Asia Economics Update Export sector to drive Malaysia’s growth The acceleration in Malaysia’s economy in the final quarter of 2013 reinforces our view that the central bank is likely to tighten monetary policy sooner rather than later. While policy tightening... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rupee stability key to relaxation of India’s gold import curbs The rupee has come through the recent EM turbulence largely unscathed. But the authorities have hinted at the possibility of easing the gold import curbs that have reduced the trade deficit and... 11th February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rajan is laying foundations for long-term growth in India After five months in office, nobody would accuse Raghuram Rajan of keeping a low profile. Rarely has a central bank governor been such a regular fixture in local papers. The global media is also... 10th February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Rates to be kept low in the Philippines to support reconstruction Today’s decision by the central bank in the Philippines (BSP) to keep interest rates on hold at a record low of just 3.5% came as no surprise. With the recent increase in inflation likely to prove... 6th February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Industrial production recovery to boost regional growth The full set of Emerging Asia GDP data for the final quarter of 2013 is yet to be released, but our tracker suggests the region as a whole struggled for momentum. Weak industrial production was a key... 6th February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indonesian growth unlikely to accelerate further Indonesia's economy accelerated slightly in Q4, but growth was still below 6% for the third consecutive quarter. With monetary policy set to remain tight, inflation eating into consumers’ purchasing... 5th February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia holds rates and takes cuts off the agenda The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held its cash rate at 2.5% today, as expected. Moreover, it strongly suggested that it is does not expect to change policy in the foreseeable future. For now... 4th February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thailand's political crisis to continue dragging on economy Although Sunday's general election proceeded as scheduled, Thailand's political crisis shows no sign of letting up. While the incumbent Pheu Thai Party almost certainly won the most votes, it could be... 3rd February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update New Zealand rate hike is imminent The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) kept its policy rate unchanged at 2.5% today, but it made clear in its statement that it will be raising rates soon. As long as data releases continue to show... 30th January 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia tightening cycle to start in first half of 2014 Malaysia’s central bank (BNM) unsurprisingly kept its policy rate unchanged at 3.0% at its meeting today. But with the economy gradually gaining traction, we think the next move in rates is likely to... 29th January 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asia escaping the worst of recent EM turmoil Asia has escaped the worst of the latest sell-off in EM assets. What’s more, some of the economies that were hit hardest during the turmoil of last summer have proved more resilient this time around. 29th January 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Dual concerns over inflation and rupee behind India rate hike The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) surprised the market with a rate hike today, signalling its commitment to bringing down inflation, while perhaps also hoping to protect the rupee amid the ongoing... 28th January 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Taiwan emerges from doldrums, recovery to continue GDP data released today for the final quarter of 2013 show that Taiwan’s economy ended 2013 on a solid note. Growth is likely to increase gradually in y/y terms over the next couple of years, helped... 28th January 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Low interest rates and rising exports to support Korean growth Korea's economy recorded another quarter of strong growth in Q4 last year, thanks mainly to a pick-up in external demand. The economy should remain fairly strong over the next couple of years, thanks... 23rd January 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thailand's political crisis still likely to trigger another rate cut Despite rising concerns about the impact of Thailand's political crisis on the economy, the Bank of Thailand (BoT) opted to keep its policy rate at 2.25% today. But with no clear resolution to the... 22nd January 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thailand’s political crisis: How will it play out? Thailand’s political tensions have ratcheted up a notch, with the government today declaring a state of emergency in Bangkok. In this Update, we consider several scenarios for how the political crisis... 21st January 2014 · 1 min read
