RBI Watch Finance Ministry puts ball back into Governor Rajan's court Signs of continued economic slack and the weakness of inflation are key reasons for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to resume its rate-cutting cycle in its upcoming policy review on 2 nd June. One... 26th May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Singapore GDP (Q1 Revised) Singapore’s economy grew faster than previously estimated in Q1, helped by a surge in construction activity. A pick-up in global growth after a weak start to the year should support Singapore’s... 26th May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Is Pakistan repeating the same old mistakes? The aggressive series of rate cuts by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) over the last six months suggests that it may, once again, have become too complacent over the medium-term inflation outlook. 25th May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Focus Is a household debt crisis brewing in Korea? The sharp rise in household credit growth in recent months has exacerbated fears about Korea’s already-high household debt level. While financial stability risks should remain contained in the near... 25th May 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack Q1 GDP data confirm EM downturn Most emerging economies have made a weak start to the year. The Q1 GDP data released so far point to a slowdown in aggregate EM economic growth and early activity data for April suggest that this has... 22nd May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Chinese tourists to the rescue? A surge in spending by Chinese tourists across Emerging Asia is helping to compensate for a fall in the region’s goods exports to China. Spending by Chinese tourists should continue to grow at a rapid... 22nd May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia in no rush to cut rates despite low inflation Inflation in Malaysia looks set to remain low despite the introduction of a 6% Goods and Service Tax (GST), which came into force at the start of April. Although subdued inflation will give the... 22nd May 2015 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Modi's first year: sparks but no fireworks As Prime Minister Modi's first year in office draws to a close, our view that the economic reform agenda would fall short of (at times frenzied) expectations appears to have been proved correct for... 22nd May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thailand one year on from the coup One year on from the military coup in Thailand, political order has been restored and the economy has returned to growth. But with the country no closer to a lasting solution to its long-running... 21st May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Focus Remittances to help keep the Philippines out of the firing line One of the reasons for our positive view on the Philippines is the important role that remittances play in the economy. Not only do remittances provide a useful support to economic growth but, by... 21st May 2015 · 1 min read
Frontier Markets Wrap Low oil prices a challenge for key frontier markets Despite a recent rebound, low oil prices are posing a challenge for many frontier markets. Low oilprices were one factor that led the IMF to cut its 2015 growth forecast for Sub-Saharan Africa, andwe... 20th May 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Equities retreat on domestic concerns India’s financial markets have struggled relative to their emerging market peers over the past few weeks, with the rupee weakening, bond yields edging up and the equity rally losing steam. These moves... 20th May 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor EM exports raise questions over global demand Several factors help explain why the dollar value of exports from emerging markets fell sharply in March, including lower commodity prices, the strength of the US dollar and distortions in China’s... 19th May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rate cuts before year-end likely in Indonesia Bank Indonesia (BI) today left its main policy rate on hold at 7.50%, but relaxed macro prudential policy in a bid to support the weak economy. We expect interest rates to be eased later in the year... 19th May 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Two years after the taper tantrum: how does India fare now? Two years ago this month the rupee entered a prolonged plunge against the US dollar amid the “taper tantrum”, eventually falling to an all-time low. But in the event of external financing conditions... 18th May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Thailand GDP (Q1) The pick-up in Thailand's growth in Q1 was exaggerated by a low base in the first quarter of 2014, when growth contracted and political unrest was at its peak. With the economy facing headwinds such... 18th May 2015 · 1 min read
