Asia Economics Update Malaysia’s central bank to resume easing soon Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left its main policy rate on hold at 1.75% today, but with the economy likely to remain weak for some time to come, we doubt this marks the end of the Bank’s easing cycle. 10th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Vietnam activity rebounding after latest virus scare The recent spike in coronavirus cases in Vietnam has had only a small negative impact on the economy. With the virus now seemingly under control again, Vietnam is still likely to be one of the few... 2nd September 2020 · 2 mins read
Asia Data Response Korea Trade (Aug.) Korean export values rose again in August and we expect a continued recovery in external demand to drive further small improvements in the months ahead. 1st September 2020 · 2 mins read
Asia Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Aug.) PMI readings suggest that manufacturing conditions generally improved in Asia last month, and we expect more gradual improvements as the external environment slowly recovers. 1st September 2020 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly QE is coming, tourist reopening pushed back The Bank of Korea this week hinted at further rate cuts and we expect it to also ramp up unconventional policy measures in the coming months. The Bank of Thailand is likely to follow suit – deflation... 28th August 2020 · 6 mins read
Asia Economics Update Second wave impacts to differ in Korea and Japan Both Korea and Japan are experiencing second waves, but a stronger shift in consumer behaviour in Korea means the outbreak there is likely to have a larger impact on growth. As such, we’ve revised... 27th August 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea indicates more loosening to come The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its policy rate on hold at 0.50% today but gave hints at the press conference that fresh rate cuts were on the table. We have pencilled in a cut in Q3 as a result and are... 27th August 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 Economics Weekly Korea second wave will weigh on the recovery A growing second wave of infections in Korea is set to weigh on the recovery there. While new restrictions to contain the virus have been light, there is evidence that businesses and individuals have... 21st August 2020 · 6 mins read
Asia Data Response Korea Trade (1st – 20th Aug.) While exports dropped back a little in the first 20 days of August, we suspect this was mainly due to the impact of widespread flooding at the start of the month. Looking at the data more recently... 21st August 2020 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Update Philippines: more rate cuts coming after “prudent pause” The central bank of the Philippines (BSP) left its main policy rate on hold at 2.25% today, but with the pandemic weighing heavily on the economy, we doubt the Bank has finished easing. 20th August 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update More cuts coming in Sri Lanka The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) left both its deposit and lending rates on hold at 4.50% and 5.50% respectively at its meeting today, but given the poor outlook for the economy and mounting... 20th August 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia to resume easing soon Bank Indonesia’s (BI) decision to leave interest rates unchanged at 4.0% suggests that it is waiting to see if the recent stabilisation in the rupiah holds. Provided it does, we think further easing... 19th August 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Data Response Thailand GDP (Q2) The drop in Thai GDP last quarter was not as huge as some other economies in the region, but Thailand’s dependence on tourism will weigh on the recovery in the quarters ahead and means the economic... 17th August 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Data Response Malaysia GDP (Q2) Malaysia’s economy contracted by much more than we had expected in Q2, but monthly GDP data suggest that most of the slump had unwound by the end of the quarter. We think the economy will shrink by 5... 14th August 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Data Response Korea Trade (1st – 10th Aug.) The unexpected slump in Korean exports in the first 10 days of August could just be volatility in the data, but a reversal in the performance of exports to the US suggests the fall at least partially... 11th August 2020 · 2 mins read
