Asia Economics Update Sri Lanka leaves rates on hold, but further tightening likely soon Despite mounting concerns over rapid credit growth, rising inflation and a weakening currency, the central bank in Sri Lanka (CBSL) opted to keep its key policy interest rates unchanged at its meeting... 29th March 2016 · 1 min read
RBI Watch Stage set for further modest loosening It's not a done deal yet, but the balance appears to be tipped towards the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deliver ing another interest rate cut in next week's policy meeting . This is due to a number of... 29th March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Taiwan approaching the limits of conventional monetary policy Taiwan’s central bank (CBC) cut its discount rate by 12.5 basis points to 1.50% today against a backdrop of very weak growth and low inflationary pressures. Further cuts to the discount rate are... 24th March 2016 · 1 min read
Frontier Markets Wrap Frontier financial markets recover some ground A combination of improving investor sentiment and a pick-up in global commodity prices has underpinned a recovery in frontier financial markets in recent weeks. Since reaching a two-year low in early... 24th March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Vietnam: Short-term prospects good, but risks building Vietnam has been one of the region’s fastest growing economies over the past couple of years, and looks set for another year of strong growth in 2016. But risks are starting to build, and policymakers... 24th March 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack EM markets bounce back strongly The last month has seen EM financial markets recover from their poor start to 2016. Our Synthetic EM Exchange Rate Index has rallied to its strongest level since November. Almost all EM currencies... 23rd March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Fiscal policy to take lead over monetary policy in supporting growth The Bank of Thailand (BoT) unsurprisingly kept its policy rate unchanged at 1.50% today. With the government stepping up efforts to support growth, we expect rates to be left on hold throughout 2016. 23rd March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Central bank in the Philippines in no rush to adjust rates With the economy steadily gaining momentum but inflation very low, today’s decision by the central bank of the Philippines (BSP) to keep its key policy rate on hold at 4.0% came as no surprise... 23rd March 2016 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Stars align for another modest rate cut Developments over the past month have paved the way for the Reserve Bank of India to deliver another modest interest rate cut in its April meeting. For a start, the finance ministry pledged to... 23rd March 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update External position continues to strengthen The narrowing in India's current account deficit in Q4 2015, along with the pick-up in foreign direct investment inflows, supports our view that the country's external position will remain far less a... 22nd March 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Markets regain their poise India's financial markets have rallied over the past couple of weeks following a terrible start to the year. The rupee has strengthened, while local equities have made significant gains. Meanwhile... 21st March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore housing: a bubble deflated Property prices in Singapore have fallen for ten consecutive quarters and we expect the slide to continue. The gradual deflation of what had looked like a potential housing bubble has left the economy... 18th March 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Investment activity showing tentative signs of improvement The government’s plans to boost capital expenditure should help sustain the recent tentative pick-up in investment activity. But slow movement on the reform front means that a spectacular rebound is... 18th March 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Financial Risk Monitor Recent improvement in EM sentiment backed by fundamentals The risk of a systemic EM financial crisis remains low. Our CERI suggests that financial vulnerabilities across the emerging world are much smaller now than at the time of previous crises and have... 17th March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia cuts again, easing cycle nearing end A rebounding currency, subdued economic growth and inflation, and the Fed’s dovishness yesterday all fed into Bank Indonesia’s decision to cut its main policy rate for the third time in as many months... 17th March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update What’s gone wrong in Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka’s request for an IMF loan should ease fears about a potential balance of payments crisis, but the mistakes that put the country in this position will need to be addressed. Most importantly... 16th March 2016 · 1 min read
