Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack Virus outbreaks cloud the outlook New COVID-19 cases have surged in the emerging world, with India, Emerging Europe and Latin America particularly hard hit. Social distancing measures have been tightened in many countries, which will... 21st April 2021 · 11 mins read
Asia Economics Update Taiwan under pressure over currency practices The US Treasury today held off from labelling Taiwan and Vietnam currency manipulators in its semi-annual report, despite them both meeting all three criteria officially laid down by the Treasury... 16th April 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Taiwan’s semiconductor boom, Korea uncertainty Booming demand for semiconductors is prompting us to raise our Taiwan growth forecast for this year from 4.5% to 5.0%. This is well above the consensus of just 4.2%. Meanwhile, labour market data... 16th April 2021 · 6 mins read
Asia Economics Update Singapore: monetary policy to remain on hold in 2021 The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) left policy on hold today as advanced Q1 GDP data showed the economy rebounded further. While GDP is set to continue recovering at a decent pace, a persistent... 14th April 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Focus Taiwan in the cross hairs Ongoing disruption to global auto production has highlighted the extent to which semiconductors have become an essential input in products that aren’t traditionally considered electronics and also how... 13th April 2021 · 12 mins read
Asia Data Response Korea Trade (1st – 10th Apr.) Korean export values dipped at the start of April, but we wouldn’t read too much into it – the 10-day data can be volatile and, in any case, exports remain well above their pre-crisis level. 12th April 2021 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Moon eclipsed, AstraZeneca uncertainty Wednesday’s landslide defeat for President Moon’s Democratic Party (DP) in key mayoral elections in Korea suggest that it faces an uphill battle to retain the presidency in next year’s vote. Defeat... 9th April 2021 · 7 mins read
Asia Economics Update Korea: time to worry about rising property prices? Rapidly rising property prices have become a big political issue in Korea, but they don’t pose a significant threat to the economy. 6th April 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Strong Q1 for Korea, tourism reopening plans The recent activity data point to an acceleration in Korean GDP growth in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Indonesia and Thailand have announced plans to accelerate the reopening of their tourism sectors... 1st April 2021 · 5 mins read
Asia Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Mar.) March PMI readings suggest that manufacturing sectors improved further in most places in Asia. Global demand for electronics should continue to support the sector for the next few months. 1st April 2021 · 2 mins read
Emerging Markets Activity Monitor Headwinds to the recovery start to build The economic data out of the emerging world for Q1 look reasonably strong, but worsening COVID-19 outbreaks and a shift towards policy tightening are creating headwinds for some EMs. Activity in... 31st March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Chart Pack Situation in the Philippines looking increasingly dire The economic outlook in the Philippines has gone from bad to worse over the past month. The main headwind is a renewed surge in virus infections, with the country now reporting around 10,000 new cases... 31st March 2021 · 13 mins read
Asia Economics Update Asian central banks in no rush to raise interest rates Unlike in some emerging markets, central banks across Emerging Asia are in no rush to tighten monetary policy. External factors won’t compel policymakers to tighten, and with inflationary pressures... 30th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Data Response Vietnam GDP (Q1) Vietnam’s economy lost a little momentum in the first quarter due to a renewed virus outbreak, but with the latest wave quashed and most restrictions now lifted, the economy should bounce back... 29th March 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore loosens restrictions, new markets forecasts Singapore announced a further loosening of containment measures this week but given that social distancing is no longer a major drag on the economy, they are unlikely to provide much of a boost to the... 26th March 2021 · 7 mins read
Asia Economics Update Philippines: BSP to resume easing cycle later in the year The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) left its main policy rate on hold at 2.00% today, and while a temporary rise in inflation means interest rates are set to remain on hold for the next few... 25th March 2021 · 3 mins read
