Asia Data Response

Korea GDP (Q1, provisional)

Korea’s economic recovery regained momentum in Q1, adding weight to our above-consensus growth forecast of 5% for 2021. Loose fiscal policy and strong export demand should continue to support the...

27th April 2021 · 3 mins read

Asia Data Response

Korea Trade (1st – 20th Apr.)

Korean export values look set to remain well above pre-crisis levels in April, and a buoyant external sector will continue to prop up GDP even as the virus weighs on domestic consumption.

21st April 2021 · 2 mins read

Asia Economics Update

Bank of Korea unlikely to alter policy this year

The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its main policy rate on hold at 0.50% today and given that the recovery still has some way to go, the BoK is likely to leave policy accommodative for the rest of 2021.

15th April 2021 · 3 mins read

Asia Data Response

Korea Trade (1st – 10th Apr.)

Korean export values dipped at the start of April, but we wouldn’t read too much into it – the 10-day data can be volatile and, in any case, exports remain well above their pre-crisis level.

12th April 2021 · 2 mins read

Asia Economics Weekly

Moon eclipsed, AstraZeneca uncertainty

Wednesday’s landslide defeat for President Moon’s Democratic Party (DP) in key mayoral elections in Korea suggest that it faces an uphill battle to retain the presidency in next year’s vote. Defeat...

9th April 2021 · 7 mins read

Asia Economics Update

Korea: time to worry about rising property prices?

Rapidly rising property prices have become a big political issue in Korea, but they don’t pose a significant threat to the economy.

6th April 2021 · 3 mins read

Asia Data Response

Manufacturing PMIs (Mar.)

March PMI readings suggest that manufacturing sectors improved further in most places in Asia. Global demand for electronics should continue to support the sector for the next few months.

1st April 2021 · 2 mins read

Asia Economics Update

Asian central banks in no rush to raise interest rates

Unlike in some emerging markets, central banks across Emerging Asia are in no rush to tighten monetary policy. External factors won’t compel policymakers to tighten, and with inflationary pressures...

30th March 2021 · 3 mins read

Asia Economics Update

What would a global return to normality mean for Asia?

As vaccines are rolled out across the world and restrictions on economic activity are removed, we expect global consumption patterns to return to something like normal. Electronics exporters, most...

22nd March 2021 · 3 mins read

Asia Data Response

Korea Trade (1st – 20th Mar.)

Korea’s external sector looks to have had its strongest quarter since 2018 and with semiconductor demand set to remain elevated in the short term, exports are likely to continue to provide an...

22nd March 2021 · 2 mins read

Asia Data Response

Korea Trade (1st – 10th Mar.)

Korean trade data suggest that the external sector will have its strongest quarter since 2018. With semiconductor demand set to remain elevated, at least in the short term, exports are likely to...

11th March 2021 · 2 mins read

Asia Economics Weekly

Korea’s latest fiscal stimulus, Philippines inflation

Korea today announced that it was stepping up its support for the economy with a new supplementary budget worth 15trn won (around 0.8% of GDP). Government spending this year is now set to be 3% higher...

5th March 2021 · 5 mins read

Asia Data Response

Manufacturing PMIs (Feb.)

February PMI readings suggest that manufacturing sectors improved further in most places in Asia. Global demand for electronics should continue to support the sector for at least the next few months.

2nd March 2021 · 2 mins read

Asia Data Response

Korea Trade (Feb. 2021)

Korean export values were close to a record high last month, and the external sector should provide another boost to GDP growth this quarter.

1st March 2021 · 2 mins read

Asia Economics Update

Bank of Korea set for extended hold

The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its main policy rate on hold at 0.50% today in a unanimous decision, and while further rate cuts are now very unlikely, we expect more intervention in the government bond...

25th February 2021 · 3 mins read