Caribbean Investment IQ December 2013 | Page 16

Kris Sookdeo Analyst II (Research) [email protected] Subira Toppin Analyst II (Research) [email protected] Emerging Markets As has been the trend, the economic performance of the emerging markets has outpaced that of the developed markets. However, this performance is continuing to slow primarily as a result of weaker commodity and raw material demand from the developed economies. Growth in 2013 is forecasted at 4.5% for the emerging markets. Economic activity in the emerging markets is expected to have expanded by 4.9% (year on year ) in 2012 with growth of 4.5% forecasted for 2013. As has been the trend, the economic performance of the emerging markets has outpaced that of the developed markets. But economic growth is continuing to slow, declining from 7.5% (y/y) in 2010, primarily as a result of weaker commodity and raw material demand from the developed economies. The JP Morgan EMBI + Index, which charts the spread between emerging market fixed income securities and US Treasuries, reflects the events and impact it had on the emerging markets. For the period of review, it was largely affected by concern over the end of quantitative easing in the United States. 16 Caribbean Investment iQ December 2013 Figure 11 Source: Bloomberg, First Citizens Research and Analytics