Asia Economics Update Asian equities and currencies come off the boil Asian equities and currencies have generally fallen over the past month. Although worries about the Fed have played a role, local factors have been important too. 29th September 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Thailand in no rush to raise interest rates The Bank of Thailand (BoT) today resisted pressure from the government to loosen monetary policy, and instead left its key interest rate unchanged at 1.50%. With headwinds to the economy mounting and... 27th September 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia to cut rates again before year-end Given the economy’s poor growth prospects and the subdued outlook for inflation, today’s rate cut by Bank Indonesia (BI) is unlikely to be the last in the current cycle. However, as the central bank... 22nd September 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rates to stay on hold in Taiwan With economic growth fairly strong and inflationary pressures subdued, Taiwan’s central bank (CBC) decided to keep its policy rate on hold today at 1.375%. The dovish tone of the Bank’s accompanying... 21st September 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update BSP unlikely to change policy stance soon Despite the recent rebound in inflation, it was no surprise that the Philippines central bank (BSP) kept its policy rate unchanged at 3.0% today. There was nothing in its statement to suggest BSP is... 21st September 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia rates set to stay on hold this year and next With growth strong and inflation moderating, it came as no surprise that Malaysia’s central bank (BNM) kept its policy rate unchanged at 3.0% today. In its statement, BNM stressed the positive outlook... 7th September 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update South Korea: counting the economic cost of THAAD Chinese retaliation over South Korea’s deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Defense (THAAD) system has led to a sharp slump in Chinese tourist arrivals in South Korea and a big fall in Korean... 6th September 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Interest rates to stay low in Korea The Bank of Korea (BoK) today left interest rates unchanged and there was little sign in the central bank’s statement that the central bank is in any rush to adjust policy. With the economy growing at... 31st August 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asian equities shrug off latest Korean tensions Equity markets in Emerging Asia have continued to take the crisis in North Korea in their stride. Although most markets have fallen in response to today’s missile test, the moves are very small. It is... 29th August 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indonesia easing cycle to be gradual Given the improving outlook for inflation in Indonesia, we think today’s 25 basis point cut in the main policy rate is unlikely to be the last in the current cycle. We expect one further rate cut this... 22nd August 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thai rates to stay on hold for a while longer The Bank of Thailand (BoT) left interest rates on hold today and the accompanying monetary policy statement suggests the central bank is in no rush to adjust rates any time soon. We are maintaining... 16th August 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Philippines: Rates to remain on hold under new governor Today’s decision by the central bank in the Philippines (BSP) to keep its main policy rate on hold at 3.0% was widely expected. The accompanying statement, which was the first to be published since... 10th August 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Sri Lankan rates on hold, further hikes this year unlikely Sri Lanka’s central bank left interest rates on hold today, and the less hawkish tone of the statement suggests that its tightening cycle may now be at an end. We now expect rates to be left on hold... 3rd August 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asian equities rapid rise continues Equity markets in Asia continued their rise in July. Meanwhile, currencies in the region generally strengthened against the US dollar 31st July 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update What does Pakistan’s political crisis mean for the economy? The resignation of Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif following the decision by the country’s Supreme Court to disqualify him from office, has once again put the spotlight on the country’s highly... 28th July 2017 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia to remain in neutral for a while After a marathon policy meeting today, Bank Indonesia confirmed that it was keeping its policy rates unchanged. Quite why the decision took so long is unclear – the decision was exactly what everyone... 20th July 2017 · 1 min read
