Asia Economics Update Korea holds rates, imminent tightening unlikely The Bank of Korea (BoK) kept its policy rate on hold at 1.50% today, and while there was a dissenter favouring a rate hike, rising downside growth risks, benign inflation and limited external... 12th July 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update The impact of Trump’s China tariffs on the rest of Asia US plans to impose tariffs on an additional $200bn of Chinese imports represent a marked escalation of the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China. The tariffs would have knock-on effects on... 11th July 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia: rates on hold and likely to stay there Malaysia’s central bank (BNM) left interest rates unchanged at today’s scheduled monetary policy meeting, but it shifted to a more dovish tone under its new governor. While we are forecasting no... 11th July 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Further rate hikes likely in Indonesia Bank Indonesia’s (BI) decision to hike interest rates by a more-than-expected 50 basis points today suggests that the central bank’s priority over the coming months will be to support the currency... 29th June 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Taiwan’s central bank to keep policy on hold With economic growth fairly strong and inflationary pressures subdued, Taiwan’s central bank (CBC) decided today to keep its policy rate unchanged at 1.375%. The dovish tone of the Bank’s accompanying... 21st June 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Philippines: One more hike likely Given the hawkish tone of the central bank’s statement, a further rate increase in the Philippines now looks likely. We originally thought today’s hike would mark the end of the tightening cycle. But... 20th June 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Thailand to keep monetary policy supportive The Bank of Thailand (BoT) left its policy rate on hold today and the accompanying statement makes clear that monetary policy will remain accommodative for a while longer yet. With inflation benign... 20th June 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update What would a US-China trade war mean for Asia? Trade tensions between the US and China have been ratcheted up another notch after US President Donald Trump yesterday threatened to impose a 10% tariff on a further US$200bn of Chinese imports... 19th June 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Five questions (and answers) on Trump-Kim summit Today’s historic summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un represents an extraordinary turn of events, and comes just a year after it appeared North Korea could be heading for a devastating war with... 12th June 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Pakistan: Latest currency devaluation a stopgap The latest devaluation in the Pakistani rupee has once again put the spotlight on the country’s precarious external position. The government will hope to keep the situation under control until next... 11th June 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Could North Korea be the next Vietnam? Tomorrow’s historic summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Singapore has raised the (distant) prospect of international sanctions against North Korea being lifted, a move that one day could... 11th June 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia: What to make of BNM head’s resignation The resignation of Malaysia’s central bank governor amid accusations of corruption at the Bank is an encouraging sign that the new government’s anti-corruption drive is gathering pace. The new... 6th June 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Inflation in the Philippines close to peaking Having nudged higher again in May, inflation in the Philippines probably has a little further to rise. But with food and energy price pressures set to ease over the coming months and the impact of... 5th June 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asian markets stumble in May Emerging Asia has not been spared in the recent EM sell-off, but its financial markets have held up better than those in other EM regions. 31st May 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update New Bank Indonesia governor prioritises rupiah stability Bank Indonesia (BI) hiked rates by 25bp today (its second increase in two weeks). We expect further hikes later this year, but we doubt that a repeat of the aggressive tightening cycle seen in 2013 is... 30th May 2018 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia’s mega-projects could be up for the chop There is growing speculation that Malaysia’s new prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, will cancel some of the huge Chinese-backed infrastructure projects approved by his predecessor. Given Malaysia’s... 28th May 2018 · 1 min read
