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 Economics Weekly Strong Q1 for Korea, tourism reopening plans The recent activity data point to an acceleration in Korean GDP growth in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Indonesia and Thailand have announced plans to accelerate the reopening of their tourism sectors... 1st April 2021 · 5 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 Chart Pack Situation in the Philippines looking increasingly dire The economic outlook in the Philippines has gone from bad to worse over the past month. The main headwind is a renewed surge in virus infections, with the country now reporting around 10,000 new cases... 31st March 2021 · 13 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore loosens restrictions, new markets forecasts Singapore announced a further loosening of containment measures this week but given that social distancing is no longer a major drag on the economy, they are unlikely to provide much of a boost to the... 26th March 2021 · 7 mins read
Asia Economics Update Philippines: BSP to resume easing cycle later in the year The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) left its main policy rate on hold at 2.00% today, and while a temporary rise in inflation means interest rates are set to remain on hold for the next few... 25th 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 Economics Weekly Korea labour market improves, BSP dilemma The sharp drop in Korean unemployment last month suggests that the economy is bouncing back following a fall in COVID-19 infections and the easing of containment measures. Following GDP growth of 1.2%... 19th March 2021 · 7 mins read
Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack Taper tantrum fears return EM financial markets have been hit this month by the rise in US Treasury yields, which has re-ignited some concerns about a re-run of the Taper Tantrum. So far, capital outflows from EMs have been... 16th March 2021 · 11 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Philippines outlook worsens, Taiwan in the dock We are lowering our 2021 GDP growth forecast for the Philippines due to the worsening virus situation and the recent deterioration in the economic data. A rapid increase in foreign currency... 12th March 2021 · 6 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 Economics Update Bank Negara Malaysia set to remain on hold Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left its main policy rate on hold at 1.75% today, and we have taken out the cut we had pencilled in for this year. However, with the economic recovery likely to be slow... 4th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Sri Lanka: monetary easing will depend on currency The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) left policy on hold today amid continued volatility in global financial markets. Given the poor outlook for the economy, the CBSL will want to resume its easing... 4th March 2021 · 3 mins read
