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 Bank Indonesia opens door to further easing Malaysia and Indonesia both left their main policy rates on hold at scheduled meetings today. But while Malaysia’s central bank (BNM) gave little sign that it was about to shift monetary policy... 19th May 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Malaysia GDP (Q1) Malaysia’s economy slowed further in the first quarter of 2016, and with commodity prices still depressed by past standards and household debt high, we expect growth to be stuck in the 4.0-4.5% range... 13th May 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 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 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
Asia Economics Weekly Where do the risks lie? Financial markets across Emerging Asia have rebounded in recent months as investors have become more confident over the short-term economic outlook for the region. However, as we make clear in our... 8th April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook Tigers in trouble, but better prospects elsewhere The region’s original tiger economies, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Korea, are likely to struggle over the next couple of years against a backdrop of cooling credit growth, bursting property... 6th April 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Korean won leads the way Asian currencies continued their recovery in March, helped in part by fading fears of a sudden devaluation in the renminbi. 31st March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Where next for Myanmar? Today’s handover from military to civilian rule in Myanmar marks another welcome step forward in the country’s political development. But the new government must overcome a number of major challenges... 30th March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Better times ahead for Asian currencies After a few years of heavy declines, Asian currencies have started to make up some lost ground against the US dollar. We think other forecasters are being too negative in expecting the region’s... 11th March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia holds rate, but all eyes on BNM governor succession Malaysia’s central bank (BNM) today kept its policy rate on hold at 3.25% at a monetary policy meeting that will be Governor Zeti’s last after 16 years at the helm. We continue to think rates will be... 9th March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Inflation to rise, but not by enough to worry policymakers Inflation looks to have bottomed out and is set to rise across most of Emerging Asia over the coming year. However, it will remain relatively low in most places, meaning central banks will be able to... 7th March 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update High household debt another drag on Malaysia’s growth Malaysia’s high level of household debt is unlikely to trigger financial instability, but it will continue to be another constraint on growth. 7th March 2016 · 1 min read
