Asia Data Response

Malaysia GDP (Q3)

Malaysia’s economy rebounded strongly in Q3 and while a second wave of infections will weigh on growth in Q4, we don’t think it will be long before the recovery is back on track.

13th November 2020 · 3 mins read

Asia Economics Update

Malaysia’s central bank to resume easing next year

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left its main policy rate on hold at 1.75% today, but with a new set of restrictions to combat a second outbreak of the virus dragging on the economy, we doubt this marks...

3rd November 2020 · 3 mins read

Asia Economics Update

How might the US election impact Asia?

With the US election result unlikely to have immediate ramifications for US GDP, the main issue for much of Asia is how it affects trade policy. A Joe Biden presidency would be less confrontational...

21st October 2020 · 3 mins read

Asia Economics Update

Malaysia’s central bank to resume easing soon

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left its main policy rate on hold at 1.75% today, but with the economy likely to remain weak for some time to come, we doubt this marks the end of the Bank’s easing cycle.

10th September 2020 · 3 mins read

Asia Chart Pack

Second wave unlikely to completely derail recoveries

Having been among the fastest in the world at controlling the initial outbreak, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Korea are all at different stages of a second wave of infections. With new infections in Hong...

26th August 2020 · 14 mins read

Asia Data Response

Malaysia GDP (Q2)

Malaysia’s economy contracted by much more than we had expected in Q2, but monthly GDP data suggest that most of the slump had unwound by the end of the quarter. We think the economy will shrink by 5...

14th August 2020 · 3 mins read

Asia Economics Update

Will Asia benefit from China’s strong rebound?

China’s rapid economic recovery from the Global Financial Crisis did not play as big a role as is commonly assumed in supporting growth in the rest of Asia. We doubt a strong rebound in China from the...

24th July 2020 · 4 mins read

Asia Economics Update

More easing to come from Malaysia’s central bank

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) cut its main policy rate by 25bps to 1.75% today, and with the economic recovery still in its infancy, we doubt this marks the end of the central bank’s easing cycle.

7th July 2020 · 3 mins read

Asia Data Response

Manufacturing PMIs (Jun.)

The PMIs point to an improvement in manufacturing conditions last month, although many readings are still low and suggest that overall manufacturers continue to struggle.

1st July 2020 · 2 mins read

Asia Economics Focus

Which countries will rebound fastest?

The high-frequency data that we track suggest that while economic activity is picking up across most of the region, the pace of recovery varies significantly by country. We expect China, Singapore...

8th June 2020 · 11 mins read

Asia Data Response

Manufacturing PMIs (May)

We suspect that PMI readings do not accurately reflect the change in industry conditions last month, but they are still indicative of the fact that output remains very depressed.

1st June 2020 · 2 mins read

Asia Economics Weekly

Bumps in Korea’s recovery, how to interpret the PMIs

A couple of new outbreaks of coronavirus in Korea’s capital city, Seoul, has led to renewed fears of a second wave of infections. The recent spike appears to have put the recovery on hold and has led...

29th May 2020 · 5 mins read

Asia Data Response

Malaysia GDP (Q1)

Malaysia Q1 GDP figures were slightly better than expected but will provide little comfort, with the economy set to contract much more sharply this quarter as depressed domestic demand and an...

13th May 2020 · 3 mins read

Asia Economics Weekly

Infections ease, but recovery proving slow

Though there are notable exceptions, there are some encouraging signs that new infections of the coronavirus are falling in many places in Emerging Asia. The slowing spread of the virus should allow...

8th May 2020 · 6 mins read

Asia Economics Update

Further rate cuts likely in Malaysia

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) today cut its policy rate from 2.50% to 2.00%, and with the outlook for growth very poor, we think the central bank will ease policy again in the coming months.

5th May 2020 · 3 mins read