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.

RBNZ Watch

New Zealand - Markets slowly getting the “no rate hike” message

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand will probably strike a dovish tone after leaving interest rates on hold at 1.75% at the policy meeting on Thursday 10th August, partly due to the softer economic news...

3rd August 2017 1 min read

Australia & New Zealand Data Response

International Trade (Jun.)

The fall in the trade surplus from a record high of $4.6bn in December to just $0.9bn in June is not a disaster as a lot of it is due to lower prices rather than lower export volumes. But the recent...

3rd August 2017 1 min read

Asia Economics Update

Sri Lankan rates on hold, further hikes this year unlikely

Sri Lanka’s central bank left interest rates on hold today, and the less hawkish tone of the statement suggests that its tightening cycle may now be at an end. We now expect rates to be left on hold...

3rd August 2017 1 min read

Japan Data Response

Consumer Confidence (Jul.)

Consumer confidence rebounded in July and suggests that private consumption will continue to recover.

2nd August 2017 1 min read

India Data Response

Manufacturing PMI (Jul.)

July’s PMI reading suggests that India’s manufacturing sector weakened at the start of Q3 amid the near-term disruption caused by the rollout of the long-awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST).

1st August 2017 1 min read

Asia Data Response

Manufacturing PMIs (Jul.)

Emerging Asia’s PMIs for July suggest the region’s manufacturing sectors started Q3 on a subdued note. Focussing on the two economies where the PMIs most closely track the hard data, Taiwan’s...

1st August 2017 1 min read

China Data Response

Caixin Manufacturing PMI (Jul.)

Yesterday’s official PMI reading had hinted at a softer start to Q3. But today’s unofficial PMI suggests that manufacturing activity has held up better than previously thought and points to a pick-up...

1st August 2017 1 min read

China Data Response

Official PMIs (Jul.)

The latest official PMI readings suggest that China’s growth momentum may have waned at the start of Q3 as foreign demand cooled.

31st July 2017 1 min read

Australia & New Zealand Chart Pack

Jobs growth switches from soft to soaring

After a soft patch at the beginning of this year, jobs growth has soared in Australia in recent months. What’s more, of the net new 154,000 jobs that have been created since March all of them have...

31st July 2017 1 min read

Japan Data Response

Industrial Production (Jun.)

Industrial production rose by nearly 2% last quarter which suggests that GDP growth accelerated. The outlook for the third quarter is positive.

31st July 2017 1 min read

Japan Economics Weekly

Could Abenomics survive the departure of PM Abe?

Abenomics appeared to run out of momentum well before a recent slump in Prime Minister Abe’s popularity put his political future in doubt. In particular, his departure would matter little for...

28th July 2017 1 min read

Japan Data Response

Consumer Spending, Labour Market & Inflation (Jun.)

The rebound in retail sales and “core” household spending in June suggests that consumer spending rose at a solid pace last quarter. Meanwhile, inflation remains very low despite the continued...

28th July 2017 1 min read

Asia Data Response

Korea GDP (Q2 Preliminary)

Korea’s economy slowed a touch in Q2, but remained in decent shape. Looking ahead, we expect growth to remain fairly strong over the next year or so, helped by buoyant global demand and strong...

27th July 2017 1 min read

India Economics Update

A closer look at the services sector

India’s GDP data for Q2 are due to be released at the end of August. We, and many others, remain sceptical about the accuracy of the national accounts data, making it important to track alternative...

26th July 2017 1 min read

Japan Data Response

Small Business Confidence (Jul.)

Small business confidence was little changed in July and still points to solid gains in industrial production. But even though firms continue to report severe staff shortages, the survey suggests that...

26th July 2017 1 min read

Bank of Japan Watch

Lower inflation forecasts to underline case for loose policy

The Bank of Japan will probably upgrade its assessment of the health of the economy at the upcoming meeting. But downward revisions to the Board’s inflation forecasts will underline that policy...

17th July 2017 1 min read