Emerging Asia Economics Update Hawkish BoK, but early cuts still possible The Bank of Korea today left interest rates unchanged (3.5%) for a third consecutive meeting, and pushed back against the possibility of early interest rate cuts. However, with inflation falling back... 25th May 2023 · 3 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update Singapore set to struggle in 2023 Singapore’s economy is being hit hard by multi-decade high interest rates and elevated inflation. And with external demand set to weaken, we expect growth to be much weaker than consensus projections... 25th May 2023 · 3 mins read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Takeaways from our EM roundtables Over the past couple of weeks we have held a series of roundtable discussions with clients across Asia and North America on the outlook for EMs. In this Update we provide our thoughts on the recurring... 19th May 2023 · 6 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update Philippines: an end to the tightening cycle The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) today left interest rates unchanged (at 6.25%) but stated it was ready to resume its tightening cycle later in the year. However, with inflation falling back... 18th May 2023 · 3 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update How big are the risks from Korea’s property downturn? A sharp rise in Korean interest rates over the past 18 months is leading to a steep downturn in the property market. Encouragingly, the banking sector looks well placed to cope, but the broader... 17th May 2023 · 3 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update Five key questions (and answers) on the Thai election Thailand’s general election has delivered a massive victory for the main opposition parties, but this may not be enough to allow them to form the next government. This Update answers five key... 15th May 2023 · 3 mins read
Emerging Markets Economics Update How feasible is a BRICS currency? The idea of a new BRICS currency to settle trade or hold in reserves instead of the dollar has been doing the rounds recently. This could be modelled on the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights. But getting... 4th May 2023 · 6 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update Malaysia: Surprise hike, but further tightening unlikely Malaysia’s central bank (BNM) unexpectedly raised its main policy rate (OPR) today by 25bps (to 3.0%), citing the resilient economy as grounds to “further normalise the degree of monetary... 3rd May 2023 · 3 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update Indonesia: rates on hold for the rest of the year Bank Indonesia (BI) today left interest rates unchanged (at 5.75%), and appeared to signal that further rate increases this year were unlikely. With inflation falling and growth easing, we expect... 18th April 2023 · 2 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update MAS keeps policy settings on hold as economy contracts The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) kept policy on hold today and with the economy set to struggle and inflation likely to fall sharply over the coming quarters we expect today’s decision to... 14th April 2023 · 3 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update Korea: cuts coming sooner than consensus expects The Bank of Korea left interest rates unchanged (at 3.5%) for a second consecutive meeting today, and attempted to push back against expectations of a rate cut this year. But with the economy... 11th April 2023 · 3 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update Sri Lanka: rates to stay unchanged in 2023 Sri Lanka’s central bank (CBSL) left interest rates unchanged today and we expect rates to stay on hold for the rest of the year as policymakers look to strike a balance between clamping down on... 4th April 2023 · 2 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update Pakistan: end of the tightening cycle Pakistan’s central bank (SBP) today raised its policy rate by a further 100bps (to 21.0%), but the tone of the statement was less hawkish than after previous meetings. While interest rates will need... 4th April 2023 · 3 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update Vietnam: expected rate cut, but further easing likely now Vietnam’s central bank lowered its benchmark refinancing rate by 50bp, on Friday evening, citing the need to support the economy. The rate cut was in line with our forecast and we now think the... 3rd April 2023 · 3 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update Thailand: Further tightening unlikely The Bank of Thailand (BoT) raised its main policy rate today by 25bps, to 1.75%. While most analysts expect at least one more hike we think a sharp drop in inflation will allow the central bank to... 29th March 2023 · 3 mins read
Emerging Asia Economics Update Surprise hike in Taiwan, but cuts still likely in late 2023 In a surprise move, Taiwan’s central bank (CBC) today raised its main policy rate by 12.5bps (to 1.875%), but with the economy struggling badly and inflationary pressures set to ease further, we think... 23rd March 2023 · 3 mins read
