China Data Response China Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Sep.) Credit growth surprised to the upside last month, edging up thanks to official efforts to boost lending via policy banks. But wider appetite for borrowing still appears depressed, which will probably... 12th October 2022 · 2 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan Machinery Orders (Aug. 2022) Although “core” machinery orders dropped sharply in August due to a crash in non-manufacturing orders, Q3’s average still points to an expansion in non-residential investment growth this quarter... 12th October 2022 · 2 mins read
China Economics Focus The 20th Party Congress The Party Congress will deliver a major reshuffle of China’s leadership but, with General Secretary Xi’s continued dominance in little doubt, it won’t result in any substantial change in policy... 11th October 2022 · 31 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan Economy Watchers Survey (Sep. 2022) Current readings picked up in September’s Economy Watchers Survey but fell well short of the peaks seen after previous virus waves ended. However, we suspect that the fading virus wave, the domestic... 11th October 2022 · 2 mins read
Capital Daily US policy deals a blow to China’s equities, not for the last time China’s equities came under pressure today, partly in response to the US announcing fresh curbs on technology exports to the country last Friday. This is another crack in an increasingly fractured... 10th October 2022 · 6 mins read
China Economics Weekly UN win highlights China’s “fracturing” vulnerabilities China had a diplomatic win at the UN this week, but its success also shines a light on its vulnerabilities as the global economy fractures into US and China-centred blocs. China has more supporters in... 7th October 2022 · 9 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Bank of Korea: 25bp or 50bp hike? The consensus is expecting the Bank of Korea (BoK) to increase its policy rate by 50bp at its scheduled meeting on Wednesday. But with the economy slowing sharply, we think a 25bp hike is more likely. 7th October 2022 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly BOJ gets a glimpse of wage-price pressures The strongest increase in regular wages in 25 years is an early sign that the virtuous cycle between prices and wages that the Bank of Japan would like to see is starting to materialise. But with... 7th October 2022 · 5 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly RBA still likely to lift rates to 3.6% by mid-2023 The Reserve Bank of Australia hiked rates by less than most had anticipated this week, but with the economy still running red hot, we doubt that it will take its foot of the brake altogether before... 7th October 2022 · 4 mins read
China Data Response FX Reserves (Sep.) The decline in China’s foreign exchange reserves appears to be due to valuation effects rather than direct intervention in the FX market. But we still think the PBOC will try, and may well succeed, in... 7th October 2022 · 3 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan Labour Cash Earnings (Aug. 22) The 1.6% annual rise in regular earnings last month was the largest since 1997 and jars with the fact that the labour market still isn’t as tight as it was pre-pandemic. We suspect employees are... 7th October 2022 · 3 mins read