Frontier Markets Semi-Annual Outlook (CLIG)

The global economic expansion has become more synchronised over the past year and this has also been the case within frontier markets (FM). Growth has rebounded in some commodity dependent countries, like Kazakhstan, amid a recovery in prices and rising output. Elsewhere, growth has accelerated as activity in various areas like agriculture (Morocco), domestic demand (Argentina) and foreign investment (Vietnam) has been robust. In contrast, economic output in Kuwait contracted in 2017 as it cut oil production as part of the OPEC agreement, but a recovery is expected this year as consumer confidence has rebounded and spending is set to accelerate as part of the National Development Plan. READ MORE