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The Latest: On January 18, 2024, the European Cocoa Association (ECA), the Cocoa Association of Asia (CAA) and the National Confectioners Association (NCA) of North America reported data on regional cocoa grinding in Q423. All three associations reported decreases in grindings for the last quarter of the year: 2.5% y-o-y in Europe, 8.5% y-o-y in

The Latest: On January 19 2024, the Office for National Statistics reported December 2023 retail sales data, showing volume sales contracting 2.2% y-o-y and value sales growing 2.4% y-o-y. Of note though, was the m-o-m decline of -3.3% and -3.5% for December 2023 respectively, highlighting the change in consumer purchasing patterns over the

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• Malaysia’s medical devices market will record high-single digit growth over our five-year forecast period, driven by factors including strong government support for medical devices and healthcare sectors, medical tourism and an ageing population.
• Malaysia’s 2024 health budget will support medical devices market growth by focusing on

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• Europe’s exposure to geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea is multifaceted, creating vulnerabilities for several markets in the region, with some negative implications for economic growth amid higher inflation risks.
• Disruptions in trade routes are likely to precipitate a significant increase in European import costs for consumer

The Latest: On January 16 2024, the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority launched an open call for expression of interest to join the Critical Medicines Alliance (CMA). This represents the first major step towards the founding of the alliance which is planned to address drug shortages at the EU level. In

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• Following the narrowing from 30.2% of GDP in 2022 to a projected 24.9% in 2023, we expect the Norwegian current account surplus to recover modestly and widen to 26.2% in 2024.
• Travel will remain the biggest negative contribution to the services balance, with shipping as the largest item on the exports side.
• We expect Norway’s

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• We anticipate that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his government will continue to face difficulties passing legislation as ideological differences and the lack of a majority obstructs the policymaking process.
• Podemos’ exit from the government means that policy in areas such as labour will be especially complicated.
• The divisions

The Latest: On January 15 2024, Barista, an India-based coffee chains, announced plans to expand its retail presence by doubling its number of outlets to 800 over the next five years. This growth strategy includes a mix of company-owned, franchised, and Franchise Owned Franchise Operated (FOFO) models. The expansion will focus on metro cities as

The Latest: On January 14 2024, Lupin announced that it had received US FDA approval to market a generic version of propranolol hydrochloride extended-release capsules, used in the treatment of migraine and hypertension. The approval is significant as Lupin can offer a more affordable alternative to ANI Pharmaceuticals' Inderal LA extended

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• John Deere's partnership with SpaceX will enhance rural connectivity for farmers by integrating Starlink satellite broadband into their precision agriculture equipment with the aim of improving productivity and sustainability.
• The partnership will offer a competitive edge to poorly serviced agribusinesses in rural areas which could