Asia Economics Update What would a global return to normality mean for Asia? As vaccines are rolled out across the world and restrictions on economic activity are removed, we expect global consumption patterns to return to something like normal. Electronics exporters, most... 22nd March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Taiwan: no rush to hike rates despite rapid recovery Taiwan’s central bank appears in little hurry to raise interest rates despite the strong performance of the economy, and today’s decision to leave the policy rate unchanged at 1.125% came as no... 18th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Indonesia: little prospect of rate hikes Recent volatility in financial markets meant Bank Indonesia (BI) was never likely to cut interest rates for a second consecutive month at its meeting today, and further rate cuts look off the agenda... 18th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank Negara Malaysia set to remain on hold Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left its main policy rate on hold at 1.75% today, and we have taken out the cut we had pencilled in for this year. However, with the economic recovery likely to be slow... 4th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Sri Lanka: monetary easing will depend on currency The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) left policy on hold today amid continued volatility in global financial markets. Given the poor outlook for the economy, the CBSL will want to resume its easing... 4th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Improving outlook in Pakistan prompts forecast upgrade The outlook for Pakistan’s economy is improving. Low virus cases, an easing of restrictions and a jump in the most recent activity data are prompting us to revise up our growth forecast for this year. 2nd March 2021 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Update Time to worry about a repeat of the “taper tantrum”? Fears of a repeat of the 2013 “taper tantrum” look wide of the mark. But even if there was a return to the financial market turmoil of eight years ago, Asian economies are much better placed to cope. 25th February 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea set for extended hold The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its main policy rate on hold at 0.50% today in a unanimous decision, and while further rate cuts are now very unlikely, we expect more intervention in the government bond... 25th February 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Is the slow vaccine rollout a cause for concern? Asia’s vaccine rollout has got off to a slow start. This is not a big concern in countries that have contained the virus and where social distancing is not a drag on growth such as Taiwan and China... 23rd February 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia to cut rates once more this year Bank Indonesia (BI) today cuts its main policy rate by 25bps to 3.50% and revised down its forecast for the coming year. The central bank, however, also noted the room for rate cuts was “getting... 18th February 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Singapore to keep fiscal taps running Singapore today unveiled a budget that will keep fiscal policy loose for the coming fiscal year (April 2021-March 2022), while also attempting to address some of the long-term challenges facing the... 16th February 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Philippines: central bank has not finished easing yet The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) left its main policy rate on hold at 2.00% today, and while rising inflation means further easing isn’t likely in the near term, we still expect the central... 11th February 2021 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Thailand to keep rates low for a long time The Bank of Thailand (BoT) left its policy rate unchanged at an all-time low of just 0.5% today and sounded more downbeat about the prospects for growth this year. The poor outlook for the economy... 3rd February 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Myanmar: the economic consequences of the coup Myanmar’s biggest investors and trading partners are its neighbours, notably China, which won’t respond to yesterday’s coup with sanctions. But the economic consequences could still be significant if... 2nd February 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia easing cycle not over Bank Indonesia (BI) today left its main policy rate unchanged at 3.75%, but we doubt this marks the end of the central bank’s easing cycle. With the economic recovery struggling, inflation below... 21st January 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia’s central bank still likely to ease Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left its main policy rate on hold at 1.75% today, but with the country once again in lockdown following a surge in COVID-19 cases, we think that the Bank will eventually be... 20th January 2021 · 3 mins read
