Asia Economics Update Rate cuts in Malaysia unlikely despite SRR cut The decision by Malaysia’s central bank (BNM) today to cuts its statutory reserve requirement (SRR) ratio is not a signal that interest rates cuts are on the way. Worries about currency weakness and... 21st January 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Should Asia fear a collapse in the renminbi? Fears of a sudden devaluation of the Chinese renminbi have cast a shadow over Emerging Asia’s economic prospects since the start of the year. But while Asian exporters would hardly welcome a slump in... 15th January 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook China holds the key to regional recovery Turmoil in China’s financial markets has fuelled concerns that its real economy is also on the brink of a crisis, but we expect continued policy support to drive a recovery over the coming months... 13th January 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Oil price fall further dims Malaysia’s 2016 growth outlook The renewed fall in oil prices in recent months is a further blow to Malaysia’s economy. Moreover, there is very little scope for policymakers to support growth with fiscal or monetary loosening. We... 13th January 2016 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Malaysia Monthly Palm Oil Data (Dec.) Data released earlier today by Malaysia’s Palm Oil Board show that palm oil inventories declined in December for the first time since the middle of last year as production fell sharply again. 11th January 2016 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Constrained supply may not be a panacea for alumina prices Malaysia has imposed a 3-month ban on bauxite mining and with further measures likely to follow, alumina supply could struggle in 2016. That said, demand will also be constrained by slower growth in... 7th January 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update A quiet end to the year Asian financial markets have taken the start of Fed tightening in their stride. Currencies, equities and government bond yields have all been fairly stable over the past month. 23rd December 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack ASEAN Economic Community is no game changer The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) formally takes effect on 31st December and aims to transform ASEAN into a single market and production base, which its supporters hope will one day enable it to... 23rd December 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly What to expect from Asia in 2016 A slump in exports, slowing growth and falling currencies made for a grim 2015. But will next year be any better? In this final Weekly of the year, we outline our key calls for 2016. 18th December 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly No need to panic about Fed lift-off For most of Emerging Asia an increase in US interest rates is not a major cause for concern. Only in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore do we think Fed tightening could cause some problems. 11th December 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Nov.) At best, Emerging Asia's PMIs for November suggest that the region’s manufacturing sectors are past the worst of this year’s downturn. But conditions generally remain weak, while the decline in... 1st December 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update No sense of panic as Fed hike approaches Asian financial markets have held up well over the past month despite a renewed slump in China’s equity market at the end of last week and growing expectations of a December Fed rate hike. 30th November 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Fears of Asia slowdown overdone For all the talk of a sharp slowdown in Asia, regional growth remains remarkably stable. That said, there are still no signs of recovery, with exports again acting as a drag on growth in the third... 27th November 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Rate debate heats up in Indonesia The war of words between Bank Indonesia (BI) and the government is heating up after the country’s vice president, Jusuf Kalla, earlier this week renewed its call for the central bank to cut interest... 25th November 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Asia well placed to weather Fed lift-off The parts of Asia that were hardest hit during the 2013 “Taper Tantrum” have seen their current account deficits fall back, or even disappear, over the past couple of years. This should make them less... 20th November 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Asia’s central banks in no rush to reverse rate cuts Asia’s central banks will be in no hurry to raise interest rates next year despite the fact that inflation is likely to rise sharply over the coming months and the US Fed could just be a few weeks... 13th November 2015 · 1 min read
