Julie Nicol

Julie Nicol is the Office Administrator in Singapore, working closely with the London office as well as providing support to the local sales team.

Japan Data Response

Consumer Confidence (May)

Today’s consumer confidence survey suggests that wage and employment growth will slow. Still, sentiment edged up marginally in May and points to a rebound in consumer spending.

30th May 2018 1 min read

Japan Data Response

Retail Sales (Apr.)

The jump in retail sales in April suggests that consumer spending started to expand again in the current quarter. The weakness at the start of the year implies that private consumption won’t grow by...

30th May 2018 1 min read

Asia Economics Update

Malaysia’s mega-projects could be up for the chop

There is growing speculation that Malaysia’s new prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, will cancel some of the huge Chinese-backed infrastructure projects approved by his predecessor. Given Malaysia’s...

28th May 2018 1 min read

Japan Economics Weekly

Will ageing result in a surge in the budget deficit?

New projections suggest that social security spending could rise by 8% of GDP by 2040. The government has already increased social security contributions in recent years and there is some scope to...

25th May 2018 1 min read

India Economics Update

Bankruptcy code finding its feet

After a few teething problems in its early stages, India’s new bankruptcy code is now making a significant difference to the speed at which bankruptcy cases are resolved and the amount that creditors...

25th May 2018 1 min read

Japan Data Response

Tokyo CPI (May)

The continued moderation in inflation in the capital region underlines that the Bank of Japan won’t be able to tighten monetary policy anytime soon.

25th May 2018 1 min read

Asia Economics Update

Korea: July rate hike looks unlikely

The Bank of Korea (BoK) kept its policy rate on hold at 1.50% today, as expected, and there was nothing in the accompanying statement or the governor’s press conference that suggest the BoK will...

24th May 2018 1 min read

Asia Data Response

Singapore GDP (Q1 Revised)

The revised estimate of Singapore’s Q1 GDP showed that the economy started 2018 on a better note than previously thought. However, a gradual slowdown in global growth and a tightening of domestic...

24th May 2018 1 min read

India Chart Pack

BJP still in strong position despite Karnataka setback

The BJP’s failure to form a coalition despite winning by far the most seats in the Karnataka state election is a setback for the ruling national party, with the main opposition Congress and the local...

23rd May 2018 1 min read

China Activity Monitor

Economy accelerates as pollution crackdown ends

Our China Activity Proxy (CAP) suggests that economic growth accelerated in April to a seven-month high as the government’s winter pollution crackdown ended. We think this mini rebound has now run its...

23rd May 2018 1 min read

Japan Data Response

Flash Manufacturing PMI (May)

Even though the manufacturing PMI fell to a fresh low in May, we still think that the economy returned to growth this quarter. Meanwhile, the recent strength in crude oil prices is boosting price...

23rd May 2018 1 min read

India Economics Update

No need to panic about the rupee

The slide in the rupee since the start of the year has raised concerns in some quarters over a repeat of the “Taper Tantrum”, which began five years ago today. But this seems unlikely. The external...

22nd May 2018 1 min read

Japan Data Response

External Trade (Apr.)

Some of the rebound in trade values in April reflects higher export and import prices. The key point though is that export volumes continue to outpace import volumes.

21st May 2018 1 min read

Japan Economics Update

What do higher energy prices mean for Japan?

The recent jump in crude oil prices will give a significant lift to inflation in Japan, taking it somewhat closer to the Bank of Japan’s target, but only for a short while. For a large net energy...

18th May 2018 1 min read

Japan Data Response

Consumer Prices (Apr.)

Most of the slowdown in inflation in April was driven by volatile fresh food prices. But the moderation in underlying inflation underlines that the Bank of Japan’s 2% inflation target remains out of...

18th May 2018 1 min read

Asia Data Response

Malaysia GDP (Q1)

While today’s figures show that the new government inherits an economy in decent health, the scrapping of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and campaign pledges to review Chinese investment have made...

17th May 2018 1 min read