• The balance sheets of deposit-taking institutions (DTIs) indicate that they continue to grow, are properly capitalized, and comply with prudential liquidity standards according to the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ).
• Governor Richard Byles noted that notwithstanding the moderating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, loan growth for DTIs has remained fairly resilient, despite a slowdown in the pace of growth. The stock of private-sector loans and advances grew 8.8% year on year in March, relative to the 15.8% for March 2020. He added that although loan quality for the system is naturally showing some weakening, it remains well below the bank’s threshold for concern and is fully provided for by the system.
• Financial institutions have facilitated clients with approximately $210.0Bn in payment accommodations since the onset of the pandemic. Mr. Byles pointed out, however, that the outstanding stock of moratoria, as of February 2021, totaled $65.0Bn, reflecting a significant decline since the start of the pandemic.
• The BOJ Governor has said that the BOJ reached an agreement with finance holding companies (FHCs) and DTIs in April to resume the distribution of dividends to large shareholders, within the context of the fall in the stock of loans under moratorium, the improving economic environment as well as the financial system’s strong capacity to absorb unexpected losses.
• However, he emphasized that given that significant uncertainty associated with the pandemic remains, the Bank continues to urge financial institutions to remain prudent in their decision to declare and distribute dividends.

Source: (JIS News)

• The final seat allocations for the next term of Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies did not differ significantly from preliminary estimates, supporting Fitch’s view that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s agenda will be constrained moving forward.
• While AMLO’s Morena party remains the largest in the Chamber, its losses in June’s mid-term vote will force it to rely on allies to pass legislation. This will give these smaller parties significant leverage.
• AMLO’s government has signaled that it will submit a fiscal reform in September, which will be relatively modest in scope. The government will also submit its 2022 budget proposal in the coming weeks.
• Fitch Solutions reiterate that Morena’s losses are generally positive for economic confidence. Tax reform and the 2022 budget are likely to provide clarity around the new legislative dynamic in the coming months.

(Source: Fitch Solutions)

• The recovery in global energy prices, paired with a domestic economic rebound, will drive a substantial increase in government revenues in Trinidad and Tobago over the coming quarters, narrowing the budget deficit.
• Moreover, expenditures will continue to decline in the short term as the government reins in pandemic-era stimulus and in the medium term as the ruling People’s National Movement, which will not face an election until 2025, remains committed to fiscal consolidation.
• Fitch has revised its 2021 and 2022 budget deficit forecasts to 4.6% of GDP and 2.1% respectively, from 5.7% and 3.8% previously, as revenues surprised significantly to the upside in H121 due to higher energy prices.
• T&T ran its largest budget deficit on record in 2020 as the collapse in global energy prices undermined government receipts from the country’s energy sector, which historically accounts for 35.0% of total revenue. However, higher energy prices and a domestic economic rebound will drive a 13.0% increase in revenues in 2021.

(Source: Fitch Solutions)

• A shortage of semiconductor chips may persist for the rest of this year if the coronavirus pandemic keeps Southeast Asian factories shut, a Bank of Japan policymaker said, highlighting supply constraints as among key risks to the global economy.
• BOJ board member Toyoaki Nakamura said Japan's economy is expected to recover as the pandemic's impact fades, pointing to the boost to growth from robust global demand and a recovery in capital expenditure.
• "If the pandemic suspends chip production in Southeast Asian factories, that will emerge as a source of uncertainty for the global economy," Nakamura told an online news conference on Wednesday. "The chip crunch may not be fixed for the rest of this year."
• Carmakers worldwide have been cutting production due to the months-long chip shortage. A resurgence in COVID-19 cases in Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia - home to auto factories and chip plants - have led to stricter curbs and compounded the crisis.

(Source: Reuters)

• The Meishan terminal at China’s second-busiest port reopened Wednesday following a two-week shutdown that further snarled already stressed shipping routes in Asia.
• The terminal resumed normal operations Wednesday, a port official said at a press conference in the city of Ningbo. The terminal was about a quarter of the Ningbo-Zhoushan port’s capacity and was shut from Aug. 11 after a worker was found to be infected with COVID-19.
• The congestion and delays on global shipping routes due to COVID-19 have only worsened this year as Chinese exports hit new records due to rising global demand. This was the second closure of part of a port in China this year due to a COVID-19 outbreak, after the month-long shutdown of Yantian port from late May.
• With demand for vessels and containers rising this year and companies ramping up exports to Europe and the U.S. for the year-end holiday shopping season, even a limited closure of part of a port is costly for both shoppers and shippers

(Source: Bloomberg)

• Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) has reported that the pilot for the local Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), which commenced in June, remains on schedule. This includes the minting of Jamaica’s first batch of CBDC on August 9, totaling $230Mn, which will be issued to deposit-taking institutions and authorized payment service providers.
• Deputy Governor, Natalie Haynes, has indicated that one financial institution, National Commercial Bank (NCB), has been engaged as the initial wallet (account) provider under the pilot, which ends in December. She told journalists that CBDC will be issued to NCB in September at which time the bank is expected to initiate its rollout to customers.
• NCB is first targeting “friends and family”, which would be staff and their families, after which, it would be rolled out to other NCB account holders, before moving to other non-NCB account holders.
• Both Governor, Richard Byles, and Ms. Haynes have noted that there has been positive feedback so far to the CBDC’s introduction. Mr. Byles said there was some degree of skepticism up to a year ago, but stakeholders were now more positively oriented to the CBDC implementation. Ms. Haynes said that further details of the CBDC customer take-up would be forthcoming in October.

Source: (JIS News)

• Executive Director of Jamaica Vacations Limited (JamVac), Joy Roberts, has stated that craft traders and other small-business interests operating within the tourism resilient corridor stands to benefit significantly from cruise passenger arrivals, once established COVID-19 protocols are adhered to.
• Roberts, whose engagements incorporate airlift and cruise activities, added that this was evident with the arrival of a Carnival Sunrise cruise ship in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on August 16. She further noted that there was not a single case of COVID-19 among the passengers and the captain and Carnival officials, were all pleased with Jamaica’s level of preparedness and adherence to international protocols and standards.
• One of the many conditions of the engagement was that pre-booked tours include stops at craft markets to ensure equity in the overall undertakings.
• At the same time, Assistant Vice-President for Marketing and Communications at the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), Kimberly Stiff, indicated that during a recent impromptu visit to the Chukka White River Valley attraction, staff and guests were seen fully adhering to the protocols. She acknowledged that they are aware of the international health and safety standards, and it is imperative that they do their part in Jamaica.
• Jamaica Country Manager for Chukka Caribbean Adventures, Lisa Gomes, acknowledged the company’s cruise dependence and highlighted the importance of bonding together in the interest of the country and the economy.

(Source: JIS News)

• The Venezuelan economy is expected to post 0.8% real GDP growth in 2021, the first annual expansion since 2013. Economic activity contracted by an estimated 30.5% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• This continued a multi-year decline, as chronic economic mismanagement, hyperinflation, a collapse in the oil sector and US sanctions had previously caused real GDP to fall by more than 75.0% since 2013.
• The forecast reflects Fitch’s view that Venezuela's economic contraction bottomed out in 2020 and will improve due to rising oil production and liberalization of economic policy. Nevertheless, real GDP will remain far below 2013 levels until US sanctions are lifted and there is a sustainable shift in economic policy in the country.
• Economic data from the Observatorio Venezolano de Finanzas (OVF), an opposition-aligned research group, show that the country has posted month-on-month growth in six of the seven months between September 2020 and March 2021, with estimates for Q221 suggesting this trend continued in more recent months. This reflects a rebound from the worst period of the COVID-19 crisis, in line with most other markets in Latin America.

(Source: Fitch Solutions)

• Fitch Solutions revised its Panamanian real GDP growth forecast to 11.2% in 2021, from 12.2% previously, to reflect ongoing public health restrictions that will hamper domestic demand. It forecasts 5.8% growth in 2022, meaning that real GDP will not recover from the COVID-19 pandemic until 2023.
• While a steady rebound of industrial activity and strong export growth will make Panama a regional growth outperformer, this largely reflects base effects from a 17.9% contraction in 2020.
• Fitch highlights downside risks to its short- and long-term growth forecasts due to the potential for future global economic disruptions from the Delta variant and any fiscal adjustments carried out by the Panamanian government in the coming years that may weaken public investment.

(Source: Fitch Solutions)

• The US Congress has approved a $3.5Tn budget blueprint, setting the stage for Democrats to enact President Joe Biden's ambitious economic agenda. The rule that passed on Tuesday allows Democrats, who narrowly control both chambers, to move ahead with key policy proposals.
• The resolution's fate was unclear as late as Tuesday morning, amid a standoff between progressive and centrist House Democrats. The Democrats are enacting a process called budget reconciliation to approve President Biden's larger spending package - and passage of the budget blueprint Tuesday is the first step.
• A group of 10 moderate Democratic lawmakers had threatened to withhold votes on the blueprint unless the House first approved a $1tn bipartisan infrastructure bill. That package includes funding for roads, bridges, the power grid, public transport, and internet.
• To win a compromise after over 24 hours of debate, top House Democrats have assured moderates that the infrastructure bill will be discussed on 27 September, when the House is back in session. "Passing this rule paves the way for the Building Back Better plan, which will forge legislative progress unseen in 50 years," Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said ahead of the vote. The top Democrat added that delays only threaten the economic plan and other bills.

(Source: BBC News)