"Cyprus Business Forecast Report Q1 2014" Published

Cyprus' government will remain firmly committed to the terms of its EUR10bn bailout programme, which could result in a public backlash over the coming years. However, we believe that future negotiations with creditors could prove to be more confrontational in a bid to secure the best terms possible and limit a potential drop in popularity.

We see a rapid adjustment in the fiscal dynamics, forecasting the nominal budget deficit to fall from 6.4% of GDP in 2012 to 4.3% in 2013 and continue narrowing to 3.2% in 2014. Further commitment to EU-prescribed austerity measures will be key to ensuring sustain -able debt management given that we see the general government debt pile rising above 100% of GDP in 2013.

Early indications of the severity of Cyprus' economic adjustment following the country's banking sector crisis in early 2013 reaffirm our view that the economy is heading towards a period of major structural adjustment. We continue to see several years of negative real private consumption, government expenditure and fixed invest -ment growth, which will keep the economy firmly in deep recession until 2016/2017.

Full Report Details at
- http://www.fastmr.com/prod/751970_cyprus_business_forecast_report_q1_2014.aspx?afid=302

Major Forecast changes

We have revised our 2013 real GDP growth forecast go -7.1% from -9.0% and see -3.6% real GDP growth in 2014, from our previous forecast of -3.4%.

Bigger-than-expected spending cuts have significantly reduced the budget deficit and prompted us to revise our nominal fiscal balance forecast to -4.3% of GDP in 2013 and -3.2% in 2014, from -6.8% and -6.5% respectively.

We see a sharper adjustment in the current account in 2013, now forecasting a deficit of 3.9% of GDP, from our previous forecast of -7.0%, as imports of goods fall at a faster rate than we had previ -ously assumed.

Key risks to outlook

The near-term outlook is somewhat uncertain as we believe that the Q213 GDP data may not accurately reflect the full impact of Cyprus' banking sector crisis and compliance with rigorous fiscal austerity and structural reform to qualify for financial aid. This means that the risks are likely to the downside, as leading indicators have continued to deteriorate into the third quarter of 2013.

Deteriorating social conditions will test the government's resolve to adhere to prescribed fiscal consolidation programmes over the coming years. This could significantly derail ongoing efforts to rein in spending in the absence of meaningful nominal GDP growth.

Cyprus is currently undergoing a sharp balance of payments correc -tion, after narrowly avoiding a collapse of its banking sector earlier in 2013. This means that even under our revised forecast scenario, we may still be underestimating the rate of economic rebalancing, which could force a narrower current account shortfall in 2013 and 2014, if not an outright shift into a surplus, as seen during the large internal devaluations in the Baltic States in 2009.

About Fast Market Research

Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. We represent the world's top research publishers and analysts and provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available.

For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156.

You may also be interested in these related reports:

- Chile Business Forecast Report Q1 2014
- Spain Business Forecast Report Q1 2014
- Hungary Business Forecast Report Q1 2014
- Russia Business Forecast Report Q1 2014
- Mexico Business Forecast Report Q1 2014