Equities Update How much of a bubble is there really in Korean equities? While a partial unwind of earlier “excessive exuberance” may explain some of the huge swings in Korea’s equities since the Iran war began, we think the fundamentals of its earlier rally are stronger... 17th March 2026 · 6 mins read
Asia Economics Update Energy shock in Asia: policy choices ahead High energy prices and growing concerns over energy security have already prompted significant policy responses across Asia. Some governments are looking to introduce inflation-suppressing measures... 10th March 2026 · 4 mins read
Asia Economics Update Is Asia running on empty with LNG? Asian economies vary in how dependent they are on LNG from the Gulf – for China and Japan, dependence is low, while Pakistan, Taiwan and Korea have much higher exposure. Low domestic inventories leave... 10th March 2026 · 4 mins read
Asia Economics Update Korea: what higher energy prices mean for inflation Inflation in Korea was muted again last month, but it would rise sharply in the event of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East that led to a sustained increase in global energy prices. Against such... 6th March 2026 · 3 mins read
Capital Daily Why Asia’s markets have been the most affected by the war East Asian equities – and Korea’s in particular – have been more sensitive to news about the war than most, but we remain cautiously optimistic about them over the medium term. 5th March 2026 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update The Iran shock and Asia As net energy importers, most economies in Asia are worse off and facing higher inflation as a result of the attacks on Iran. But oil prices would have to rise much further than they have so far – to... 2nd March 2026 · 5 mins read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Emerging Markets Capital Flows Monitor (Feb. 2026) Our EM Capital Flows measure points to a decline in inflows in recent weeks, although some of this appears to be related to idiosyncratic factors. And in any case, EM external positions look strong by... 26th February 2026 · 0 mins read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea shifts to “dot plot” framework The key development from today’s meeting of the Bank of Korea was not the widely expected decision to keep the policy rate at 2.50%, but the shift to a new six-month forward-guidance “dot plot”. While... 26th February 2026 · 3 mins read
APAC Commercial Property Chart Pack APAC Commercial Property Chart Pack (Q1 2026) Asia-Pacific all-property capital value declines eased further in Q4 to minus 0.8% y/y, reinforcing signs that the market is bottoming out. Looking ahead, however, elevated risk-free rates and muted... 26th February 2026 · 1 min read
Asia Rapid Response Korea Policy Rate (Feb. 2026) The Bank of Korea kept its policy rate on hold today at 2.50%, and we expect the central bank to maintain this stance until at least mid-year, before eventually restarting its easing cycle around the... 26th February 2026 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Update Korea: jump in fertility rate unlikely to be sustained The fertility rate in Korea increased in 2025 for the second year in a row, offering a rare glimmer of relief given the country’s terrible demographics. But the fertility rate remains very low and we... 25th February 2026 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update New US tariff regime will rejig Asian electronics trade Trump’s new 15% global tariff rate reduces the tariff burden on most Asian countries, but the biggest winner is China. It still faces a higher tariff than countries elsewhere in the region, but the... 23rd February 2026 · 4 mins read
APAC Commercial Property Valuation Monitor APAC Commercial Property Valuation Monitor (Q1 2026) Asia-Pacific valuation scores worsened in Q4 as bond yields rose across markets while property yields held flat. As we expect risk-free rates to remain high, all-property valuations are likely to stay... 5th February 2026 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Taiwan leaving Korea in the slow lane Taiwan’s economy for a long time grew at the same pace as Korea, but is now surging ahead. Taiwan’s central role in AI-related electronics supply chains has driven a powerful post-pandemic expansion... 4th February 2026 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Korea: will the equity boom lift the economy? Korea’s equity boom is unlikely to deliver a major boost to Korean consumers or the broader economy. But it is sending a clear signal about the external outlook. The rally reflects Korea’s central... 3rd February 2026 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Asia Manufacturing PMIs, Korea Trade (January) The January manufacturing PMI readings for Asian economies remain consistent with generally steady growth in manufacturing. However, the PMIs have recently been a poor guide to the hard activity data... 2nd February 2026 · 3 mins read
