Asia Economics Update Is China eating Asia’s lunch? Weak Chinese demand for exports from Emerging Asia in recent months has led some commentators to worry that China’s move up the value chain is having unwelcome knock-on effects for the rest of the... 16th September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Weak Indian data bolster calls to cut rates soon Today’s industrial production data for India have dampened hopes that the sector is on the cusp of a sustained recovery. But the good news is that inflation has also slowed, which could open up the... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea set to raise rates next year Interest rates in Korea, which were left on hold today, are likely to rise from next year as economic growth picks up. However, with inflation likely to remain fairly subdued, the pace of tightening... 12th September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indonesian rates to remain high despite falling inflation Despite recent sharp falls in inflation and worries about the slowing economy, Bank Indonesia (BI) today left interest rates on hold amid concerns about the current account position. We expect... 11th September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Further tightening likely in the Philippines The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) today hiked two key policy rates against a backdrop of increasing risks in the financial sector and rising inflationary pressures. We expect to see further... 11th September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update New Zealand rate pause unlikely to last for long The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) kept its policy rate at 3.5% at its meeting today, pausing a hiking cycle that began in March. The RBNZ will wait to see the effects of previous hikes, but we... 11th September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thailand's recovery will be gradual Thailand's economy is showing signs of improvement going into the second half of 2014 amid reduced political uncertainty. However, it continues to face headwinds that will restrain the pace of its... 10th September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia's economy set for a period of sub-trend growth Australia’s economy slowed sharply in Q2, as the surge in net exports at the start of the year gave way to a sharp fall. The more general picture is one of an economy struggling to adjust to a... 3rd September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australian rates to stay low for longer than generally thought The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept its policy rate on hold at 2.5% at its meeting today, as widely expected. With recent data weak, most analysts have reined in their expectations for policy... 2nd September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Manufacturing recovery intact, but headwinds persist While the region's manufacturing sector recovery remains intact, the August PMIs for Emerging Asia are a reminder that a strong and sustainable pick-up is still some way away. 1st September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indian Q2 GDP likely to be as good as it gets for some time Today’s Q2 GDP data for India, which show that the economy grew at its fastest pace since Q1 2012, come as welcome news. But we suspect that this might be as good as it gets for some time. Both fiscal... 29th August 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asian financial markets higher, but political risks weigh on Pakistan Most of Asia’s stock markets and currencies strengthened in August. The key exception is Pakistan, where political uncertainty has returned to the fore. 28th August 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Growth in the Philippines to accelerate further GDP growth in the Philippines accelerated in the second quarter of the year, due to a strong contribution from net exports. Looking ahead, prospects for both exports and domestic demand look healthy... 28th August 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Emerging Asia has less to fear from Fed tightening The trend over the past year in most of Emerging Asia has been towards bigger current account surpluses or smaller deficits. This should make their currencies less vulnerable to any negative shifts in... 21st August 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thailand’s economic recovery will take time Thailand's economic performance improved in the second quarter, following the military coup in late May that has helped calm political unrest and boosted confidence in the economy. Growth is set to... 18th August 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Strong Malaysian economy can withstand more rate hikes Malaysia's economy accelerated for the fifth straight quarter in Q2, supported by strong export growth. Although Malaysia’s headline growth rate is likely to drop off in the second half of the year as... 15th August 2014 · 1 min read
