Asia Economics Update Korea: time to worry about rising property prices? Rapidly rising property prices have become a big political issue in Korea, but they don’t pose a significant threat to the economy. 6th April 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Strong Q1 for Korea, tourism reopening plans The recent activity data point to an acceleration in Korean GDP growth in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Indonesia and Thailand have announced plans to accelerate the reopening of their tourism sectors... 1st April 2021 · 5 mins read
Asia Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Mar.) March PMI readings suggest that manufacturing sectors improved further in most places in Asia. Global demand for electronics should continue to support the sector for the next few months. 1st April 2021 · 2 mins read
Emerging Markets Activity Monitor Headwinds to the recovery start to build The economic data out of the emerging world for Q1 look reasonably strong, but worsening COVID-19 outbreaks and a shift towards policy tightening are creating headwinds for some EMs. Activity in... 31st March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Chart Pack Situation in the Philippines looking increasingly dire The economic outlook in the Philippines has gone from bad to worse over the past month. The main headwind is a renewed surge in virus infections, with the country now reporting around 10,000 new cases... 31st March 2021 · 13 mins read
Asia Economics Update Asian central banks in no rush to raise interest rates Unlike in some emerging markets, central banks across Emerging Asia are in no rush to tighten monetary policy. External factors won’t compel policymakers to tighten, and with inflationary pressures... 30th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Data Response Vietnam GDP (Q1) Vietnam’s economy lost a little momentum in the first quarter due to a renewed virus outbreak, but with the latest wave quashed and most restrictions now lifted, the economy should bounce back... 29th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore loosens restrictions, new markets forecasts Singapore announced a further loosening of containment measures this week but given that social distancing is no longer a major drag on the economy, they are unlikely to provide much of a boost to the... 26th March 2021 · 7 mins read
Asia Economics Update Philippines: BSP to resume easing cycle later in the year The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) left its main policy rate on hold at 2.00% today, and while a temporary rise in inflation means interest rates are set to remain on hold for the next few... 25th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update What would a global return to normality mean for Asia? As vaccines are rolled out across the world and restrictions on economic activity are removed, we expect global consumption patterns to return to something like normal. Electronics exporters, most... 22nd March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Data Response Korea Trade (1st – 20th Mar.) Korea’s external sector looks to have had its strongest quarter since 2018 and with semiconductor demand set to remain elevated in the short term, exports are likely to continue to provide an... 22nd March 2021 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Korea labour market improves, BSP dilemma The sharp drop in Korean unemployment last month suggests that the economy is bouncing back following a fall in COVID-19 infections and the easing of containment measures. Following GDP growth of 1.2%... 19th March 2021 · 7 mins read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Revisiting financial repression in EMs The recent rise in EM sovereign bond yields will, if sustained, make public debt problems in some countries even worse. Those with large local currency debts may ultimately turn to financial... 18th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack Taper tantrum fears return EM financial markets have been hit this month by the rise in US Treasury yields, which has re-ignited some concerns about a re-run of the Taper Tantrum. So far, capital outflows from EMs have been... 16th March 2021 · 11 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Philippines outlook worsens, Taiwan in the dock We are lowering our 2021 GDP growth forecast for the Philippines due to the worsening virus situation and the recent deterioration in the economic data. A rapid increase in foreign currency... 12th March 2021 · 6 mins read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Are we about to see a wave of EM rate hikes? Recent currency falls and rises in inflation have all but guaranteed interest rate hikes in Turkey and Brazil next week, and Russia’s central bank is likely to lay the groundwork for tightening too... 11th March 2021 · 3 mins read
