Asia Economics Update Malaysia’s rate pause to continue through 2015 The Malaysian central bank (BNM) kept its policy rate on hold at 3.25% today. The key uncertainty in the months ahead is how spending reacts to April’s tax hike. As things stand though, we expect... 7th May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Vietnam’s dong devaluation not about export competitiveness Today’s 1% devaluation of the dong by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) is unlikely to provide much of a boost to exports, as some have suggested. Looking ahead, we are only expecting minor adjustments... 7th May 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Reserve Bank on course to meet 2016 inflation target Inflation is likely to have remained subdued by past standards in April, with a small pick-up in transport inflation being offset by muted food and core price pressures. The big picture is that the... 7th May 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update EM manufacturing weakens further as BRICs struggle Manufacturers across the emerging world appear to have continued to struggle in April, according to the latest PMI data. The slowdown was driven by weakness in the larger BRIC economies. Meanwhile... 5th May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Indonesia GDP (Q1) Indonesia’s economy slowed again in the first quarter, underlining the challenge faced by the country’s new president and adding to the case for further rate cuts. Although we doubt growth will slow... 5th May 2015 · 1 min read
India Data Response Manufacturing PMI (Apr.) India’s manufacturing PMI dropped in April, underpinning the difficulties facing the sector. Looking ahead, with progress on creating a favourable business environment remaining slow, a boom in... 4th May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Apr.) The PMIs for Emerging Asia in April were generally disappointing. In the two economies where the PMIs most closely track the hard data, manufacturing output now appears to be contracting. 4th May 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Activity Monitor EM growth sinks below 4% Our GDP Tracker suggests that EM growth has dropped below 4% y/y for the first time since the global financial crisis, and only the second time in almost 15 years. What’s more, with China’s slowdown... 1st May 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Rupee weakness unlikely to concern policymakers The rupee was one of the worst performing EM currencies against the US dollar in April, but we doubt that this will cause panic among India’s policymakers. Over a longer time horizon the rupee remains... 30th April 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asian currencies regain lost ground Most currencies in Emerging Asia recovered some ground against the US dollar in April as investors pushed back their expectations for rate hikes in the US. Equity markets also started the month... 30th April 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly How fragile is Malaysia? Given that Malaysia is Emerging Asia’s largest net energy exporter it is no surprise that the ringgit has been the region’s worst performing currency over the last nine months. Now that oil prices... 30th April 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Investment activity tentatively bouncing back The government’s plans to boost capital expenditure, along with looser monetary policy, should help to support the recent pick-up in investment activity over the coming months. But continued... 30th April 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Taiwan GDP (Q1) Growth in Taiwan held up well in the first quarter, despite the recent slowdown in global growth. What's more, the economy looks set for a pick-up during the rest of the year, particularly since the... 30th April 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Steady core inflation indication of a structural EM slowdown Most of the recent slowdown in inflation across the emerging world has been the result of the weakness in food and fuel inflation. Meanwhile, core inflation is barely any lower than a couple of years... 29th April 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Slow out of the blocks Emerging Asia has made a weak start to the year. The headlines have been grabbed by China's slowdown but, a few positive signs from India aside, there has been little cause for cheer around the rest... 29th April 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Thailand to adopt wait-and-see stance Against a backdrop of weak growth, negative inflation and government pressure for further easing, the Bank of Thailand (BoT) cut its policy rate by 25 basis points for the second straight meeting... 29th April 2015 · 1 min read
