Asia Economics Update Korea will probably start to tighten in Q3 The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its policy rate at 2.0% today, as expected. The turmoil in the markets and the European debt crisis weighed heavily in the decision to stay on hold. However, the local... 10th June 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Bank of Korea to hike soon, but not this month Korea’s central bank meets on Thursday and is likely to keep its policy rate on hold. The Bank of Korea (BoK) will probably wait for market volatility, stemming from an escalation in tensions with... 7th June 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook Asia to keep going its own way (Q2 10) We expect the world recovery will lose momentum in 2010-11 but do not anticipate that the recent turmoil in the markets will derail the global upswing. The implication for Asia is that the regional... 27th May 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea laying ground work for tightening The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its policy rate at 2.0% today, as expected. The economy is picking up strongly and inflation pressures are rising. However, BoK Governor Kim is sympathetic to the... 12th May 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Fiscal frontloading lifts Korean growth Korea’s GDP accelerated in Q1 and growth is set to stay high in Q2. Inflation pressures should rise during the course of the year and the risk is that the Bank of Korea continues to move slowly and... 27th April 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korea’s labour market strengthens Bank of Korea (BoK) Governor Kim shares the government view that policy rate rises should be delayed until the labour market improves significantly. The large employment gain in March, reported today... 14th April 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update New Bank of Korea Governor in no hurry to hike The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its policy rate at 2.00% today, as expected. New BoK Governor Kim is sympathetic to the government view that monetary tightening can be delayed, while imminent elections... 9th April 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Politics will stay in the way of Korea rate hikes The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its policy rate at 2.00% today, as expected. BoK Governor Lee’s term ends this month and his replacement is likely to be sympathetic to the government view that monetary... 11th March 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook Upswings to stay impressive for a while (Q1 10) The trade-dependent economies will eventually see slower GDP growth later this year and in 2011 as the global upswing loses momentum. But Asia’s rebound will not come to a complete halt and growth, by... 19th February 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Markets too aggressive on Korea hikes to come The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its policy rate at 2.00% today, as expected. Political pressures to hold off monetary tightening have intensified and we now expect the first increase to be delayed until... 11th February 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korea's slowdown will be temporary Q4 GDP published overnight in Korea showed that growth eased to 0.2% q/q due to weaker exports and government spending. But the slowdown was inevitable after very strong GDP gains in Q2 and Q3. The... 26th January 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea signals policy rate will move up soon The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its policy rate at 2.00% today, as expected. More importantly, the Governor’s press conference commentary was hawkish and suggests that an interest rate hike is not far... 10th December 2009 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook Decoupling is back (Q4 09) We expect the upswing in emerging Asia to stay relatively strong in coming quarters. The more trade-dependent economies will be held back by the long drawn-out recoveries that are likely in the US and... 24th November 2009 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Markets too aggressive on Korean rate hikes to come The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its policy rate at 2.00% today. We believe the economic upswing is well established and that the political pressures on the BoK to hold rates low will probably ease early... 12th November 2009 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korean economy still strong in early Q4 October data released over the last few days show that Korea’s economy retained much of its momentum going into Q4. Capacity use is back at pre-crisis levels and house prices are still rising. The... 2nd November 2009 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korea’s strong recovery points to November policy rate hike Korea’s Q3 GDP, published overnight, surprised on the upside yet again. The economy is unlikely to grow so strongly in coming quarters but continued recovery is not in doubt. The Bank of Korea’s... 26th October 2009 · 1 min read
