Asia Economics Update Malaysian ringgit weakness to deter interest rate cuts The Malaysian central bank confirmed today that it has been intervening in foreign exchange markets to support the ringgit, which is now close to its lowest level since the Asian financial crisis... 18th November 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia holds rates, easing cycle nearing an end Bank Indonesia (BI) today left interest rates on hold at 4.75% and made clear that its focus is currently on maintaining a stable exchange rate rather than supporting the economy. With rate hikes in... 17th November 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korea’s political crisis deepens Korea’s political crisis has continued to deepen and looks likely to drag on, possibly for months. For the economy though, little has changed. The outlook was already difficult, with a lame duck... 14th November 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korean rates to stay unchanged through 2017 The Bank of Korea (BoK) kept its policy rate unchanged at 1.25% today and, while subdued growth and low inflation mean the BoK will keep monetary policy loose for the foreseeable future, a high level... 11th November 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Philippines to keep interest rates unchanged for some time yet The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) surprised nobody with its decision to leave its main policy rate on hold earlier today at 3.0%. Looking ahead, with inflation set to remain low and growth... 10th November 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update What does Trump’s victory mean for policymakers in Asia? The Bank of Thailand (BoT) left interest rates unchanged at 1.50% today and is likely to be in little hurry to adjust monetary policy over the coming year. Elsewhere in the region, the increase in... 9th November 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update What would a Trump victory mean for Asia? The Philippines, followed by Taiwan and Korea, stand out as the countries in Asia with most to lose inthe event Donald Trump is elected as the next president of the United States. 7th November 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Markets in Thailand regain their poise Manufacturing conditions in Emerging Asia were lacklustre in October. Focusing on the two economies where the PMIs most closely track the hard data, there are further signs of improvement in Taiwan’s... 31st October 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rate left on hold in Sri Lanka, but further hikes likely Mexico’s economy grew by an impressive 1.0% q/q in Q3, the strongest rate since 2014. However, with growth being driven largely by the services sector and monetary policy set to tighten further, such... 31st October 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korean scandal a blow for the president, but not the economy The corruption scandal which has engulfed Korea over the weekend is a major blow to the authority of President Park Geun-hye. The economic impact, however, is likely to prove quite small. 31st October 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Shift away from US could damage Philippines’ economy The Philippines’ shift towards closer ties with China is unlikely to bring many economic benefits to the country. And by upsetting the US there is a risk that President Duterte undermines a much more... 21st October 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Further easing set to be gradual as Bank Indonesia cuts again Today’s decision by Bank Indonesia (BI) to reduce its main policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.75% is unlikely to mark the end of its rate cutting cycle. However, further loosening is likely to be... 20th October 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Assessing the economic fallout from Samsung’s problems The recent problems at Samsung Electronics, which culminated in last week’s decision to scrap production of its premium Note 7 smartphone, could shave around 0.1-0.2% percentage points off GDP growth... 17th October 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Monetary policy in Singapore to stay unchanged for some time The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) today left its monetary policy settings unchanged, having loosened policy at its last meeting in April. With the economy set to exit deflation over the coming... 14th October 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update King’s death casts shadow over Thailand The death of Thailand’s highly-revered king will plunge the country into a state of mourning, and also deep political uncertainty. There is a risk that political tensions flare up, triggering a... 13th October 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korean rates to stay on prolonged hold The Bank of Korea (BoK) kept its policy rate unchanged at 1.25% today, and while the consensus expects another rate cut in the coming months, we think rising concerns about Korea’s high household debt... 13th October 2016 · 1 min read
