(image: Coface)
Zurich – The world economy has entered into a confirmed, but slow and uneven, recovery phase. Several factors explain the laborious nature of the post-crisis upturn. These include high levels of public and private debt, a credit dynamic below pre-crisis rates, a new risk of deflation in the eurozone and weakened long-term confidence amongst the economic players.
Coface forecasts global growth of 2.8% for2014, arise of +0.1 points compared to 2013. This is the first increase since 2010, although its level remains below that of pre-crisis growth levels (between 4 and 4.5% in 2006 and 2007). The advanced economies have become the main driver of this acceleration (accounting for 1.6%, which is +0.3 points higher than in 2013), whereas emerging countries have registered a slowdown of an equivalent size (4.3%, down by -0.3 points). 2015 will see the overall acceleration gradually continue, with global growth of 3.2%.
The country risk map that Coface is currently updating is in line with this rebalancing of growth. The majority of the assessments reviewed upwards concern advanced countries. Emerging countries incorporate all the assessments downgraded by Coface this quarter.
In the eurozone, despite disappointments, the country risks continue to improve
While, after an external shock in the first quarter, the United States has revived with solid growth (forecast at 2% in 2014), the European landscape is distinguished by a sharp disparity with regards to recovery. Its growth is revised slightly downwards, to 0.9%, due to less favourable outlooks forGermany(1.6%),France(0.4%) andItaly(-0.2%). In the eurozone we observe a fall in the confidence of business in the second quarter, fuelled by geopolitical tension in the Ukraine and deflation risks.
In Spain, the virtuous dynamic of the recovery is confirmed, with growth forecast at 1.2% for 2014 and 1.7% for 2015. The resurgence of domestic demand, the improvement in the financial situation of companies, dynamic exports and the fall in insolvencies (down by 30% at the end of June over one year) fuel the drop in Spanish risks. These improvements have led Coface to raise its B assessment, under positive watch since last June, to A4.
The A3 assessment ofthe Netherlands(0.7% forecast in 2014) and inBelgium(1% forecast in 2014) is now accompanied by a positive watch. In both countries, growth has returned, buoyed by exports, and we observe an upturn in investment and a fall in company insolvencies.
Faced with the challenges of macro-financial and political shocks, Russia, Turkey and Venezuela are downgraded
In reaction to recent changes in the political and social context and taking into account their impact on corporate activity, Coface has announced three major downgrades.
The country assessment forRussiais downgraded to C. The Ukrainian crisis has certainly had a negative impact on growth (forecast at 0% in 2014), principally due to the fall in investments and deceleration in consumption. Moreover, investment difficulties were already perceptible in 2013 and illustrate the Russian economic players’ lack of confidence in the business climate. The large outflows of capital fromRussiasince 2008 are testament to this. We also take into account the fact that Russian companies are massively indebted in terms of currencies. With limited access to markets due to the current sanctions and some affected by the fall in the rouble, companies are facing major repayment deadlines in a year from now.
Turkeyhas had its assessment downgraded to B. While the economic activity in Turkey is showing a certain resilience (3.3% forecast in 2014), on the corporate side, foreign debt remains high, which increases exposure to foreign exchange risk. The lira has proved to be very volatile and sensitive to changes in the Fed’s monetary policy. Indeed, Coface’s payment experience concerning Turkish companies has sharply deteriorated. On a political level, growing tensions on the country’s borders are likely to affect internal stability.
Venezuelais now placed in D category. The country has sunk into recession (-2.5%) and hyperinflation (64% in 2014), fuelled by a shortage of goods and against the backdrop of political and social tensions. The risk of nationalisation and, above all, the rationing of imports and control of prices and margins, have cast a shadow over a very difficult business environment for companies. (Coface/mc/ps)