Asia Economic Outlook End of Asia’s policy tightening in sight Policy rates across Emerging Asia are likely to rise further towards pre-crisis levels in the coming months. However,tightening cycles should end next year with rates below their 2008 peaks. Most... 1st July 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia set for above-trend growth Malaysia’s economy grew at a slightly slower pace at the start of the year, which surprised the consensus but was in-line with our view. Strengthening domestic demand should mean that growth picks up... 18th May 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank Negara Malaysia set to tighten further Today’s 25bp policy rate hike by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) surprised the consensus, which expected no change, but was in line with our forecast. We expect further tightening to 3.5% by the end of the... 5th May 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank Negara shifts back into tightening mode Malaysia’s central bank (BNM) left its policy rate unchanged at 2.75% today, in line with the consensus view but contrary to our expectations of a hike. Nonetheless, BNM resumed policy tightening by... 11th March 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook Set for above-trend growth GDP growth across Emerging Asia has slowed, but is likely to pick up again soon. Domestic demand, trade between the emerging markets, as well as policy flexibility, will cushion the downside... 22nd February 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Malaysia set for good growth Malaysia posted its fastest annual GDP growth for a decade last year, and we expect the economy to expand at a healthy pace in 2011. Tough conditions in the West are likely to weigh on exports and... 21st February 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank Negara will probably tighten soon Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left the overnight rate unchanged today at 2.75%, as expected. Nevertheless, few will now have any doubts about the durability of the economic upswing while even the BNM... 27th January 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook Asia's slowdown to bottom soon (Q4 10) The post-recession rebound in most of Latin America is showing signs of slowing but growth is likely to remain fairly strong over the coming quarters. We still expect the region to expand by around 4... 1st December 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Growth in Malaysia is returning to what is normal Q3 GDP data in Malaysia, released today, were weaker than expected, as was the case with the figures from Thailand. Nevertheless, the big picture is the same in both countries. The expansion is... 22nd November 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Policy tightening in Malaysia has paused, not finished Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left policy interest rates unchanged today at 2.75%, as expected. The slowdown in GDP growth probably has further to go but we still anticipate that the upswing will regain... 12th November 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Malaysia to resume policy tightening next year Malaysia’s central bank (BNM) meets to set policy interest rates on Friday and will likely leave the overnight rate unchanged at 2.75%. The economic upswing is losing some momentum and inflation will... 8th November 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia targets reform ahead of fiscal consolidation The budget plans for 2011 announced in Malaysia late last week aim to ensure that the economic upswing continues and showed once again that the top priority was the implementation of new measures to... 18th October 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook Asia is re-balancing and will continue to lead (Q3 10) The global upswing is now regaining some traction and the threat of renewed financial crisis has diminished. However, the world recovery will stay weak and vulnerable to other risks such as deflation... 23rd September 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysian ringgit internationalisation is far away Over the weekend, Prime Minister Najib Razak stated that Malaysia was looking at allowing offshore trading of the ringgit. But Malaysia would need to make the currency fully convertible on the capital... 13th September 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia's policy tightening pause unlikely to last long Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left the reference rate unchanged today at 2.75%, as expected. Our view is that the local economic upswing will comfortably survive the tough global conditions which are in... 2nd September 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia on course for a soft-landing Data released today showed that Malaysia’s economy expanded at a slower pace in Q2 than in Q1. The upswing will continue to lose momentum in coming quarters but the risk that the expansion stalls is... 18th August 2010 · 1 min read
