Mexico to cut budget in Brexit wake

Mexico is setting aside $A2.1 billion in savings to buffer against any currency fluctuations in the wake of the UK's shock Brexit.

Mexico will make sweeping budget cuts of $US1.6 billion ($A2.1 billion) in the wake of Britain's decision to leave the European Union, the finance minister says.

The second largest economy in Latin America was preparing for its second budget cut of 2016, set at 31.7 billion pesos ($A2.3 billion), finance minister Luis Videgaray said on Friday.

The minister said the savings will strengthen Mexico's macro-economic position in the aftermath of the Brexit.

Mexico isn't expecting severe direct consequences from the British vote.

Mexico's trade with Great Britain accounts for only 0.7 per cent of its overall trade.

However, the country wants to prepare for any instability in the financial markets, Videgaray said.

Mexico continues to struggle with major exchange rate fluctuations.

The government is prepared for speculators to go after the Mexican peso, Videgaray says.

Mexico holds $US177 billion in reserve that can be used to prop up the peso if necessary.


Share

1 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world