Commodities Update China’s record oil imports not the whole story China’s commodity imports were relatively strong in November, perhaps reflecting some front-loading of regional spending on infrastructure. But our view that growth in China’s property sector is set... 9th December 2019 · 2 mins read
China Data Response Trade & FX Reserves (Nov.) Exports continued to languish last month and the pick-up in headline import growth reflects base effects rather than stronger domestic demand. Meanwhile, FX reserves data released over the weekend... 9th December 2019 · 2 mins read
International Merchandise Trade (Oct.) Following the modest rise in October, exports almost certainly slumped in November due to the disruption to the Keystone pipeline as well as the CN Rail strike. That will cause a further slowdown in... 5th December 2019 · 2 mins read
US Data Response International Trade (Oct.) The sharp narrowing of the trade deficit, to a 16-month low in October, was distorted by a GM-strike related fall in auto imports and a big drop back in consumer goods imports, as the stockpiling... 5th December 2019 · 2 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia - Retail Sales & International Trade (Oct.) The stagnation in retail sales in October suggests that consumption growth remained sluggish in the fourth quarter. And while net exports should continue to support GDP growth, the weakness in... 5th December 2019 · 2 mins read
Asia Data Response Korea Trade, CPI (Nov.) The uptick in Korean export growth in November was much weaker than expectations and suggests that external demand remains in the doldrums. Headline inflation was also weaker than expected last month. 2nd December 2019 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly VAT cut in Sri Lanka, Japan-Korea trade spat The decision by Sri Lanka’s new president to cut the rate of VAT from 15% to 8% will provide a significant boost to the economy, but will put increased strain on the country’s fragile public finances... 29th November 2019 · 6 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Economy spluttering, Korea tensions thaw The plunge in retail sales and factory output following the 1 st October sales tax hike points towards a sharp contraction in GDP this quarter. However, we think there are still reasons to believe the... 29th November 2019 · 5 mins read
Global Trade Monitor World trade may soon stabilise but no rebound in sight September’s fall in world trade volumes was a blow to hopes that the global economy may have reached a turning point. There are some signs of stabilisation in leading indicators of trade, and base... 26th November 2019 · 6 mins read
India Chart Pack Services holding up better than industry Q3 GDP data due next week are likely to show a further slowdown in India’s economy, with the industrial sector the main source of weakness. However, some comfort can be taken from the fact that the... 22nd November 2019 · 9 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Chart Pack QE will result in lower bond yields in Australia The decline in bond yields in Australia and New Zealand throughout 2019 has paused in recent months following optimism about a potential trade deal between the US and China and hawkish language from... 21st November 2019 · 10 mins read
Japan Data Response External Trade (Oct.) Import volumes fell much less in October than after the 2014 sales tax hike, supporting our view that the tax hike will dent domestic demand less this time around. Export volumes also fell in monthly... 20th November 2019 · 2 mins read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor Asian electronics and the coming EM export rebound The year-on-year rate of EM export growth should turn positive in the coming months, but this will mainly reflect favourable base effects from the Asian electronics cycle rather than stronger... 19th November 2019 · 6 mins read
Global Markets Update Trade deal unlikely to provide more upside for equities Optimism about trade has been a factor behind the rally in global equities in the past month. But with a “mini-deal” now largely discounted in the markets, and economic growth unlikely to do better... 19th November 2019 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update More to coming export rebound than meets the eye Asian export growth should start to pick up over the coming months. However, the recovery will mainly reflect a more favourable base for comparison following the collapse in electronics exports at the... 19th November 2019 · 3 mins read
India Economics Update Trade deficit set to remain small The monthly goods trade deficit was virtually unchanged in October and we think that it will remain small over the coming quarters as low oil prices continue to keep a lid on imports. 18th November 2019 · 2 mins read
