Asia Economics Update How useful is Malaysia's PMI? A new manufacturing PMI survey for Malaysia launched by Nikkei and Markit earlier this month appears to track the hard data reasonably well and points to a further slowdown in the manufacturing sector... 31st July 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Taiwan GDP (Q2) GDP growth in Taiwan slowed much more sharply than expected in the second quarter of the year, with the recent slump in export demand taking a heavy toll on the economy. However, there are reasons to... 31st July 2015 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Weak demand will push palm oil prices lower With huge soybean supplies likely to push down the price of soy oil, we expect demand for palm oil to remain weak. Combined with high stocks, we think the price of palm oil will fall further this year... 30th July 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asian currencies caught up in EM sell-off Asian currencies have been caught up in a general sell-off of EM assets this month, as interest rate hikes in the US have started to loom. Some currencies are now at or close to multi-year lows. That... 30th July 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Activity Monitor EM growth dragged down by Russia and Brazil EM growth slowed to its weakest pace since 2009 in May. But the aggregate data have been pulled down by problems in Russia and Brazil. In contrast, other parts of the EM world have seen a pick-up in... 30th July 2015 · 1 min read
RBI Watch New Financial Code risks damaging RBI independence The draft version of the government’s Financial Code, released last week, could have important implications for the functioning of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The adoption of a voting monetary... 30th July 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Bigger risks to growth in Malaysia than 1MDB scandal The controversy surrounding the state investment company, 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), has intensified in recent days after Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has been accused of taking money from... 29th July 2015 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Fed won’t spark EM sell-off today, but data may add to volatility We do not expect any fireworks in EM financial markets after today’s FOMC statement, but with policymakers likely to reiterate that the timing of “lift-off” will be data dependent our upbeat view on... 29th July 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update EM inflation set to rebound despite latest oil price fall The latest fall in global oil prices will not be enough to prevent a rise in EM inflation later this year. It is, however, another reason to think the rebound in inflation will be relatively benign... 28th July 2015 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Rupee weakness unlikely to concern policymakers The recent weakness of the rupee, which has fallen by more than 1.5% against the US dollar in the past couple of weeks, is unlikely to worry policymakers. For a start, the fall in the rupee is a... 28th July 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update No need to fret about recent currency declines Most EM currencies have fallen over the past month, with many now at or close to multi-year lows against the US dollar. For the majority of countries the economic impact of recent currency weakness is... 27th July 2015 · 1 min read
Frontier Markets Wrap Frontier currencies suffer Frontier market currencies are having a difficult time, with only three of the 31 currencies that we follow gaining ground against the US dollar over the past month. The biggest decline has been in... 27th July 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Taiwan-China trade agreements are not a big deal There is concern among some parts of Taiwan’s business community that a cooler stance toward China under the next government could hurt the economy. However, closer relations between China and Taiwan... 24th July 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Korea GDP (Q2 Preliminary) Korea's economy slowed sharply in the second quarter, reflecting the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). But with the worst of the MERS outbreak over, Korea's economy should recover... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Activity weak enough to justify another rate cut The alternative economic indicators that the Reserve Bank of India is now putting more weight on to assess the health of the economy still point to weakness. They will convince policymakers, we think... 23rd July 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack EM rate cutting cycle nearing an end So far in July, more EM central banks have hiked interest rates than have cut rates – the first time this has happened since December last year. We expect to see further policy rate cuts in a few more... 22nd July 2015 · 1 min read
