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
Asia Chart Pack Indonesia: current account shift reduces external risks Indonesia has seen a dramatic shift in its current account position over the past year, with recently published data showing that the country recorded its second consecutive quarterly surplus in the... 24th February 2021 · 14 mins read
Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack Reasons for cautious optimism While the mood in EM financial markets has soured a little of late, from an economic standpoint, the past month has brought several positive developments. First, Q4 GDP data released so far have... 23rd February 2021 · 11 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 Korea Trade (1st – 20th Feb.) Korean exports are performing very strongly so far this month, even accounting for the seasonal distortions from the Lunar New Year. This strength is likely to continue in the short term at least, as... 22nd February 2021 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Update Singapore to keep fiscal taps running Singapore today unveiled a budget that will keep fiscal policy loose for the coming fiscal year (April 2021-March 2022), while also attempting to address some of the long-term challenges facing the... 16th February 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Data Response Singapore GDP (Q4, Revised) Revised Q4 GDP data show that Singapore’s economy rebounded more strongly than first thought at the end of 2020. Buoyant global demand for electronics and pharmaceuticals and strong fiscal support... 15th February 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Philippines: central bank has not finished easing yet The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) left its main policy rate on hold at 2.00% today, and while rising inflation means further easing isn’t likely in the near term, we still expect the central... 11th February 2021 · 2 mins read
Asia Data Response Malaysia GDP (Q4. 2020) Malaysia’s economy shrank in Q4 due to a large second wave of the virus and is likely to have contracted much more sharply at the start of 2021. The economy should soon begin to recover again now that... 11th February 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Data Response Philippines CPI (Jan.) Inflation broke through the upper boundary of the central Bank’s target range for the first time in two years in January and is likely to lead the Bank to pause its easing cycle. But with price... 5th February 2021 · 2 mins read
Asia Data Response Korea Trade (Jan.) Korean exports remain elevated at the start of this year, buoyed by shipments of electronics and autos. While some of this strength may fade later in the year, Korea’s external sector is still set for... 1st February 2021 · 2 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 Philippines GDP (Q4) The Philippines saw another lacklustre rebound in GDP in Q4 and big improvements will be hard to come by in the quarters ahead. Output is unlikely to regain its pre-crisis level until the end of 2021. 28th January 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Chart Pack Further rate cuts likely despite rising inflation Headline inflation has crept higher in most countries across Emerging Asia over the past few months and looks set to rise sharply over the first half of this year due to a rebound in energy price... 27th January 2021 · 14 mins read
