Asia Economics Update Thai rates to stay on hold through 2018 With growth robust and inflationary pressures subdued, the Bank of Thailand (BoT) unsurprisingly kept its policy rate on hold today at 1.50%. The accompanying monetary policy statement reaffirms our... 20th December 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update No rate hikes next year in the Philippines The Philippines central bank (BSP) left rates unchanged at 3.0% today while also downplaying fears that the economy is overheating. While both financial markets and the consensus are expecting... 14th December 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Will corporate tax hikes dent Korea’s competitiveness? The programme of tax hikes and spending increases passed today by South Korea’s parliament is unlikely to have much impact on the country’s growth prospects. The budget is forecast to be fiscally... 6th December 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korea’s policy tightening will proceed gradually The Bank of Korea (BoK) raised its policy rate for the first time since 2011 today. Looking ahead, the tone of the governor’s accompanying press conference suggests aggressive monetary policy... 30th November 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asian currencies make further gains against the dollar Strong growth figures, a shift in interest rate expectations and general dollar weakness have propelled Asian currencies higher against the US dollar so far this month. 29th November 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea set to hike rates despite worries over won Concern over the recent strength of the won is unlikely to stop the Bank of Korea (BoK) from hiking interest rates at its meeting on Thursday, but it is likely to prompt the authorities into resuming... 27th November 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Further easing in Indonesia likely to be very gradual Today’s decision by Bank Indonesia to leave interest rates unchanged at 4.25% does not mean the easing cycle is over. However, with worries growing about the strength of the rupiah, we think any... 16th November 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Philippines likely to keep rates on hold throughout 2018 Despite rising inflation, rapid credit growth and a weak currency the Philippines central bank (BSP) kept its policy rate unchanged at 3.0% today. While the consensus is expecting rate hikes next year... 9th November 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia’s central bank turns hawkish Malaysia’s central bank left its policy rate unchanged at 3.0% today, but the more hawkish tone of the statement suggests that monetary policy tightening may soon come back onto the agenda. We now... 9th November 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thai rates to stay low Against a backdrop of robust growth and subdued inflation, today’s decision by the Bank of Thailand (BoT) to leave its key interest rate unchanged at 1.50% came as no surprise. The accompanying... 8th November 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Sri Lanka’s central bank has little room for manoeuvre Sri Lanka’s central bank (CBSL) left rates on hold today, and the accompanying monetary policy statement supports our view that rate changes are not on the horizon. CBSL will be wary of hiking rates... 7th November 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Raising our Korea growth and interest rate forecasts China and South Korea’s decision to “reset” relations should provide a significant boost to Korea’s economy by bringing an end to China’s boycott of Korean goods as well as the clampdown on Chinese... 1st November 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asian equities bounce back Equity markets in Asia rebounded strongly in October, with bourses in Korea, India, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia all reaching new record highs. 31st October 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia likely to cut rates further next year Today’s decision by Bank Indonesia to leave interest rates unchanged at 4.25% probably represents a pause in the central bank’s easing cycle, rather than a halt. We continue to think that with... 19th October 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea to keep rates low for some time yet The Bank of Korea (BoK) left interest rates on hold today and the governor’s accompanying press conference makes clear that monetary policy will remain accommodative. We continue to expect the policy... 19th October 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update MAS to keep monetary policy supportive The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) today left its monetary policy settings unchanged. The accompanying statement gives the MAS room to tighten policy if necessary, but given the subdued outlook... 13th October 2017 · 1 min read
