EM Valuations Monitor Valuations still don’t look low The valuations of EM assets have fallen significantly from their peaks in this cycle around the start of last year, but remain above their averages since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). In our view... 12th September 2019 · 7 mins read
China Economics Update Swine fever inflation shock to worsen Intervention by China’s government to halt the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) and mitigate its impact on pork prices is proving ineffective. Inflation will next year rise above the government’s... 12th September 2019 · 3 mins read
China Data Response Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Aug.) Monetary easing has so far failed to generate much of a pick-up in credit growth, which remained unchanged last month. This should push policymakers to take further action. 11th September 2019 · 2 mins read
China Data Response Consumer & Producer Prices (Aug.) Weakening demand dragged producer price inflation further into negative territory last month while surging pork prices kept consumer price inflation elevated. With demand-side pressures on prices... 10th September 2019 · 2 mins read
Commodities Update Strength in China’s commodity imports won’t last long China’s commodity imports ticked up in August, in part due to strong infrastructure spending. But we expect them to weaken in the months ahead as temporary factors fade and construction activity tails... 9th September 2019 · 2 mins read
China Data Response Trade & FX Reserves (Aug.) Exports fell last month as global demand softened and US tariffs continued to take their toll. Imports improved thanks to strong infrastructure spending but remain consistent with a further economic... 9th September 2019 · 4 mins read
China Economics Weekly Monetary easing taking precedence over fiscal support The People’s Bank was quick to answer the State Council’s recent call for more stimulus, announcing a cut to banks’ required reserve ratio today. More policy easing will probably be needed in the... 6th September 2019 · 8 mins read
China Economics Update RRR reduction to be followed by PBOC rate cuts The PBOC will release a portion of the reserves commercial banks’ hold at the central bank. While this will pull down interbank rates in the short run, the PBOC will need to cut its policy rate to... 6th September 2019 · 3 mins read
EM Markets Chart Pack EM financial markets not yet out of the woods The last few weeks have been kinder to EM financial markets than the start of August, when equities and currencies slumped as the US-China trade war ramped up again. Even so, neither has performed... 5th September 2019 · 8 mins read
Commodities Update China fiscal stimulus not enough to boost prices China’s official and unofficial PMIs diverged in August. But both remain consistent with slower year-on-year growth in the remainder of 2019, which does not bode well for energy and industrial metals... 2nd September 2019 · 2 mins read
China Data Response PMIs (August) The latest survey data suggest that exports have continued to struggle but that factory activity was propped up by stronger infrastructure spending. 2nd September 2019 · 2 mins read
China Economics Weekly Trade warriors getting smarter, Hong Kong into recession The original timetable had further talks scheduled between US and Chinese trade negotiators in September. The talks may well go ahead but that wouldn’t signal that either side was considering backing... 30th August 2019 · 5 mins read
China Economics Update Transhipments and weaker RMB are blunting US tariffs China’s share of global exports has increased over the past year, despite US tariffs. Renminbi depreciation and the transhipments of goods to the US via neighbouring countries can take much of the... 29th August 2019 · 3 mins read
Precious Metals Update China and India Gold Imports (Jul.) Gold’s price rally saw Indian and Chinese imports continue to tumble in July. And, given that prices have risen further in August, gold imports could record multi-year lows in the second half of 2019. 28th August 2019 · 2 mins read
China Economics Update US tariffs strengthen the case for easing, weaker RMB With President Trump adding yet more US tariffs to the pipeline, the impact on China’s economy is starting to add up. With the drag on GDP growth set to rise to nearly one percentage point before long... 26th August 2019 · 3 mins read
China Economics Weekly US attack on RMB would flop, fiscal cliff avoided Some are speculating that the next salvo in the Trump administration’s efforts to hurt China’s economy could be foreign exchange intervention to force up the value of the renminbi. Such efforts would... 23rd August 2019 · 5 mins read
