Asia Economics Update Interest rate cuts in the Philippines only a matter of time The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) left its policy rate on hold at 4.5% today, as expected. However, with inflation set to fall over the coming year, economic activity weak and fears... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Thailand to cut next year The Bank of Thailand (BoT) kept its one-day repo rate at 3.5% today, as expected. The BoT’s concerns are rightly shifting from tackling inflation to supporting growth. Most analysts predict that the... 20th October 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indian inflation stays high, despite slower growth Wholesale price inflation data for India, released today, suggest the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to go ahead and raise its repo rate by a further 25bp, to 8.5%, at its next rate-setting... 15th October 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update More policy loosening on the way in Singapore The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) loosened its policy settings today by targeting a slower pace of currency appreciation. Q3 GDP figures, also released today, show that the economy had little... 15th October 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korea’s central bank to cut next year The Bank of Korea (BoK) kept its base rate at 3.25% today, as expected. The BoK’s commentary suggests it still expects to resume rate increases once concerns over the outlook for the global economy... 14th October 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indonesia changes course on interest rates Bank Indonesia (BI) unexpectedly cut its reference rate by 25bp to 6.5% today. We expect difficult economic conditions in the developed economies and falling inflation in Indonesia to bring more... 12th October 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asia manufacturing weakens further September PMIs for Asia released over the past couple of days remained weak. Although Asia is relatively well-placed to withstand weaker global demand, the recent PMIs reinforce our view that Asian... 5th October 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia's central bank considers rate cuts The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held its cash rate at 4.75% today, as was widely anticipated. But given the shift in the tone of the RBA’s commentary and our recent downgrades to global growth... 5th October 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asia growth forecasts cut amid weak global outlook Owing to our recent downward revisions to growth in the US and euro-zone in 2011-12 we have cut our forecasts for growth across emerging Asia. However, in a reflection of the region’s healthy... 23rd September 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Reserve Bank of India near the end of policy tightening The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised its repo rate by 25bp to 8.25% today, as anticipated, citing further increases in core inflation. Provided the euro-zone crisis does not escalate dramatically in... 17th September 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update New Zealand rates to remain on prolonged hold The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) left its key interest rate at 2.5% today, as anticipated, citing the deterioration in external conditions and escalation in financial market risks. The RBNZ... 16th September 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Tide starting to turn on interest rates Central banks in Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea and the Philippines all kept their main policy rates on hold today, as expected, reflecting heightened concern over the outlook for the global economy. This... 9th September 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia’s growth momentum looks resilient Economic growth rebounded strongly in the second quarter, strengthening our view that Australia’s recovery is intact despite the fall in output in Q1. Worries about the global outlook obviously add... 8th September 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Troubles mount for Pakistan’s crisis-hit economy A combination of increasing political violence in Karachi, falling cotton prices, an unsustainable fiscal position and high inflation mean the outlook for Pakistan’s fragile economy remains bleak. 7th September 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Growth slowdown in the Philippines to be short-lived The Philippines is the latest country within emerging Asia to report weak Q2 GDP data. Nonetheless, as with elsewhere in the region, growth should rebound in coming quarters as temporary supply-chain... 1st September 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update India’s resilient growth to bring more policy tightening India’s second quarter GDP figures, which showed only a marginal deceleration from the first quarter, should dispel any concerns in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that the economy is struggling to... 31st August 2011 · 1 min read
