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Mexico cuts economic forecast for AMLO’s first year

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Mexico's central bank cut its economic growth forecast for 2019 on Wednesday, citing uncertainty over the policies that leftist President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will pursue.

In its quarterly report on the state of Latin America's second-largest economy, after Brazil, the Bank of Mexico predicted growth of 1.7 to 2.7 percent next year, down from 1.8 to 2.8 percent in its previous forecast.

The bank cited concerns about "economic activity and the country's capacity to generate an environment of confidence and certainty that will promote investment."

Lopez Obrador, widely known as AMLO, begins his six-year term on Saturday.

The anti-establishment leftist has vowed sweeping change to fight poverty and corruption -- though he has also sought to soothe markets by promising fiscal discipline and business-friendly policies.

That message has failed to fully calm jitters.

The Mexican stock market and peso have plunged multiple times since his landslide election win on July 1.

On Monday, stocks lost 4.1 percent to close at their lowest level since 2014 after a lawmaker allied with Lopez Obrador proposed putting pension funds under state control.

Stocks and the currency also tumbled after Lopez Obrador canceled construction of a new $13-billion airport for Mexico City -- a project strongly supported by the business community -- following a referendum on the issue that was marred by irregularities.

After that market rout, the central bank raised its key interest rate by 0.25 point to eight percent, near its all-time high of 8.25 percent, also citing uncertainty over Lopez Obrador's policies.

The president-elect and his pick for finance minister, respected economist Carlos Urzua, have both sought to calm fears of a radical turn.

"We're going to make investors trust us. Those who invest in companies, in stocks, in the financial market, will have their investments assured and obtain good returns," Lopez Obrador said Tuesday, promising to impose no new taxes and pursue fiscally conservative policies.

Market attention is now focused on Lopez Obrador's first budget, which he must send to Congress by December 15.

Mexico's economy grew 0.8 percent in the third quarter, and the central bank forecasts growth of two to 2.4 percent for 2018.

Mexico’s central bank cut its economic growth forecast for 2019 on Wednesday, citing uncertainty over the policies that leftist President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will pursue.

In its quarterly report on the state of Latin America’s second-largest economy, after Brazil, the Bank of Mexico predicted growth of 1.7 to 2.7 percent next year, down from 1.8 to 2.8 percent in its previous forecast.

The bank cited concerns about “economic activity and the country’s capacity to generate an environment of confidence and certainty that will promote investment.”

Lopez Obrador, widely known as AMLO, begins his six-year term on Saturday.

The anti-establishment leftist has vowed sweeping change to fight poverty and corruption — though he has also sought to soothe markets by promising fiscal discipline and business-friendly policies.

That message has failed to fully calm jitters.

The Mexican stock market and peso have plunged multiple times since his landslide election win on July 1.

On Monday, stocks lost 4.1 percent to close at their lowest level since 2014 after a lawmaker allied with Lopez Obrador proposed putting pension funds under state control.

Stocks and the currency also tumbled after Lopez Obrador canceled construction of a new $13-billion airport for Mexico City — a project strongly supported by the business community — following a referendum on the issue that was marred by irregularities.

After that market rout, the central bank raised its key interest rate by 0.25 point to eight percent, near its all-time high of 8.25 percent, also citing uncertainty over Lopez Obrador’s policies.

The president-elect and his pick for finance minister, respected economist Carlos Urzua, have both sought to calm fears of a radical turn.

“We’re going to make investors trust us. Those who invest in companies, in stocks, in the financial market, will have their investments assured and obtain good returns,” Lopez Obrador said Tuesday, promising to impose no new taxes and pursue fiscally conservative policies.

Market attention is now focused on Lopez Obrador’s first budget, which he must send to Congress by December 15.

Mexico’s economy grew 0.8 percent in the third quarter, and the central bank forecasts growth of two to 2.4 percent for 2018.

AFP
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