Asia Economics Update India's budget: further deficit reduction tough to achieve Today’s budget statement reveals that India’s central government has been able to lower its fiscal deficit from 5.7% of GDP a year ago to 5.2% in the current fiscal year. It appears determined to go... 28th February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Singapore budget focuses on productivity Today’s FY 2013 budget focused on raising medium-term growth by boosting productivity. The government resisted short-term pump priming but, with unemployment low and a number of today’s measures... 25th February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Singapore will need to settle for slower growth Singapore’s new official population forecasts have created a stir among an electorate worried about overcrowding and heavy immigration. But from an economic point of view, the biggest takeaway is that... 21st February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia's growth rate has peaked Global copper mine supply grew at its fastest rate in eight years in the closing months of 2012 and mine output is likely to grow just as quickly this year. This should enable smelters to raise their... 20th February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thailand's strong growth lessens urgency to cut rates Thailand’s Q4 GDP data suggest that the economy ended last year on a strong note, which lessens the urgency for policy settings to be loosened. However, we expect the economy to slow later this year... 18th February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Fall in Indian inflation not enough to prompt further rate cuts Wholesale price inflation in India fell more than expected in January, to 6.6%. But with consumer price inflation rising to 10.8% and the current account deficit heading for a record high this year... 14th February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korea’s central bank likely to cut ahead The Bank of Korea (BoK) kept its policy rate at 2.75% today, as was widely expected. Korea’s economic slowdown has bottomed out, but we think growth is unlikely to rebound strongly and that inflation... 14th February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Pakistan's central bank is in a bind While the State Bank of Pakistan may wish to cut rates further to stimulate the economy, there is a growing risk that the central bank will be forced into tightening policy instead. 13th February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Strong and steady growth to continue in Indonesia Indonesia recorded another quarter of strong growth in Q4, with the pace of growth down only slightly from the previous quarter. Although weak global demand will remain a drag on the economy in 2013... 5th February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update January PMIs suggest industry faltering The January PMIs for emerging Asia were disappointing. Improving global sentiment should provide a small boost to Asian industry in coming months, but conditions overall are likely to remain weak. 1st February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Strong Q4 growth in the Philippines, but will it last? GDP growth in the Philippines remained strong in Q4, with the pace of expansion slowing only slightly from the previous quarter. Although we remain upbeat about medium-term prospects, growth is likely... 31st January 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Taiwan's growth likely to be lacklustre this year Today’s GDP data from Taiwan show that the economy ended 2012 on a strong note. But Taiwan remains vulnerable to a renewed deterioration in global sentiment, which we think is likely this year... 31st January 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update India's stubborn inflation limits room for further loosening The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) met expectations that it would cut its key policy rate today. However, the accompanying policy statement suggests there may be only limited further policy loosening... 29th January 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korea's weak growth underlines need for policy support Korea’s Q4 GDP data show that the economy ended 2012 on a weak note. We think growth is unlikely to rebound strongly anytime soon, while inflation looks set to remain low. Accordingly, we maintain our... 24th January 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Latest data support case for rate cut in India India’s growth rate, rather than rebounding as many hoped, may be stabilising at a low level. But the latest fall in underlying inflation does at least provide a green light for the central bank to... 14th January 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korea's rate-cutting cycle has further to go The Bank of Korea (BoK) kept its policy rate at 2.75% today, as was widely expected. Korea’s economic slowdown has bottomed out, but we think growth is unlikely to rebound strongly and that inflation... 11th January 2013 · 1 min read
