Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia cuts rates, further easing likely to be gradual Today’s decision by Bank Indonesia (BI) to loosen monetary policy demonstrates that the central bank’s focus is clearly on supporting the economy. Although BI signalled that the rate cutting cycle is... 22nd September 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Baht not to blame for Thailand’s export woes Recent claims by Thai exporters and policymakers that a “strong” baht is to blame for the country’s poor export performance are wrong. The baht does not look strong relative to the currencies of its... 16th September 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly ASEAN still struggling for purpose The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has just concluded its annual meeting in Laos, has little chance of becoming the kind of single market and production base which could one... 9th September 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Aug.) The August PMIs for Emerging Asia suggest manufacturing conditions in the region remain lacklustre. Focusing on the two economies where the PMIs most closely track the hard data, there are signs of... 1st September 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly The dangers of decoupling Economic growth across Emerging Asia accelerated last quarter, as strong domestic demand compensated for weak exports. But while this “decoupling” has enabled Emerging Asia to shrug-off the weakness... 26th August 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update EU trade deal unlikely to revive Indonesia’s tin exports Some have argued that a new trade deal between the EU and Indonesia may arrest the decline in the latter’s exports of tin. However, structural issues constraining tin exports mean that it is unlikely... 25th August 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack More good news for Indonesia, but problems lie ahead The past month has given investors more reasons to be optimistic on the outlook for Indonesia’s economy. The first piece of good news came in late July when it was announced that the highly-respected... 24th August 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Easing likely to resume in Indonesia soon Bank Indonesia (BI) left its new policy rate, the seven-day reverse repo, on hold today at 5.25%, but with growth struggling and inflationary pressures low, a rate cut is likely sooner rather than... 19th August 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Export struggles to continue The recent improvement in export performance across Emerging Asia owes more to the fading effects of the collapse in commodity prices on export values than a recovery in underlying demand. We expect... 19th August 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Will further rate cuts make a difference in Indonesia? Given the current backdrop of weak growth, low inflation and a stable currency, Bank Indonesia is likely to cut its new policy rate, the seven-day reverse repo rate, at its upcoming meeting. But more... 12th August 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Indonesia GDP (Q2) Indonesia’s growth picked up to 5.2% y/y in Q2 from 4.9% the quarter before. While we think the worst for Indonesia’s economy is now over, a combination of fiscal tightening and low commodity prices... 5th August 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Focus Is the worst over for Indonesia and Malaysia? Economic growth in Malaysia and Indonesia has slowed markedly over the past couple of years. While we think the worst is now over for the region’s two main commodity producers, a strong rebound is... 2nd August 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Jul.) Manufacturing conditions in Emerging Asia remained lacklustre in July. In the two economies where the PMIs most closely track the hard data, there are some signs of improvement in Taiwan’s... 1st August 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Is Pakistan ready for life without the IMF? Pakistan’s three-year arrangement with the IMF comes to an end next month. An improvement in the external position means it is unlikely that there will be any immediate problems, but the IMF does... 29th July 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia leaves rates on hold, but further easing likely Bank Indonesia (BI) left interest rates on hold today, but further loosening is likely sooner rather than later. We think the shift to a new policy rate, which formally comes into effect next month... 21st July 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Jun.) While the June PMIs for Emerging Asia were generally uninspiring, in the two economies where the PMIs most closely track the hard data, the surveys suggest that manufacturing conditions are at least... 1st July 2016 · 1 min read
