Asia Data Response Korea GDP (Q2 Preliminary) Korea’s growth picked up in the second quarter of 2016, but we expect the economy to lose momentum over the coming quarters against a backdrop of mounting cyclical and structural headwinds. 26th July 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea in wait-and-see mode Following its move last month to cut rates in response to rising downside risks to growth, the Bank of Korea (BoK) today left its policy rate unchanged at a record low of 1.25%. We think it will take... 14th 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
Asia Economics Update Inflation set to rise, but central banks in no hurry to hike rates Inflation looks set to rise in most of Emerging Asia over the coming year, but probably not by enough to worry policy makers, who will look to keep interest rates low to support growth. 10th June 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update What to make of Korea’s rate cut and restructuring plans The Bank of Korea (BoK) unexpectedly lowered its policy rate to a new record low of 1.25% today, marking its first cut since last June. The decision came a day after plans were unveiled for the... 9th June 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Focus Domestic strength can’t keep propping up Emerging Asia Economic growth in Emerging Asia has remained remarkably steady over the past year, even as export demand has stalled. However, policy support and lower oil prices will not continue to prop up... 2nd June 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (May) The May PMIs for Emerging Asia continue to point to lacklustre conditions in Asia’s manufacturing sectors. In the two economies where the PMIs most closely track the hard data, Korea’s manufacturing... 1st June 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Asia well-placed to cope with the Fed’s next rate hikes The US Fed looks set to increase interest rates soon, possibly as early as its June meeting, and we think it will end up hiking more than is generally expected over the next couple of years. However... 26th May 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korea likely to loosen monetary policy soon The Bank of Korea (BoK) today left its policy rate unchanged at a record low of 1.50%, but with growth still sluggish and government pressure for monetary policy easing rising, we think it is only a... 13th May 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Could Asia’s central banks get unconventional? There have been a number of suggestions recently that some central banks in Emerging Asia, namely in Taiwan and Korea, might be about to adopt some of the unconventional policy measures that are being... 29th April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysian ringgit rebound continues Most currencies and equity markets are up so far this month. The Malaysian ringgit has continued to rebound strongly, but political uncertainty ahead of presidential elections in the Philippines is... 28th April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Drought hits agricultural output in Thailand and Vietnam Vietnam and Thailand are facing their worst drought in decades, with water levels in the Mekong River at their lowest since 1926. The drought is already having an impact on growth. A decline in... 27th April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Korea GDP (Q1 Preliminary) Korea’s economy lost further momentum in the first quarter of 2016, but we expect a modest recovery in exports as well as supportive policies to help prop up growth in the coming quarters . 26th April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Are Asia’s policymakers running out of fiscal firepower? Most governments in Emerging Asia have room to support their economies by loosening fiscal policy further in the event that growth continues to disappoint. However, there are a few countries, namely... 22nd April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Monetary policy loosening in Korea more likely than not The Bank of Korea (BoK) today left its policy rate unchanged at a record low of 1.50% , b ut with the economy still in a fragile state, monetary policy loosening looks to be on the cards in the coming... 19th April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Export downturn set to drag on The export downturn that began over a year ago is showing little sign of coming to an end. A big part of the reason for the current weakness has been the slump in commodity prices. Even if commodity... 15th April 2016 · 1 min read
