Asia Chart Pack Locking down The economic outlook for much of Emerging Asia has deteriorated in recent weeks in response to a sudden jump in COVID-19 infections. Daily cases are surging in Thailand and Malaysia, and while the... 26th May 2021 · 14 mins read
Asia Data Response Singapore GDP (Q1, Revised) Revised Q1 GDP data show that Singapore’s economy grew more strongly than first thought at the start of 2021. While a resurgence in virus cases is likely to drag on GDP this quarter, this headwind... 25th May 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Exports continuing to boom as Asia shuts down Asian exports reached another record high last month. Strong demand for electronics, especially semiconductors, has been the key factor driving demand higher. But exports of other items, including... 21st May 2021 · 7 mins read
Asia Data Response Korea Trade (1st – 20th May) Korean export values are likely to surge to an all-time high this month. A buoyant external sector looks set to prop up GDP again this quarter. 21st May 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Learning to live with lockdowns Social distancing and the imposition of new restrictions in response to a surge in infections are weighing on economic activity across the region. But with manufacturing and construction sites... 20th May 2021 · 3 mins read
India Data Response Wholesale Prices (Apr.) The surge in Indian wholesale price inflation in April was driven in large part by the rally in commodity prices, which we think will reverse over the coming months. That should allow the RBI to keep... 17th May 2021 · 2 mins read
India Economics Update Trade shows resilience amid virus restrictions Goods trade data for April add to evidence from elsewhere that that the new round of virus restrictions has not been as economically disruptive as the national lockdown last year. 17th May 2021 · 2 mins read
Asia Data Response Thailand GDP (Q1) Thailand’s GDP inched up in Q1, despite a renewed outbreak of the virus. But output is unlikely to hold up this quarter. We expect the economy to shrink sharply as a further surge in new COVID-19... 17th May 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore lockdown, improvement in Korea Singapore has announced several tough new measures to contain a sudden jump in COVID-19 infections. The restrictions will cause economic activity to drop in the near term, but the falls should be... 14th May 2021 · 5 mins read
India Economics Weekly Slowdown in vaccine rollout casts a dark cloud New virus cases in India remain extremely high, but there have at least been some encouraging signs this week that the current wave is close to peaking. However, lacklustre progress with the... 14th May 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Philippines: rate cuts likely in H2 The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) left its main policy rate on hold at 2.00% today, and while a temporary rise in inflation means interest rates are set to remain unchanged for the next few... 12th May 2021 · 3 mins read
China Economics Update China’s census: the good, the bad and the ugly After a month-long delay, the key results from China’s once-a-decade census were published today. They weren’t as bad earlier media reports had suggested – the population continued to rise at much the... 11th May 2021 · 4 mins read
Asia Data Response Malaysia GDP (Q1) Malaysia's economy saw an export-driven rebound of 2.7% q/q in Q1, despite a partial lockdown midway through the quarter. But a resurgence in virus cases and the recent reimposition of containment... 11th May 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Data Response Philippines GDP (Q1) The Philippines economy barely improved in Q1 and the reimposition of strict containment measures is likely to see output shrink this quarter. 11th May 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Forecast cut in Thailand, spill-overs from India The outlook for Thailand’s economy has gone from bad to worse, with a sudden jump in COVID-19 cases leading to the introduction of new virus restrictions. We are cutting our forecast for Thai GDP... 7th May 2021 · 7 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank Negara Malaysia set to remain on hold The fact that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left its policy rate on hold at 1.75% today despite the worsening economic outlook means any further loosening is unlikely. But with the recovery set to be... 6th May 2021 · 3 mins read
