India Economics Weekly Inflation already closing in on RBI’s ceiling A key takeaway from the RBI’s policy meeting this week was that the Bank remains relaxed about the inflation outlook, expecting the headline CPI rate to peak within the tolerance band (2-6%) this... 11th February 2022 · 5 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore budget, elections loom in the Philippines The focus of Singapore’s 2022 budget next Friday will be on steps to raise revenues to help deal with a rapidly ageing population, as the government shifts away from supporting the economy through the... 11th February 2022 · 6 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly BoJ sets its stall out, three more weeks of restrictions The Bank of Japan’s first unlimited fixed rate auction in three-and-a-half years is likely to send a strong signal to investors that +0.25% is right now a clear line in the sand for 10-year JGB yields... 11th February 2022 · 7 mins read
China Economics Update US-China trade deal stalemate will drag on China made none of the additional purchases it committed to under the Phase One trade deal. The Biden administration isn’t pleased but doesn’t have good options to force China to do more. And China... 10th February 2022 · 5 mins read
China Data Response Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Jan.) Broad credit growth accelerated for the third consecutive month in January as policy support continued to feed through. With more easing on the horizon we expect this trend to continue for a while... 10th February 2022 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia to tighten policy gradually Bank Indonesia left interest rates unchanged at 3.5% at its meeting today, and the weakness of inflation means the tightening cycle is likely to be very gradual. 10th February 2022 · 3 mins read
India Economics Update Inflation will force the RBI’s hand The recent hawkish turn by many major central banks did not faze the RBI today, which continued to project a dovish tone while keeping policy settings unchanged. But inflation risks are building and... 10th February 2022 · 3 mins read
Industrial Metals Update China’s refined output to remain strong China’s refined metals output mostly rose in 2021, despite power rationing in Q4. We expect output growth to continue in 2022, which is a factor underpinning our view that metals prices will fall. 9th February 2022 · 3 mins read
Japan Economics Update Prolonged border closure could lift labour costs With economic activity still depressed by recurrent virus waves, the sharp slowdown in immigration to Japan has yet to put much upwards pressure on wages. However, looking ahead we think some sectors... 9th February 2022 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Update Thailand: rates to stay low despite jump in inflation The Bank of Thailand (BoT) left its policy rate unchanged today at 0.5%, and despite the recent rebound in inflation, we expect interest rates will remain on hold for some time to come. 9th February 2022 · 3 mins read
Emerging Markets Economics Update What higher oil prices mean for EMs If oil prices were to remain at their elevated levels, they could push current account and budget balances into surplus in many of the EM producers. It would also ease any concerns about dollar pegs... 8th February 2022 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Inflation a worry in South Asia, but less so elsewhere Inflation is a growing concern for policymakers in South Asia and means interest rates are likely to rise further this year. Elsewhere in Asia, inflation remains low and is likely to fall back over... 8th February 2022 · 4 mins read
Japan Economics Focus What would it take for inflation to surge in Japan? A perfect storm of surging house prices, a further worsening of supply shortages, and a pick-up in labour mobility would be needed to cause an inflation surge in Japan. Even if inflation did reach 2%... 8th February 2022 · 17 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan Wages & Household Spending (Dec. 2021) Wage growth turned negative in December due to another fall in end-of-year bonus payments, but it should soon bounce back above 1% y/y this year as the labour market tightens and strong corporate... 8th February 2022 · 2 mins read
Asia Data Response Indonesia GDP (Q4) Indonesia’s economy rebounded strongly in the final quarter of last year, but the recovery is now entering a more difficult phase. Omicron will act as a small obstacle in the first quarter. But a... 7th February 2022 · 3 mins read
Japan Economics Update Manufacturing profit margins set to reach record-high Soaring input prices have kept profit margins of manufacturers below their pre-virus peak even as those of services firms have hit record highs. However, manufacturers will catch up before long. 6th February 2022 · 2 mins read
