Asia Economics Update Indonesia: easing cycle not over yet Bank Indonesia (BI) cut its main policy rate today by 25bps to 3.75%, and further gradual easing is likely provided the currency continues to perform well against the US dollar. 19th November 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update More rate cuts likely next year in the Philippines The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) cut its key policy rate today for the first time since June, and the weakness of the recovery means further easing is likely. 19th November 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Thailand: rates to remain low for a long time to come The Bank of Thailand’s (BoT) decision to leave interest rates unchanged at an all-time low of just 0.5% came as no surprise. Given the poor outlook for the economy, rates are likely to remain very low... 18th November 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Assessing the benefits of the world’s biggest FTA Talks to establish the world’s biggest free-trade agreement, the Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP), are finally expected to conclude at the weekend. While a deal would provide a boost... 12th November 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update The benefits to Asia of a COVID-19 vaccine Asia may have less to gain than other parts of the world from a coronavirus vaccine, given successes in containing the new coronavirus. A widely-distributed and effective vaccine would nonetheless... 10th November 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Deglobalisation to continue despite Biden victory Joe Biden is likely to take a different approach to trade relations than Donald Trump, but his election will not reinvigorate globalisation, which has stalled over recent years. This will act as a... 9th November 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia’s central bank to resume easing next year Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left its main policy rate on hold at 1.75% today, but with a new set of restrictions to combat a second outbreak of the virus dragging on the economy, we doubt this marks... 3rd November 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Export outperformance lifts Asian growth Asian exports have continued to defy gravity. Despite the biggest slump in the global economy since the Second World War, regional exports are already back to their pre-crisis level. The resilience of... 28th October 2020 · 4 mins read
Asia Economics Update Sri Lanka on hold for now, more easing next year The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) left both its deposit and lending rate on hold at 4.50% and 5.50% respectively at its meeting today but, given the poor outlook for the economy, we think the... 22nd October 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update How might the US election impact Asia? With the US election result unlikely to have immediate ramifications for US GDP, the main issue for much of Asia is how it affects trade policy. A Joe Biden presidency would be less confrontational... 21st October 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Thai protests a key risk to the recovery The renewed risk of domestic political unrest in Thailand following the declaration of a “severe” state of emergency could act as a further drag on the already beleaguered economy. 15th October 2020 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bigger external surpluses put Asia under US spotlight The COVID-19 crisis has led to a ballooning of current account surpluses across Emerging Asia that is putting upward pressure on currencies. The shift to bigger external surpluses could also land the... 14th October 2020 · 4 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea holds, more yield control policies likely The Bank of Korea (BoK) left its main policy rate on hold at 0.50% today and, with the economic recovery holding up relatively well, further rate cuts seem unlikely. Instead the focus of the BoK is... 14th October 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Further rate cuts likely in Indonesia Bank Indonesia (BI) left interest rates on hold at 4.0% today, but it is too soon to call an end to the easing cycle. With the economy in need of further support, we think the central bank will resume... 13th October 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Indonesia: reform package boosts long-term prospects The near-term outlook for Indonesia’s economy is dreadful. A failure to contain the virus means the country will experience one of the slowest recoveries in the region. But a series of landmark... 6th October 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Philippines: more rate cuts after “continued pause” The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) left its main policy rate on hold at 2.25% today for a second consecutive meeting, but with the economic recovery proving to be one of the slowest in the... 1st October 2020 · 3 mins read
