Japan Economics Update Rising prices won’t prevent rebound in consumption The weaker yen and higher energy prices will reduce the purchasing power of households a bit. But with the household savings rate still very high, this won’t prevent a strong rebound in services... 26th October 2021 · 2 mins read
Precious Metals Update Palladium outlook brightest once auto sector rebounds The well-documented shortages of semiconductors have slammed the brakes on global vehicle production. As a result, the near-term prospects for platinum group metals (PGMs) demand in autocatalysts have... 25th October 2021 · 4 mins read
China Activity Monitor Services recovering but outlook still gloomy Our China Activity Proxy (CAP) shows that output rebounded last month as the disruption to the service sector from virus outbreaks eased. But this wasn’t enough to prevent a sharp contraction last... 25th October 2021 · 3 mins read
India Economics Update MPC fault lines emerge, but doves still in control The minutes of the Reserve Bank’s October policy meeting suggest greater divergence of opinion within the MPC, with two members calling for more definitive steps towards policy normalisation. But most... 25th October 2021 · 3 mins read
China Economics Weekly Policy outlook, new forecasts, property tax Ahead of the publication of our quarterly China Economics Outlook next week, we consider how Evergrande's woes, power cuts and supply shortages have shifted prospects for the economy. Our answer... 22nd October 2021 · 4 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Carmakers will struggle even after shortages abate The disruptions to supply chains from Delta outbreaks across Southeast Asia that resulted in another big drop in car exports in September will ease soon. However, carmakers are responding with lower... 22nd October 2021 · 6 mins read
India Economics Weekly Billionth vaccine masks worrying slowdown in rollout India this week administered its billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose, but that figure masks a worrying recent slowdown in the vaccination drive. And as a share of the population, the number of fully... 22nd October 2021 · 4 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan Consumer Prices (Sep. 2021) Headline inflation in September turned positive for the first time this year due to spikes in fresh food and energy inflation. As the drag from mobile phone tariffs fades in the first half of next... 22nd October 2021 · 2 mins read
Bank of Japan Watch Bank to look through weaker yen and supply shortages Sitting comfortably with continuity candidate PM Kishida in charge, the Bank of Japan won’t alter its major policy settings at its October meeting. And we doubt the Bank will respond with policy... 21st October 2021 · 8 mins read
Global Markets Update China’s economic slowdown and US Treasury yields Although slowing growth in China has probably weighed on US Treasury yields in the past, we don’t expect it to prevent them from rising over the next couple of years. 21st October 2021 · 5 mins read
Asia Data Response Korea Trade (1st – 20th Oct.) Korean export values continue to climb in October driven by both rising prices and growth in underlying volumes. The strength of the external sector adds weight to our view that the economy will... 21st October 2021 · 2 mins read
India Chart Pack RBI in no hurry to withdraw policy support The latest activity data suggest that India's recovery has entered a slower phase, with global supply shortages starting to weigh on the economy too. In addition, India’s vaccination coverage remains... 20th October 2021 · 9 mins read
Asia Economics Update Strength of export orders signals shortages will persist Taiwan export orders rose in September, indicating that demand for Asian electronics remains strong. We expect final demand to weaken over the coming months, but shortages are likely to persist for... 20th October 2021 · 2 mins read
China Economics Update Pullback in easing expectations overdone The Loan Prime Rate (LPR) remained on hold for the 18th straight month today. And investors have recently pared back their expectations for monetary easing. But given growing economic strains... 20th October 2021 · 3 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan External Trade (Sep. 2021) The sharp fall in exports in September suggests that supply shortages are severely hampering manufacturing activity in some sectors. However, we think exports will soon bounce back as supply shortages... 20th October 2021 · 2 mins read
Industrial Metals Update Pulling the plug; power rationing in China Power rationing in China has raised concerns about metal supply. But perhaps less obvious is that power rationing will also negatively affect demand if manufacturing activity is curtailed. On balance... 19th October 2021 · 3 mins read