Asia Economics Update What to make of Singapore's negative interest rates? Singapore’s short-term swap offer rates (SOR) turned negative last week, prompting questions as to whether this amounts to an implicit policy easing. We think not. The negative short-term SOR is... 17th August 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Emerging Asia PMIs fall sharply Purchasing Manager Indices (PMIs) released over the past two days for India, Taiwan, Australia and Singapore all worsened considerably. Manufacturing across Asia is likely to remain subdued for the... 3rd August 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update High inflation in Singapore will not bring more MAS tightening The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) revised up its 2011 inflation forecast last week while data out today show that inflation rose in June. Nonetheless, talk of runaway price pressures looks... 26th July 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Interest rates to rise in the Philippines The Philippines’ central bank (BSP) will announce its latest policy decision on Thursday. As with elsewhere in the region, the BSP faces a dilemma as it looks to keep inflationary pressures under... 26th July 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Global risks may delay policy tightening Inflation remains a concern across most of the region. Central banks in Taiwan and Thailand have hiked their policy rates in recent weeks, while the central bank in Malaysia increased its reserve... 22nd July 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Singapore’s economic weakness will be short-lived Singapore’s advance estimate of GDP in the second quarter shows that the economy contracted due to weakness in the manufacturing sector. However, the expansion should resume in the second half of this... 15th July 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore’s growth to improve later this year Singapore’s latest GDP figures will be released on Thursday and are likely to show that the economy contracted in the second quarter. However, this should be seen in the context of strong growth... 12th July 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook End of Asia’s policy tightening in sight Policy rates across Emerging Asia are likely to rise further towards pre-crisis levels in the coming months. However,tightening cycles should end next year with rates below their 2008 peaks. Most... 1st July 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore's economy set for a soft landing Singapore’s small, open economy is susceptible to weakening global conditions, but we believe that growth will prove to be resilient this year. Strengthening domestic demand and intraregional links... 21st June 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore's economy set for a soft landing Singapore’s small, open economy is susceptible to weakening global conditions, but we believe that growth will prove to be resilient this year. Strengthening domestic demand and intraregional links... 21st June 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Singapore's central bank done with policy tightening in 2011 The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) tightened policy today by re-centring its exchange rate target band at a higher level. Q1 GDP figures, also released today, were very strong and show that... 14th April 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore set for more policy tightening Singapore’s GDP growth probably remained strong in Q1, keeping overheating as the main policy concern. With headline inflation remaining well above the central bank’s 3-4% target range, and wages... 11th April 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook Set for above-trend growth GDP growth across Emerging Asia has slowed, but is likely to pick up again soon. Domestic demand, trade between the emerging markets, as well as policy flexibility, will cushion the downside... 22nd February 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Singapore to focus on tackling inflation Q4 GDP figures were revised lower today, as expected, but the economy nonetheless grew by a spectacular 14.5% in 2010 as a whole. GDP growth is likely to be robust this year and will increase the... 17th February 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore's upswing will stay in good shape Singapore announces its latest budget on Thursday, and we anticipate that the key measures will include supports for low-income groups to cope with higher food and fuel prices. In addition, the budget... 14th February 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Singapore on course to tighten policy further Q4 employment data for Singapore, published yesterday, were strong. What’s more, the 2011 budget due in mid-February will probably focus on handouts to low-income groups, measures to lift productivity... 1st February 2011 · 1 min read