Asia Economics Focus Taiwan in the cross hairs Ongoing disruption to global auto production has highlighted the extent to which semiconductors have become an essential input in products that aren’t traditionally considered electronics and also how... 13th April 2021 · 12 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 Economics Update Taiwan: no rush to hike rates despite rapid recovery Taiwan’s central bank appears in little hurry to raise interest rates despite the strong performance of the economy, and today’s decision to leave the policy rate unchanged at 1.125% came as no... 18th March 2021 · 3 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 Economics Update Is the slow vaccine rollout a cause for concern? Asia’s vaccine rollout has got off to a slow start. This is not a big concern in countries that have contained the virus and where social distancing is not a drag on growth such as Taiwan and China... 23rd February 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Jan.) PMI readings for Asia suggest that manufacturing sectors improved further in most places. Buoyant global demand for electronics should continue to support the sector for at least the next few months. 1st February 2021 · 2 mins read
Asia Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Nov.) PMI readings for Asia suggest that manufacturing conditions improved significantly in November. Buoyant global demand for electronics should continue to support the sector over the coming months. 1st December 2020 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Update How might the US election impact Asia? With the US election result unlikely to have immediate ramifications for US GDP, the main issue for much of Asia is how it affects trade policy. A Joe Biden presidency would be less confrontational... 21st October 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Data Response Korea and Taiwan Manufacturing PMIs (Sep.) PMI readings for Korea and Taiwan suggest industry in both countries picked up momentum last month, and we expect output to continue growing in the months ahead on the back of strong exports. 5th October 2020 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Update Taiwan and Vietnam: outperformance continues Continued trade tensions between the US and China are providing a significant boost to economic prospects in Taiwan and Vietnam. Having also successfully contained the virus without significant... 25th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Taiwan policy rate set for an extended hold With the economy holding up relatively well, the decision by Taiwan’s central bank (CBC) to leave interest rates on hold came as no surprise. Further rate cuts are unlikely, and we expect interest... 17th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Chart Pack Second wave unlikely to completely derail recoveries Having been among the fastest in the world at controlling the initial outbreak, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Korea are all at different stages of a second wave of infections. With new infections in Hong... 26th August 2020 · 14 mins read
Asia Data Response Taiwan GDP (Q2) The 0.7% y/y drop in GDP last quarter was Taiwan’s worst performance since the Global Financial Crisis, but it still represents an unusually strong performance given what’s happening in the rest of... 31st July 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Will Asia benefit from China’s strong rebound? China’s rapid economic recovery from the Global Financial Crisis did not play as big a role as is commonly assumed in supporting growth in the rest of Asia. We doubt a strong rebound in China from the... 24th July 2020 · 4 mins read