the so-called Brics economies – could all face problems simultaneously would put in jeopardy the chances of a pick-up in growth in the coming year. It added that the impact would be heightened by severe financial market stress of the sort triggered in 2013 by the announcement by the Federal Reserve that it was considering reducing the stimulus it was then providing to the US economy.

Launching its annual Global Economic Prospects, the Bank said activity in 2015 had failed to live up to its expectations – the fifth year in a row that growth has undershot the forecasts made by the Washington-based institution, which lends to the world’s poorest countries. The Bank said growth had slowed to 2.4% in 2015, from 2.6% in 2014, but added that a stronger performance in developed countries should lead to 2.9% growth this year.

“Downside risks dominate and have become increasingly centred on emerging and developing countries,” it said.


well, then, the Eurozone is going to have to give up its austerity fetish, won't it? And so will Congress, since there won't be any more money to steal from the BRICS...